Hibernian booked their place in the CIS Insurance Cup final - but only after being pushed all the way by First Division club St Johnstone.

Extra-time goals from David Murphy and Abdessalam Benjelloun allowed Hibs to book their place in the Hampden showpiece with Kilmarnock on March 18, after Steven Fletcher's early opener was cancelled out by Jason Scotland.

Hibs may have got there in the end, but tonight's epic match at Tynecastle will raise all sorts of questions about how well they will cope without former skipper Kevin Thomson.

He was sold to Rangers 24 hours earlier in a deal worth around £2million, despite promises from manager John Collins that Thomson and team-mate Scott Brown were going nowhere until the summer.

Furious fans jammed radio phone-in shows before tonight's match at Tynecastle to voice their anger at the departure of one of their best players to one of their main rivals in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

While Thomson was making his Gers debut in a practice match at Airdrie, the task for Hibs was simple - prove life goes on without their star midfielder.

The jury is still out after tonight's display, despite the outcome.

However, the Edinburgh side did enjoy the best possible start to the game by taking the lead with just three minutes on the clock.

Murphy released Ivan Sproule down the left flank and he took advantage of poor defending to cut back into the path of Fletcher, who had plenty of space and time to bullet home the opener from 25 yards.

St Johnstone immediately tried to hit back and Scotland was not too far away with a blistering effort, which fell the wrong side of the post.

The first booking of the game came after five minutes, when Allan McManus was fortunate to escape with a yellow card for a two-footed challenge on Guillaume Beuzelin.

Only the woodwork prevented the First Division outfit falling further behind when Brown's effort cracked off the crossbar.

Hibs were desperate for a second goal and Dean Shiels almost obliged when he went on a mazy run which took him past several blue jerseys - only to squander the opportunity by blasting well over.

The effort proved to be the last real opportunity of the opening period and St Johnstone boss Owen Coyle's half-time team talk must have been inspiring.

Saints almost had the net bulging shortly after the restart when Rob Jones' clearance from a corner fell to the feet of Martin Hardie and he drilled just wide of the upright.

Almost immediately, Hardie had the opportunity to make amends but his volley was also off-target and his reaction suggested he was well aware he should have done better.

Saints continued to press forward in search of the equaliser and Scotland found Peter MacDonald on the left flank but his effort was denied the back of the net by the hulking frame of Shelton Martis.

Goalscorer Fletcher picked up a caution for a challenge on McInnes with 20 minutes to go - and his frustration was perhaps indicative of the pressure Hibs were under.

The top flight side finally wilted after 75 minutes when Saints drew level.

Substitute Filipe Morais was the provider with a superb cross and Scotland did well to rise above Jones and nod home from six yards.

Morais was involved in the action again when Hibs claimed he handled a Martis ball in the area but the penalty pleas were ignored by the referee.

Scotland's goal proved to be enough to force the game into extra-time but the First Division battlers' hopes were dashed when Hibs regained their lead within two minutes.

A McInnes foul on Brown proved costly when Murphy's well-placed resultant free-kick swerved home despite a touch from goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert.

The goal sparked another fightback from a courageous St Johnstone side but a last-gasp strike from Benjelloun ensured Hibs' would be making the trip to Hampden for the final.

Teams

St Johnstone Cuthbert, Lawrie, McManus, James, Stanic,Mensing, McInnes, Hardie (Jackson 95), Sheerin,MacDonald (Morais 68), Scotland.

Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Anderson, Dyer.

Booked: McManus, Hardie, McInnes, Jackson, Lawrie.

Goals: Scotland 76.

Hibernian McNeil, Whittaker, Martis, Jones, Murphy,Sproule (McCann 67), Scott Brown, Stewart (Benjelloun 46),Shiels (Stevenson 59), Fletcher, Beuzelin.

Subs Not Used: Hogg, Simon Brown.

Booked: Scott Brown, Fletcher.

Goals: Fletcher 3, Murphy 92, Benjelloun 120.

After Extra Time

Att: 16,112

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).