Birkirkara won the season’s second best honour beating champions Hibernians with a goal in each half in the FA Trophy final.

As expected, Bikirkara proved obstinate opponents for Hibernians, totally lacking any inspiration yesterday, but the merits of Birkirkara’s fifth FA Trophy win were never in dispute.

Hibernians’ performance yesterday fell below their impeccable standards that saw them ruthlessly win the championship. They ran out of anything resembling form, confidence or ideas at a crucial time.

On the contray, Birkirkara improved over the time in this competition and were full value for their success, marred only by violence after the final whistle.

For most of an unspectacular game, Birkirkara were the better, more cohesive team, and, for long periods, play was almost in the Hibernians’ half.

Argentine central defender Mauricio Mazzetti epitopmised Birkirkara’s lion-hearted endeavour. Not only did he win his tussles with Jorginho, but also crowned a five-star performance with his side’s opening goal in the first half. Rafael Ledesma scored the second to confirm their resilience.

Former greats from both clubs, Charles Scerri and Antoine Zahra paraded the trophy onto the pitch, on a sunny afternoon at Ta’Qali National Stadium, before the teams made their entry in front of a more than 6,000 crowd.

The faces were familiar. Hibernians fielded the same starting eleven that saw them knock out Qormi in the semi final. For Birkirkara, Paul Fenech, the matchwinner against Valletta, started instead of Mattheus Bissi.

Birkirkara started like a team in a hurry, without inflicting much damage though, as Hibernians stayed composed, showing defensive solidity as they absorbed the early pressure. The champions were unable to produce their customery build-ups as the high-pressing Birkirkara harassed them inside their own half.

It was left to the isolated Jorginho to trouble the Birkirkara backline with his pacey runs. After eight minutes he almost outpaced Mazzetti but keeper Haber rushed off his line to deflect the ball into a corner. On 20 minutes the assistant’s flag halted his run for a millimetric offside position when put clear by Kristensen’s through pass.

The tension was palpable from the very start as both sets of players retaliated under steely challenges in midfield.

The breakthrough came short of the half hour. Ledesma delivered a deep free kick from the left for Birkirkara, the ball bounced inside the Hibernians area with no one making contact and fell to the completely unmarked Mauricio Mazzetti, who, with his back towards goal, hooked the ball with his left foot beyond keeper Bonello.

This might have served as a wake-up call for the Paolites, but with Birkirkara quicker on the ball at every stage, the Stripes were not going to make it easy for them to get back into the game.

Just before the break, Kristensen picked Failla’s corner , sent a low cross towards the middle but the Birkirkara defence cleared the danger.

Hibernians looked better after the interval but they continued to struggle for rhythm. They won several free kicks around the Birkirkara box but the delivery of their set pieces always lacked precision.

Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit, most probably in his last appearnce on the Stripes’ bench, took a bold step to introduce Eilton Liliu for Camenzuli on 64 minutes. Hardly five minutes later, Birkirkara doubled their advantage without looking particularly brilliant. Zerafa’s cross from the left took a deflection off Soares that put both keeper Bonello and defender Rui Gomes off balance for Rafael Ledesma to slot the ball in.

The goal sparked clashes between the Hiberfnians fans and policemen in the stands as a recovery always looked improbable for the champions.

Birkirkara almost inflicted more punishment minutes later as Fenech drove the ball against the foot of the post with his diagonal shot from the right.

Hibernians were a sorry ragged bunch by the end. A double eluded them once again.

At the end, Birkirkara fans invaded the pitch and provoked their rivals in front of the stands. Punches and blows were exchanged, seats flew on the pitch and chaos reigned supreme as the outnumbered policemen tried to restore order.

Birkirkara were finally presented with the FA Trophy in a shambolic end to the football domestic season.