Midfielder Craig Sibbald insists Falkirk’s first-half demolition job on Hibernian in Saturday’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final was proof of former boss Steven Pressley’s legacy in action.
The 17-year-old put the Irn-Bru First Division side in front against their Clydesdale Bank Premier League opponents before Jay Fulton and Blair Alston added further goals to leave Hibs stunned.
Fatigue, however, proved the decisive factor and as Falkirk tired, Pat Fenlon’s side grew in confidence before rallying with goals from Alex Harris, Leigh Griffiths and Eoin Doyle to send the game into extra time, where Griffiths struck again to seal a remarkable 4-3 victory.
But Sibbald insists the Bairns players, six of whom were aged 21 or younger, can hold their heads high, especially after their impressive first half.
The fresh-faced youths were all given their chance by Pressley before he departed for Coventry and replaced by Gary Holt last week.
Sibbald, who is aged just 17, said: “Elvis led us in good stead and he obviously took us to the semis. The new gaffer coming in has given us some new ideas but you have to give a lot of the credit to the old boss.
“I’m sure he’d have been watching and would have been proud. We will be looking to take that kind of form into next season now.”
Hibs simply could not live with their energetic opponents in the opening period. Sibbald rolled home Falkirk’s first just seven minutes in before Fulton dived to head a second 11 minutes later.
Hibs keeper Ben Williams spilled Lyle Taylor’s shot into the path of Alston for the third goal after half an hour and it could have been worse had frontman Taylor netted when one-on-one with the stopper soon after.
It looked like another Hampden nightmare was on the cards for Hibs following last season’s 5-1 derby disaster in their cup final clash with Hearts.
But winger Alex Harris smashed home a fine strike six minutes after the break to kick start the SPL side.
Griffiths then missed a penalty but kept his nerve to add a second soon after before Eoin Doyle sent the game into extra time with a long-range strike.
And Griffiths stole the headlines again with a fizzing 25-yard strike five minutes from the end of extra time to complete a 4-3 win.
The Bairns players, though, were distraught after being pegged back and Sibbald admits they simply ran out of steam.
“Maybe we peaked too early and tired out in the second half,” said the midfielder.