Hopes rest on Ross County

Not been a vintage season, has it?

It started with Livingston's demotion to Division Three, and the usual rank rotten contributions by Scottish clubs in Europe. And now, for many fans, it's over before the end of March.

The SPL title race has been run, and only protocol prevents the handing of the trophy to Rangers now. Discounting the Scottish Cup, the Old Firm have little left to play for this season.

Hibs' season finished last night, when they were dumped out of that competition by Ross County. It's amazing to think that in late January, with Sol Bamba returning from the African Cup of Nations, many commentators were suggesting Hibs could finish above Celtic in the league and maybe - just maybe - end their 108 year hurt in the Cup.

Instead, after making hard work of the easiest possible draw all the way through, they are licking their wounds again, and wondering where the next win might come from. Hibs' traditional post-New Year slump has been more brutal than usual this year.

Dundee Utd and Motherwell may well be duking it out from 3rd spot til the last game of the season, but given our nation's woeful record in Europe, will it really matter?

And Hearts, having all but secured the top six and won a derby, will probably consider their business done for the season. They've nothing else to play for.

Falkirk, meanwhile, ain't dead and buried yet, but they still look odds-on for relegation. Unless they actually haul themselves off the bottom of the table, we'll struggle to get interested in this one too.

So well done to Ross County. Their victory over Hibs in the Scottish Cup has been described as the biggest result in the club's history, and was celebrated with a proper old-fashioned pitch invasion. Their prize is a semi-final against Celtic at Hampden.

Please, oh please, let them win that one as well.