EIGHT years ago Kilmarnock stunned the nation by lifting the Scottish Cup. Twelve months later Jim Jefferies’ Hearts side followed suit and the ancient trophy was overflowing with romance.

Since then the Old Firm have left a trail of broken dreams behind their relentless pursuit of Cup glory, but with one of them now gone who shall rise to the challenge of breaking their stranglehold? Don’t rule out Kilmarnock with Jim Jefferies at the helm; been there, done that, time for a new T-shirt perhaps.

A gutsy Motherwell were disposed of in the final three minutes of the first period with goals from Gary McDonald and a controversial Kris Boyd header, but opposing manager Terry Butcher acclaimed his cup conquerors. The hosts just about edged this one.

It would not be obscene to suggest Killie can take anyone, outside of the big two, on their day. Boyd is returning to fine form after some injury problems while Freddie Dindeleux in defence and McDonald in midfield contributed greatly to this win. Add to the mix Peter Leven and Steven Naismith - these two formidable youngsters attack any and every opponent with style and speed.

It was Motherwell, roared on by a large and vocal visiting support, who went on the attack first and after just 45 seconds a cross into the box bounced up off the slippy surface appeared to strike Freddie Dindeleux on the arm.

Well's 2,000 odd fans screamed for a penalty but the referee waved play on as the game began in a fierce hailstorm.

Three minutes later the visitors should have taken the lead from Martyn Corrigan's cross but Richie Foran headed wide of the far post from just six yards.

New Scotland boss Walter Smith was among the 6093 crowd who braved the elements for this lively clash after ditching his original plan to watch Preston take on West Brom.

Hailstones hammered down as the game kicked off, making Killie general manager David MacKinnon's programme pleas for summer football all the more poignant.

It wasn't just on the pitch where the officials were battling to keep the peace as a scuffle broke out between a section of Motherwell fans and police midway through the first half.

A handful of punters were huckled out of the scrum before the situation was calmed.

Amid the chaos, Motherwell's support must have barely noticed their side almost go a goal down as the impressive Invincibile headed inches wide from a Garry Hay cross.

Killie came close again 10 minutes from the break with keeper Gordon Marshall coming to Well's rescue.

Invincibile's head-flick sent Boyd steaming in on goal and from 12 yards out the hitman pulled the trigger.

But the veteran goalie did everything right, closing the angle and standing firm to take the sting out of the shot.

Killie were now carrying a much greater threat and Gary McDonald was unlucky to see a goalbound effort deflected behind by Corrigan.

From Steven Naismith's resulting corner - and a crazy goalmouth scramble - midfield man Gary McDonald did slam the ball home to give Killie the lead in the 42nd minute.

Killie's second, stemmed from another corner, this time Steven Naismith delivering a wicked inswinger.His cross was flicked on by Invincibile and Kris Boyd sent a fierce header towards goal. Standing on the line, Kevin McBride tried to clear the danger and his header came off the underside of his own bar before he booted it back out.Ref Thomson ruled the ball had crossed the line and Killie were sitting pretty.

There was some doubt about if the ball had crossed the line, but former Killie keeper Gordon Marshall did not complain.

Motherwell began the second period as they had started the first, with Scott McDonald in particular being denied a goalscoring chance due to some excellent last-ditch defending.

Killie remained a threat though, particularly from set pieces, and from a 59th-minute Peter Leven corner which Marshall misjudged, Boyd should have made the game safe but shinned the ball wide from five yards.

Five minutes later Hay and Boyd combined beautifully on the edge of the visitors' penalty box but, just as the left-back seemed set to shoot, he stumbled and could only slice wide.

Butcher tried to mix things up when he brought on Shaun Fagan for the anonymous David Clarkson in the 64th minute.

Eight minutes later Jefferies replaced Dindeleux with Killie club captain Gary Locke and in the 77th minute Allan Johnston came on for midfield starlet Naismith.

Motherwell's Scott Leitch produced a fantastic 25-yard effort 10 minutes from time which beat Combe in the Killie goal but slammed against the post and rebounded to safety.

The frustration only intensified for Well with nine minutes remaining as Richie Foran kicked out after Combe had beaten him in the race for a loose ball in the box.

That sparked a furious bust-up as players waded in to take issue and Foran was rightly booked for the initial challenge.

The misery piled on when Craigan saw red with four minutes left. The defender picked up a second yellow for a clumsy sliding challenge on Boyd and could have no complaints.

Gary Wales came on far too late to make an impression as a replacement for Boyd - but Well had already suffered enough.

It was tough to take for the visitors, who had contributed to a an entertaining clash.

Killie fans will now be dreaming of a repeat of their famous 1997 cup final triumph - over Falkirk at Ibrox - not least because one of the Old Firm will exit the competition at the third round stage.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Dindeleux ( Locke 73 mins) Greer, Invincibile, Naismith (Johnston 77 mins), McDonald, Johnston, Leven,  Boyd (Wales 89 mins) Nish

Subs: Smith, Murray

Attendance: 6,093