It was party time for Birkirkara yesterday as their thousands of loyal supporters, most of them clad in the traditional yellow and red colours of the club, made their way to the Stadium to watch their favourites against Hibernians.

The result did not matter much, after Sliema (or Msida?) handed them the title on Saturday following the 3-3 draw between those two teams. It meant an unassailable lead for the Stripes, thus clinching the title with two matches to spare.

The match, in fact, ended in a solitary goal win for the champions, Etienne Barbara scoring the winner five minutes from the end from a penalty. It served to trigger more celebrations in the town later in the evening.

The Stripes had two other players missing for yesterday's match. Precious Monye and Roderick Briffa, as widely predicted, were not included and considering that the Stripes also have Adrian Ciantar, Jonathan Holland, George Mallia (as well as Antoine Zahra unavailable through injury, coach Stephen Azzopardi had to reshuffle his midfield sector putting in Michael Galea, newcomer Patrick Borg and Mark Anthony Bonnici in that sector. Later Michael Galea also joined the long list of injured players being substituted by Calascione on 32 minutes.

On five minutes, Terence Scerri beat the offisde trap, but David Simon rushed out of his charge to kick the ball away to safety.

At the other end, Barbara received a long ball from Camenzuli and advanced into the area only to see his angled shot being excellently saved to corner by Muscat.

On 21 minutes Birkirkara again went close to scoring. Mifsud Triganza forced his way past three defenders and crossed low into the area where Failla managed to clear in extremis before Patrick Borg could flick into the net.

On 30 minutes, Camenzuli had a fierce freekick just missing the target.

Hibs probably enjoyed more possession, but never really troubled goalie Simon and their first shot on goal arrived on 42 minutes. It was a weak Williamson effort which went wide.

In first half injury time, Camenzuli missed a Doda cross completely, but Scerri, all alone, failed to control the ball and the chance went begging. Immediately after, at the other end, Barbara set Mifsud Triganza who entered the area from the right only to see his grounder just missing the far upright with Muscat beaten. And just before the end, David Simon saved in two attempts a Cohen freekick.

Soon after the changeover, Hibs had their best chance when off a Cohen freekick, Scerri's header went just wide.

The champions replied with a fine pass from Bonnici to Mifsud Triganza. The latter crossed over to Calascione whose header went just over.

At the other end, a Doda header also went just wide while in a swift counter-attack, Mifsud Triganza again dribbled his way past three Hibs defenders, only to see his effort going over.

On 75 minutes, Etienne Barbara had a grounder saved by Muscat. And ten minutes later, the Stripes joy knew no bounds as Etienne Barbara converted a penalty after he had been floored by Muscat on a good pass from Mifsud Triganza.

At the end, the fans feted their heroes who certainly deserved to be crowned Malta champions this season.

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Birkirkara: S. David, MA Bonnici, L. Galea, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, E. Barbara, M. Galea (M. Calascione), P. Borg, K. Scicluna, R. Mifsud (E. Yanchev), JP Mifsud Triganza (L. Stivala)

Hibernians: M. Muscat, D. Camilleri, A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff, E. Mbong, T. Scerri, A. Cohen (L. Desira Buttigieg), D. Williamson (J. Vella), C. Failla (R. Baldacchino), E. Agius, H. Doda.

Referee: A. Casha Asst refs: C. Micallef, N. Debattista. 4th official: L. Sammut

Scorer: E. Barbara pen.

Yellow cards: R. Mifsud, R. Sammut, D. Camilleri, E. Barbara, C. Failla, M. Muscat, E. Yanchev

Player of the match: JP Mifsud Triganza (Birkirkara)

TMI top three: 1. JP Mifsud Triganza; 2. D. Camilleri; 3. MA Bonnici