Valletta: H. Bonello, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, R. Camilleri, J. Cruz, R. Briffa, F. Falcone, C. Pani, U. Uchenna (R. Romao), Jhonnattann (M. Mifsud), A. Nafti (L. Cremona)

Hibernians: J. Haber, R. Soares, A. Agius, J. Pearson, M. Dias (J. Mbong), C. Failla, B. Kristensen, J. Lima, A. Cohen (J. Degabriele), G. Ribeiro, Jorginho

Referee: M. Apap

Asst.refs: M. Scerri, R. Vella

Additional asst.refs: E. Azzopardi, G. Tonna

4th official: P. Apap

Scorers: F. Falcone 60, M. Dias 64

Yellow cards: U. Uchenna, C. Failla, B. Kristensen, Jorginho, R. Camilleri

Player of the match: F. Falcone (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Carauna  2. H. Bonello  3. G. Ribeiro

Attendance: 5,408 

This final match of the 2015/16 season could have reached greater heights were it not for Hibernians relinquishing their title challenge after defeat by Birkirkara the previous week. That deprived many football lovers and neutrals from a truly deserved final showdown.

Instead the stadium was reserved for around 5000  Valletta supporters, who had come to celebrate their team’s success in the BoV Premier League this season, with an acceptable performance from their side on a memorable day.

All in all, the football was not bad to watch from two qaulity sides, thanks mostly to Hibernians’ willingness to give a decent challenge although with nothing to play for.

The dethroned champions fielded a full strength team, including Andrew Cohen for the injured Jorge Silva.

Valletta left Michael Mifsud and Llywelyn Cremona on the bench and they were only introduced for the last 15 minutes.

Despite all the early running, neither side managed a shot on goal during the first 25 minutes. Then Ribeiro played a good ball to Jorginho, who ran through the Valletta defence. The flag did not go up  but Valletta keeper Bonello did well to block at his feet.

Valletta’s response and their first real threat came towards the half hour with Jhonnattann’s diagonal shot, the ball rolling across the face of the Hibernians’ goal.

Jorginho carried most threat for the Valletta rearguard. On 35 minutes he ran inside the area, when challenged by Camilleri, but put his effort completely off target. Jorginho again found himself clear inside the Valletta area on the stroke of halftime, but was thwarted again by keeper Bonello.

Valletta  broke away. Nafti advanced with the ball as Jhonnattann ran in open space with only one Hibernians defender in between. Nafti though shot over from a distance.

The second half was to unfold more entertaining, especially after the deadlock was broken.

Jorginho’s angled shot forced keeper Bonello to block with his feet and Jhonnattann, with his shot from outside the area tested keeper Haber for the first time in the match after 56 minutes.

Four minutes later, Haber was renedered helpless by Federico Falcone’s well placed shot after advancing down the right on a Nafti long pass.

The stadium erupted but Valletta’s lead lasted only four minutes.  Cohen’s cross from the left was headed in by Marcelo Dias to restore equilibrium.

Hibernians introduced Jurgen Degabriele after that. Lima’s shot from a distance did not trouble keeper Bonello as Hibernians were unable to spoil Valletta’s mood in a draw went down well with the newly-crowned champions’ on a day of celebration.

Photos and video Michael Camilleri