2
mins
Queen of the South boss MacPherson was back at his old stomping ground where he had served Killie for 11 years as a player and as a member of the 1997 Scottish Cup winning side. Ironically MacPherson joined former 97 Cup Hero Jim McIntyre in both visiting (and losing) as managers during consecutive Rugby Park visits, as Killie had dumped McIntyre's Pars team in their previous home match.
Gary Harkins scored in 90 seconds with a deflected shot over Lee Robinson.
Queens' Kevin Smith was sent off for using an elbow on Leon Panikvar and thereafter Heffernan ran riot.
The Irishman headed a second just before half-time, volleyed his second and lobbed Robinson for his third before Ben Hutchinson added the fifth.
The Scottish Premier League side took the lead before Queens could settle.
Midfielder Gary Harkins fired a left-foot shot from 16 yards that took a deflection off a Queens defender and looped over the head of Robinson and into the top corner of the net.
It was Harkins' first goal for the Rugby Park side since joining from Dundee in the summer.
Robinson saved from Harkins five minutes later but when the ball fell to Heffernan he smacked his half volley high over the bar.
As if a goal of a deficit was not enough, Queens' task was made more difficult when referee Stevie O'Reilly sent off former Notts County striker Smith in 33 minutes for directing an elbow at Panikvar.
And Killie made the extra man count when, four minutes before half-time, Dean Shiels whipped in an in-swinging left-footed cross and Heffernan dived to head his sixth goal of the season.
For most of the second half Gus McPherson's men were forced to merely contain the attacking instincts of the home side.
But
Queens went
further behind
with just over
half an hour
remaining when
Heffernan
volleyed the
ball into the
net from just
outside the
six-yard box.
The Irish striker did not have long to wait for his hat-trick, with Shiels the provider once more.
Heffernan controlled the pass, drew the keeper and dinked the ball over him and into the net to continue the rout.
With 16 minutes to go, substitute Ben Hutchinson rounded off the scoring, firing high into the net from inside the box seven minutes after replacing Liam Kelly.
