They began their campaign against Second Division leaders Cowdenbeath at Central Park, which was suggested as a possible cup upset due to Hibs' poor league form.

[5] Hibs then took on fellow SPL club Kilmarnock at their home ground, Easter Road, having made several signings in January 2012.

[10] Garry O'Connor scored an early goal, and Rory Fallon equalised for Aberdeen in the second half with a spectacular looping volley.

Despite St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay being sent off after 74 minutes, Cillian Sheridan equalised to force a replay.

St Johnstone then could have been further ahead before Jamie Hamill converted a controversial stoppage-time penalty to force extra time.

Zaliukas then scored a late own goal after deflecting a Nigel Hasselbaink shot into his own net to level the match.

The only previous meeting of the two clubs in a Scottish Cup Final was in 1896, when the match was played at New Logie Green (home of St Bernard's) in Edinburgh.

[17] Supporters of moving the game to Murrayfield cited its greater capacity, convenience for the majority of fans and the precedent of the 1896 Scottish Cup Final.

[17] Supporters of keeping the game at Hampden cited that the players would prefer to play at the national football stadium and that some fans had already begun to make arrangements for the tie being in Glasgow.

[19][20] The remaining seats are accounted for by Hampden Park debenture holders, hospitality, sponsors, media and segregation areas.

[25] Fenlon then took his squad to his home town of Dublin to prepare for the cup final[25] and told the media that he had almost finalised his team selection.

[27] A victory against St Johnstone in their penultimate league match lifted Hearts into fifth place, a qualifying position.

[28] Entering the week before the cup final, Hearts had concerns about the fitness of striker Craig Beattie, who was unable to train due to a hamstring injury.

Hearts continued to control the match and Pa Kujabi picked up a booking for fouling Suso Santana.

Skácel then doubled Hearts' lead after receiving the ball on the edge of the area and turning to hit a shot which deflected off James McPake before going in.

McPake then made a goal-line clearance from a Suso shot which had beaten Hibs' keeper Mark Brown.

Tom Soares' initial delivery was cleared but he got the ball back out on the wing and put in a low cross which McPake converted.

Hibs were also reduced to ten men as Kujabi received his second yellow card, resulting in a red.

[32] Soon afterwards, Ryan McGowan scored with a header after Hibs keeper Brown had initially saved from Stephen Elliott.