Hibernian blazed their way into the semi-finals of the Tennent's Scottish Cup following a pulsating tie at Falkirk.

It was a nightmare day for Bairns goalkeeper Allan Ferguson, who spilled a Derek Riordan free-kick for the first goal, before another blunder allowed Garry O'Connor to double the lead.

Falkirk hauled themselves back into the game again through Daniel McBreen in the 70th minute.

But late goals from Ivan Sproule, Gary Caldwell and Steven Fletcher secured Hibs' passage to the last four.

The last time Hibs won the Scottish Cup was 104 years ago and their failings in the tournament had become almost legendary since then.

If that wasn't a big enough incentive to book their place at the showpiece final at Hampden Park on May 13, Hearts had disposed of Partick Thistle earlier in the day, keeping alive the prospect of an all-Edinburgh final.

It was Falkirk who looked the brighter in the early stages but they were shell-shocked when Hibs took the lead in the ninth minute.

Kenny Milne bundled into Michael Stewart from behind to earn Hibs a free-kick 30 yards out and what happened next is likely to haunt Ferguson for months to come.

Riordan stepped up to send a powerful curling effort towards goal, and the Bairns' keeper initially appeared to block at the post, but could only watch in horror as the ball slipped out of his grasp and over the line.

Falkirk immediately tried to haul themselves back into the game and Patrick Cregg was not too far away when he drilled just wide of target, before Jack Ross fired over.

The Bairns then screamed for a penalty with 25 minutes gone, when Steven Whittaker appeared to handle in the area, and they were furious when the pleas were ignored by the referee.

They did win a free-kick on the edge of the box, however, earning Riordan a booking for hauling down Alan Gow, but Cregg sent his effort curling just over.

At the other end of the park, Riordan was keen to grab his second of the day before the break only to send the shot sailing well over.

Falkirk came closer to finding the back of the net when Kenny Milne rose above everyone else in the box to meet a Liam Craig corner only for his header to smack off the crossbar.

Desperate to haul themselves back into the tie, Falkirk were looking dangerous after the restart.

Cregg slotted into the path of Pedro Moutinho but David Murphy intercepted the move before he could pull the trigger.

Hibs were forced into more desperate defending when McBreen burst into the box before squaring into the path of Gow in front of goal but he was robbed of possession by a Hibs defender.

Instead, it was Hibs who should have taken the lead when Sproule unleashed a ferocious shot which flashed just wide of the upright.

It was proving to be a day to forget for Ferguson when he failed to hold a Riordan shot and the ball fell to the feet of Garry O'Connor to bullet home in the 67th minute.

The goal caused uproar in the main stand when Hibs fans celebrated among the home supporters but they were silenced three minutes later when Falkirk pulled a goal back.

Russell Latapy had replaced Craig a few minutes earlier and he had an immediate impact on the game when he supplied a superb ball for McBreen to lash home.

However, Falkirk's joy was short-lived when Hibs found the back of the net again in the 73rd minute when a Fletcher cross bounced fortuitously off the body of Sproule and into the back of the net.

The tie was killed off three minutes later when Caldwell met a Glass corner to squeeze a close-range header home at the near post.

Fletcher completed the rout when he grabbed Hibs' fifth goal of the day with two minutes to go to compound Falkirk's misery.