1995-05-10: Hibernian 1-1 Celtic. Premier Division.

BYLINE:By Hugh Keevins Hibs . 1Celtic. 1

THE failure of Hibs to get the win they needed to help them qualify for Europe puts Motherwell into the UEFA Cup and leaves only one question unanswered.Namely, what will Motherwell's attitude be against Hearts in the game at Tynecastle on Saturday that is so vital to the Edinburgh club?
The last game of the season holds nothing for Motherwell, but Hearts could, if they lose, find themselves in a play-off to protect their Premier Division status.
At Easter Road last night, a match which had initially looked to be in Hibs' control ran away from them on a night whenCelticachieved their 18th draw of the season.

Alex Miller, Hibs' manager, referred to draws as one of the reasons why his side had failed to qualify for a European place."It is all about the difference between putting the ball away and not doing so," he said.
"We had our chances, particularly through Weir and Wright, but the injury to our scorer, Kevin Harper, killed us off."
Celticmanager Tommy Burns saw the game for what it was, a belated show of interest from his side.
"It took us half an hour to waken up, but then the performances from players like McStay, Grant and Boyd were so inspirational we should have won in the end," he said.
It was a case of do-or-don't- fly for Hibs, as a place in Europe was dependent upon them beating a team who had not previously lost to them in league or cup this season.
There was more than Harper's goal after ten minutes to suggest that Hibs' hunger was greater than that of aCelticside for whom the remainder of the season is basically about the Scottish Cup final against Airdrie at Hampden on 27 May.
There was better movement and superior fluidity in the home side's passing and both qualities were notable in the creation and execution of Hibs' goal.
A free kick from Graham Mitchell was touched on by Pat McGinlay and Harper's left- footed finish was struck from an area where he had engineered enough room for himself to take time over the final touch.
It was Harper's eighth goal of the season and the teenager was livelier than anythingCeltichad to offer, other than two headers from Willie Falconer which the Hibs goalkeeper, Jim Leighton, dealt with efficiently.
Harper's pass to Keith Wright ought to have extended Hibs' lead in the first half. Wright's headed pass to Michael Weir left him one-on-one with Pat Bonner, but there was no astute finishing left in Hibs.
Wright, when put through by Michael O'Neill, had two options, for instance. The first was to bury the ball behind Bonner and the other was to roll it across the face of goal to give Harper a tap-in. Wright achieved neither and another chance to take a lead which would have reflected the run of play was wasted.
It may have been coincidence but, when Harper failed to reappear after the interval,Celtichad their sprightliest period in the game.
The only effective ployCelticseemed to have going for them, though, was Falconer's head and his third attempt of the evening flew past Leighton's left-hand post in a way that was a provocation to the darker side of Miller's nature.
After an hour's play, the manager was able to give full vent to his anger when, inevitably, Falconer equalised.
Brian McLaughlin, who had picked up the ball after McGinlay had been dispossessed, tried a shot from the edge of the penalty area which Leighton failed to hold.
Falconer swept on to the rebound and squeezed the ball over the line, suffocating Hibs' hope of playing in the UEFA Cup in the process.
Wright had a header from a cross by the subsitute for Harper, Gareth Evans, which came off a post, and then McGinlay had a shot which forced Bonner into producing what was the save of the night.
It had been the opportunities passed up earlier in the game, though, which had grounded Hibs and returned Motherwell to the arena where, last season, they had been the only Scottish club to play in more than one round.

BYLINE:Ian Paul

HIBS did themselves no favours but gave city rivals Hearts a lift in an early evening premier show at Easter Road which had a lot going for it, even if the net result means that Hibs' hopes of winning a place in Europe next season are at an end.
Their point assures Motherwell of second place, no matter what happens on Saturday when Hearts, still chasing safety, may not be as severely tested as they might have been if Motherwell, whom they meet at Tynecastle, were needing points for Europe.
Only a Cup-winners' Cup place now remains to be decided. That looked no good bet forCeltic, either, after a sloppy first-half show.

In contrast, Hibs were full of life, fire, and confidence and might have had more to show for their work than a single-goal lead, scored by Kevin Harper.Celticreappeared in more serious mood, and when Willie Falconer equalised they looked capable of taking all three points.The home side opened up with a tremendous enthusiasm, making the cup finalists look pedestrian in the process, and Willie Miller, marking Brian McLaughlin, found himself causing more damage as a left winger in his own right. His runs down that flank had the Parkhead defence in trouble from the off. In fact, Hibs utilised Pat McGinlay and Kevin Harper down that beat whenever possible.

McGinlay, anxious to do well against his old team, overdid the diving bit on the edge of the box, but the goal was on its way. Graham Mitchell rolled a free kick to McGinlay, who flicked it ahead of Harper. The young striker, a candidate for young player of the year, made no mistake with his well-hit, left -foot effort after 10 minutes of almost complete Hibs' domination. Typically,Celticresponded with a good attack which ended with a Rudi Vata cross headed well by Willie Falconer and saved equally impressively by Jim Leighton.

Hibs had left Harper, who had taken a knock, inside at the interval and brought on Gareth Evans. Whether it was that change or a renewedCelticeffort, the pattern was different for a while. Even so, the only threat came from a Falconer header which went wide. It was fitting, therefore, that he did get the equaliser in 60 minutes when he tapped the ball over the line after a McLaughlin left-foot shot had been stopped but not held by Leighton.