UNITED THROUGH TO SCOTTISH CUP FINAL!

United 's amazing rollercoaster season continued as the Arab army saw their team win the first of this weekend's semi final ties to book their place in Scotland's showcase fixture in May. Derek McInnes and Grant Brebner were reinstated to the starting line-up as Gordon Chisholm sought to make right last week's last minute defeat at the hands of today's opponents. Hibs kicked off with the wind at their backs and within the first minute showed that they meant to justify their favourites' tag, when Stephen Glass forced Bullock into a smart save. Tony Mowbray's team continued to dominate the opening exchanges and in 10 minutes Riordan blazed over when he should at least have hit the target. United started to show that they were not there to make up the numbers and good interplay on the right between Wilson and Duff allowed Stevie Crawford to cross but the ball was cleared at the back post to prevent the onrushing Robson from testing the keeper. United's defence looked unsteady at times and was guilty of ball watching as Fletcher was allowed in but fortunately he missed the target. Referee Mike McCurry seemed determined to rile the United support at every opportunity and seemed to give Hibs the benefit of the doubt at every opportunity. Despite the Hibs pressure, United were still a threat on the break and a burst from midfield by Barry Robson was thwarted when his through ball struck McIntyre's heel and the chance was lost. Mark Wilson then put in a deep cross from the right but as Brown dropped his attempt to gather, the ball was booted away with McIntyre threatening. Whittaker was next to test Bullock from distance but again the big keeper beat the ball away for a corner. Riordan ran free on the right and his centre evaded Bullock's grasp but Kenneth was on hand to boot the ball clear when it seemed inevitable that Hibs would score. United took play back to Hibs and Stevie Crawford tried his luck from distance but his curling effort just went past after good play by Robson had allowed Archibald to feed the Scotland striker. United had a shout for a penalty on the half hour when a Robson cross seemed to come off a defender's arm and from the resulting break, O'Connor went down easily under a challenge from Ritchie that saw the defender booked. The United defence almost gifted Hibs their opener when Ritchie and Bullock made a hash of a long ball into the box allowing Fletcher the chance to score but he scooped the ball over the bar. Half time came and it would be fair to say that United were fortunate to still be level, they had shown flashes of potential but Hibs had undoubtedly dominated the first period. The restart saw United take a grip of the opening encounters and a goalward Robson effort from the edge of the box was blocked with the Hibs defender having little idea as to what an important intervention he had made. The game flowed from end to end and Duff was put through on goal by Wilson but sadly he lacked the composure to finish having made the opportunity for himself. Hibs then took the lead that their possession had probably merited but again United felt aggrieved when Robson was judged to have impeded Shiels in the box. The referee was having none of the protests and Riordan sent Bullock the wrong way from the spot. Gordon Chisholm decided to change things and introduced Scotland, Kerr and Samuel to the side to freshen things up and how it was to pay dividends. The referee further enraged the United support when McIntyre and Brown clashed after a challenge on the keeper. The Hibs man seemed to raise his hands and push McIntyre but the referee saw fit to book both players - a decision that would ultimately rob Jim of a place in the cup final side. United then equalised with a great move that saw Kerr play in Barry Robson whose shot-cum-cross was side-footed home from 5 yards by Jim McIntyre. The Hibs support that had woken when their side took the lead was quickly silenced and soon it was only Arab voices that could be heard around the national stadium. United had the game by the scruff of the neck and sent theeir supporters delirious again when Jason Scotland rifled home from 25 yards. There really was only going to be one winner here. United continued their ascendancy and looked nothing like that side that allowed Hibs to dominate the first hour of the match. McIntyre and Samuel both went close with Hibs being reduced to long balls into the United box. Barry Robson struck the bar direct from a corner as United finished the game in style! Man of the Match: Gary Kenneth - an assured display from the young defender although Jim McIntyre, Grant Brebner and Jason Scotland pushed him hard for the award. Federation Chairman Shuggy Falconer stated after the match: "The United supporters have simply been outstanding - we may have been outnumbered, but it is the quality, not the quantity, that counts." Dundee Utd: T Bullock, M Wilson, G Kenneth, A Archibald, P Ritchie, S Duff (63 J Scotland) , G Brebner, D McInnes (66 M Kerr) , B Robson, J McIntyre, S Crawford (69 C Samuel ) Subs: N Colgan, M Kerr, C Samuel , J Grady, J Scotland Hibernian: S Brown, S Whittaker, G Caldwell, G Smith, D Murphy (58 K Thomson) , S Fletcher, S Brown, S Glass, D Shiels (67 I Sproule) , G O'Connor, D Riordan (78 S Morrow) Subs: A Brown, K Thomson, S Morrow, A Murray, I Sproule Ref: M McCurry Att: 27,271 Read the full match report by Grant Letham.