The victory saw us overcome a shock 2-1 defeat in Andorra and progress in the competition 7-3 on aggregate.
Martin Boyle notched a brace on his long-awaited return to competitive action, Josh Campbell also grabbed a double whilst there were further goals from Christian Doidge and Elie Youan.
The Andorrans, to their credit, kept going until the very end and notched a late consolation goal through a wonderful effort from substitute Angel De La Torre.
Supporters were boosted by the big news that new signing Will Fish and the talismanic figure of Boyle would be starting.
Both were listed amongst five changes made by Lee Johnson following last week’s loss in Andorra.
Allan Delferrière, Joe Newell and Doidge were the others to be given the nod as we sought to overcome a first leg loss. Understandably, our Andorran visitors were unchanged.
Just ahead of kick-off there was a further switch in our line-up after goalkeeper David Marshall picked up a hamstring injury during the warm-up and was replaced by Jojo Wollacott.
It was clear from kick-off that Inter were looking to frustrate and slow play to a crawl however we got the early goal we desperately wanted.
There was only nine minutes on the clock when Newell’s lovely ball over the top released Boyle and although Adria Munoz got to the ball first, all he could do was knock it against the Hibs forward who gratefully slotted it into the empty net.
It was just the start we had wanted and there was palpable relief around Easter Road that it had come early on.
To their credit, Inter went close to a leveller soon after when a wonderful, 30-yard free-kick from Ander El Haddadi had the beating of Wollacott only to finish just wide of the far post.
Having earlier lost Marshall to a hamstring injury, we would lose a second goalkeeper to the same injury after only 16 minutes of play.
That meant a debut for Max Boruc. The young 'keeper was not part of the original matchday squad and had played for the Development Squad the night before, however fate ensured he was now thrown into senior action on the European stage.
On 21 minutes a Jake Doyle-Hayes pass released Campbell on the right and from his cross Youan saw an effort saved by Munoz at his near post.
We quickly recycled play and from Newell’s inch perfect delivery, Boyle nodded home his second goal of the evening.
Inter should have done better with their first chance from open play soon after when Jean-Luc’s hanging cross from the left was met by El Haddadi, who could only head wide from a good position.
The pair would combine again soon after with Lewis Stevenson bravely blocking El Haddadi’s back post volley, at the expense of a corner kick.
The supporters were getting their money’s worth this evening with a terrific entertaining game and we almost had a third goal to celebrate as Newell slalomed his way through a ruck of red shirts only for his final shot to be deflected wide for a corner kick.
A third goal was only delayed briefly as Doyle-Hayes swung in the corner kick, Fish’s header came back off the crossbar and Doidge reacted instinctively by acrobatically hooking an overhead kick beyond Munoz.
It was the Welshman’s first competitive goal for us for 13 months and was the cue for the heavens to open as torrential rain battered the sodden Easter Road surface.
The boys were in the mood for goals and we almost grabbed a fourth on 34 minutes when Newell’s corner was met by Youan only for his glancing header to be beaten away by Munoz at his near post.
As half-time loomed Inter captain, Adrian Gallego, bravely blocked a powerful drive from Stevenson as we looked to put the contest to bed before the interval.
Yet, it took a stunning save from Boruc to preserve our advantage when he threw himself to his left to push away a header back from Fish that sparred his team-mate’s blushes.
The second half was only two minutes old when we scored our fourth goal. Defender Raul Feher attempted to head the ball back to Munoz but failed to get enough on it and Campbell nipped in to nod the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and score.
It was almost followed by a quick-fire fifth as Boyle danced along the byline before his cross was deflected just wide and seconds later Delferriere’s shot was saved by the stretching frame of Munoz, low to his left.
Despite our dominance, Inter had got themselves into good goalscoring positions on several occasions including in the 53rd minute when substitute Domi Berlanga was allowed to bring down a corner kick delivery at the back post, side-step Newell and blast a shot into the side netting.
Four goals to the good and the tie now over as a contest, Johnson made a triple change as Rocky, Dylan Levitt and Jordan Obita replaced Paul Hanlon, Newell and Boyle.
Levitt almost made an immediate impression on the game as his half-volley from the edge of the box was only just keep out by a stunning save from Munoz.
Moments later we thought we had a fifth goal as Levitt’s threaded through ball was poked past Munoz by Doidge, however the offside flag brought his celebration to a premature end.
On 61 minutes we scored again and this time it stood. Youan drove into the Inter box, drew Munoz before unselfishly squaring to Campbell to slot into the unguarded net for his second goal of the evening.
Four minutes later it was 6-0 as Youan again charged past Javier Duro into the Inter box and this time he slammed an unstoppable shot high into the net, giving Munoz no chance and notching the goal that his overall play had merited all evening.
Youngster Reuben McAllister made his senior debut when he replaced Lewis Stevenson for the final 22 minutes and was not shy about getting involved in a combative midfield tussle.
As the game entered the final ten minutes Munoz was perfectly placed to keep out a header from Rocky before the visitors grabbed a consolation goal.
Gallego’s cross from the right found De La Torre inside our penalty box and the substitute spun beautifully before arching an unstoppable effort beyond Boruc into the far corner of the net.
In the final seconds Rocky rose highest to powerfully head a Doyle-Hayes corner kick goalward only for yet another brilliant save from Munoz to deny him and prevent us notching a seventh goal.
At full-time Easter Road rose as one to acknowledge the efforts of the boys this evening as we comfortably progress in the competition and now turn our attention to the weekend’s cinch Premiership opener against St Mirren.
Saints’ boss Stephen Robinson was present at Easter Road this evening and will no doubt have been given food for thought following our impressive showing.
Hibernian: Wollacott (Boruc 18’), Hanlon (Bushiri 54’), Fish, Youan, Doyle-Hayes, Boyle (Obita 54’), Newell (Levitt 54’), Stevenson (McAllister 68’), Doidge, Delferriere, Campbell. Substitutes not used: Miller, Jeggo, Henderson, Le Fondre, Melkersen, Harbottle, Mackay.
Inter Club d’Escaldes: Munoz, De Nova, Jean-Luc, Andreu (De La Torre 76’), Feher (Chete 60’), Duro, Martinez, Kata (Berlanga 46’), El Haddadi (Artigas 60’), Caballe (Roca 76’), Gallego. Substitute not used: Gimenez.
Referee: Peter Kralovic (SVK).
Attendance: 13,840.
