Hearts held off 10-man Hibernian in a 2-1 win at Hampden Park to go through to their third Scottish Cup final in four years. Terrific strikes from the forward Ellis Simms and the defender Stephen Kingsley propelled Hearts into a two-goal lead inside 21 minutes, before Chris Cadden immediately reduced the deficit for Hibs. In a feisty encounter, Hibs’ Joe Newell was sent off in the 64th minute by John Beaton for picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on Peter Haring. The Easter Road men gave it their all but the Tynecastle side, who had beat their Edinburgh rivals 3-1 in the Premiership last week, again emerged victors. Hearts lost to Celtic in both the 2019 and 2020 finals and they will face either the Rangers or Rangers who play in the other semi-final on Sunday, a game which will no doubt bring its own drama. After the chastening 3-1 derby defeat last week, the Hibs manager, Shaun Maloney, made five changes. An unchanged Hearts had to withstand some early Hibs pressure with an early shout for a Hibs penalty when the ball struck the top of Kingsley’s arm ignored by Beaton. Hearts worked their way slowly into the game and took the lead in the 16th minute after Hibs had conceded possession in midfield. Barrie McKay quickly played forward to Simms and the 21-year-old on-loan Everton attacker wasted no time in arrowing a shot from 20 yards past the keeper Matt Macey. The second goal five minutes later was even better and came after Hearts won a free-kick 35 yards from goal. Kingsley passed to Liam Boyce who laid it back and he curled a wonderful shot high past the helpless Macey. It looked ominous for Hibs but just over a minute later, Cadden pulled a goal back at the second attempt from 14 yards, after his first shot from Lewis Stevenson’s cut-back was blocked. Hearts’ Andy Halliday, who shrugged off a knock to start, limped off in the 39th minute to be replaced by Aaron McEneff. Just before the break Boyce missed a great chance when he found himself with only Macey to beat after getting the break of the ball, slipping his shot past the far post. Hearts suffered a blow early in the second half when, following a tackle from Hibs’ James Scott, Craig Halkett had to be taken off the field in a stretcher, replaced by Taylor Moore. As Hearts reorganised, Hibs pressed and in the 54th minute Craig Gordon tipped Ryan Porteous’s header from a Liam Henderson corner on to a post and gratefully gathered the rebound. However, Hibs’ momentum was halted when Newell, booked early in the first half for a foul on McKay, was sent off for picking up a second yellow card for his sliding tackle on Haring. Hibs kept attacking but Hearts also began to threaten with Macey making a decent save in the 73rd minute from Simms’ low drive. Elias Melkersen and Josh Campbell replaced Stevenson and Paul McGinn as Maloney went for broke in the final 15 minutes. Gordon saved a 30-yard free-kick from Henderson down at his right-hand post and Melkersen headed a Cadden cross wide of the target but even eight minutes of added time – where Gordon saved a free-kick from substitute Chris Mueller – could not bring an equaliser. Despite the result, Robbie Neilson admitted faults in the Hearts performance. “A real tough game but other than the first 20 minutes today we haven’t played at the level we have done this season. A real grind to get through. Two back-to-back derby wins and it’s on to the final now.” Maloney said: “I’m incredibly proud but disappointed the performance didn’t match the result. It’s by far the best performance since I’ve been here.”