Killie, with several key players unavailable, may
have settled for a draw beforehand but it was a match they may well feel
they could have won.
Despite that, Kilmarnock goalkeeper Alan Combe had a
busy afternoon, denying Hibs on several occasions.
Home boss Jim Jefferies had plenty of problems in the
run-up to the match.
With Danny Invincible and Alan Russell both out
injured and David Fernandez and Kevin Kyle suspended, Kilmarnock were
forced to deploy Conor Sammon as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.
Hibs, meanwhile, brought back Souleymane Bamba for
Ross Chisholm from the side that drew 1-1 with Motherwell two weeks ago.
Denes Rosa and Bamba both had snapshots for the
visitors but Combe dealt with the pressure well.
Riordan was next to try his luck for the visitors,
but his effort from 25 yards was easily collected by Combe.
Killie forced their way back into the match and came
close when Hamill's free-kick from a tight angle spun past the post
after 15 minutes.
Three minutes later, Hibs were back on the offensive.
John Rankin's long-range effort came back off the
post before former Killie man Colin Nish had the ball in the net, but
the goal was disallowed for offside.
Nish was getting his own special welcome from the
home supporters in a game riddled with petty fouls, but referee Chris
Boyle was happy to keep his cards in his pocket.
Sammon should have broken the deadlock in the 40th
minute.
He latched onto a cutback following fine play by
Craig Bryson but somehow Hibs' Chris Hogg managed to deflect the
Irishman's effort, turning the ball over the bar.
Then, just before the half-time whistle, Hibs took
the lead from a freak goal against the run of play.
Riordan let fly from 28 yards, and the ball deflected
off Manuel Pascali and wrong-footed Combe.
Riordan was clearly enjoying himself and was first to
threaten in the second half in the 48th minute, but his first-time
effort from the edge of the box was well held by Combe.
Sammon again had a chance to score and again he
spurned his effort, this time heading over the bar from eight yards
after getting on the end of a fine cross from Hamill.
Killie continued to pursue the equaliser and captain
Pascali should have done better when, from close range, he headed over
Garry Hay's free kick on the hour mark.
Hibernian had penalty claims waved away when a Paul
Hanlon cross hit the arm of Grant Murray, the match official deeming it
accidental.
Rankin was next to test Combe, shooting form the edge
of the penalty area, but again the keeper was equal to the task.
Pascali and Chisholm both saw yellow after the Hibs
man had fouled and Pascali suggested the the referee take action.
With 14 minutes remaining, Kilmarnock equalised.
Hamill picked up a ball young Hibs defender Hanlon
failed to clear and his left-footed shoot swung beyond Grzegorz
Szamotulski and into the net.
Seven minutes from time, Bamba sneaked through the
home defence to connect with a Riordan crossed free-kick but his shot
from six yards was excellently saved by Combe.
Sammon could have sealed victory for Kilmarnock in
the last minute but he fluffed his effort from six yards.
76 mins
