Hibernians won the FA Trophy for the eleventh time in their history after beating Birkirkara by the odd goal in three in a tense and keenly contested final.

The highly controversial decision by referee Spiteri to send off Coppola after 14 minutes play was surely the turning point of the match. Coppola clearly fouled Mullen, but the debate is whether this was an open scoring opportunity or not.

We will never have a definite answer with several pundits seeing the incident in different perspectives. To make it worse for Birkirkara Martinis Apostolis scored from the freekick that followed and this was surely a double blow for the Stripes.

After some minutes struggling, Birkirkara however regrouped its energies and played a gallant match and managed to obtain a deserved equaliser through Maxuell Maia on 72 minutes. But eight minutes later Hibernians scored the winner when Kurt Shaw headed home from close range following a corner action.

This victory gives Hibernians a place in European football next season, leaving Sliema out of the European block. For Birkirkara it was another bitter afternoon, eight days after losing the league title to Hamrun Spartans.

Two finals and two defeats in one week is rather hard for the Stripes, who otherwise had a very good season but ended up empty handed, when they surely deserved some silverware.

The start of the match was highlighted with Coppola's red card and Martinis' strike direct from the resultant freekick.  On the half hour a long distance effort from Makoma almost deceived Sanchez.

On 37 minutes Sanchez denied Agius who stormed in the area after receiving from Makoma. Just before the break Satariano's cross was not met by Lacunza in front of goal.

The second half started with a Villela dipper well saved by Volpe. On 58 minutes a golden opportunity for Birkirkara with Maia passing towards Gaitan whose point blank effort was somehow blocked by Sanchez.

At the other end Villela missed a couple of good opportunities for Hibernians. On 72 minutes Birkirkara's pressure was rewarded when Maia scored a gem direct from a freekick. But Birkirkara's hopes of a sensational turn around were quashed on 79 minutes when Kurt Shaw headed home the winner from a corner action.

Birkirkara stormed desperately forward with Hibernians missing a couple of easy chances of scoring a third goal, with Villela also hitting the base of the upright.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina