SO time was called on one of the most exciting contests for a single league spot in years as Motherwell came out victors in the quest for third place.
It was quite something to be at such a late stage of the season with four sides not contesting the actual title fighting for third spot and the last UEFA Cup place.
As it turned out, results dictated it went to the Fir Park side.
And given wha
t they have gone through as a club this season, I can only congratulate them for the football they've played and the turnaround they've achieved in just 12 short months.
Whether Mark McGee is still there to guide them through their European quest or if he is managing things at a venue slightly closer to home, remains to be seen but as it, stands you have to say they deserve their finishing position.
No doubt about it, Hibs might well be looking back on the season and some of the many opportunities lost which would have settled this particular argument long before now. But it wasn't to be and as it stood, Hibs needed at least a point against Celtic to be in with a shout.
And as the game started yesterday, it quickly emerged that that particular target was not out with the realms of reality.
I thought we started off particularly well and played some really good football and Mixu's promise of going to Parkhead to win, as opposed to looking for a draw, was not an empty one.
I have to admit at being surprised at Colin Nish started on the bench, giving Ross Campbell his second Old Firm start in as many games. But to the wee man's credit, I thought Ross had a much better game yesterday, getting back and helping out the team on more than one occasion.
But in a weekend where officials' decisions where under scrutiny, I think both Ian Murray and Martin Canning may have good reason to feel aggrieved at having to take early baths.
Firstly Canning's second yellow was dished out just minutes after Paul Hartley escaped a second caution for a very similar tackle on Dean Shiels.
Difference this time, Deano didn't hit the deck and carried on playing. The ref decided to let that one go but wasn't quite so lenient when Canning had the audacity to tackle Barry Robson.
Then it was Ian Murray's turn to receive some harsh treatment from the ref. Yes, his tackle on Aiden McGeady was cynical and yes it was deserving of a yellow card but I couldn't believe it when Dougie McDonald went for a straight red.
But it seems that refereeing "inconsistencies" are not just a Scottish trait.
Just a few hours later I watched Paul Scholes miss a second yellow card for a blatant foul during Manchester United's game against Wigan in the Premiership decider.
As anyone watching the Hibs game will testify, this wasn't a dirty game full of rash tackles which the card count might indicate, and as it turned out, a painful day for Hibs was just made worse.
Being honest, had it not been for Celtic's ineffectiveness in front of goal, including an uncharacteristically marginally off target free kick from Nakamura, the game might have been all over by half-time.
We had chances from Beuzelin, Fletcher, Shiels and Donaldson but none of them asked too much of Celtic and left Parkhead with nothing to show other than a few lingering "what ifs?"
As it stands I am, of course, gutted we didn't finish in a better position in the league, but given how many times we should have done much better against those around us and those who languish in the bottom six, we can't really feel too sorry for ourselves.
You could look back and put the blame down to the loss of form mid-season when we slipped right down to the bottom half, you can also reflect on the turmoil of losing another manager and you can't but fail to point out the fact that we also lost the ability to win away games.
But on the flip side, perhaps it was nothing short of a miracle that, despite having all of the above to contend with, we were still in the mix for third spot right up to the penultimate game of the season.
As it stands, we still have an end-of-season game against Motherwell to come a week on Thursday and a good crowd to finish off this quite remarkable season would be very fitting!
Glory, glory!
QUICK final word on Lawrie Reilly. As hoped, he got out of hospital last Wednesday and is very much back to his old self and will be back at Easter Road for the last game of the season against Motherwell on Thursday week.
The full article contains 820 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
