Two second-half goals from Josh Landers weren’t enough to see the game out for the Hibees, as the hosts came back from two goals down, with Rocco Friel and Ryan Duncan both netting late on for Hearts.
As it happened...
Hibs began the game the brighter of the two sides as they looked to impose their game on their Edinburgh rivals.
Rory Whittaker was proving to be a menace down the right-hand side with his physical presence and balls into the box.
As the half went on, Hearts began to grow into the game after a slow start, and created a few opportunities.
Freddie Owens was called into action for the first time when Bobby Mcluckie played a teasing ball into the box which Rocco Friel met, however, he was denied well by Owens who made himself big to deny Hearts an opener.
The hosts continued to control large parts of the play as Callum Sandilands sent an ambitious volley from distance wide of goal.
Not long after that, Hibs created their first chance of the game when Rudi Molotnikov sent a long-range effort just wide of the post.
The final opportunity of the half came from the hosts. A good run from Rocco Friel, who had been at the centre of most Hearts attacks, teeing up Callum Sandilands on the byline as he played a ball across the face of the goal, however, no one was there to meet it. A let-off for the Hibees.
Second half...
Hibs knew they had to come out and create more in the second half having had very little goalmouth action in the first 45.
It was the response Hibs would’ve hoped for as they started the half on the front foot putting the Hearts defence under pressure early on.
Harry Wright found space in the middle of the park as he picked out Rudi Molotnikov with a neat pass who went on to skip past his man but was unable to convert his effort goalwards.
Rudi Molotnikov’s high corner into the box then troubled Zach Paris as he was forced to punch it away only to the feet of Jacob McIntyre who fired his shot just wide of goal.
Hibs got their reward for their relentless pressure as they opened the scoring just shy of the hour mark.
Jacob MacIntyre delivered a pinpoint ball to the far post, which was met by the lively Josh Landers, whose downward header beat Zach Paris to put the Hibees in front.
Hibs wasted absolutely no time in adding to their advantage with Josh Landers netting his second only minutes after his opener.
It came as Reuben McAllister played a good ball into the area, which was controlled well by Landers, who was able to take a touch before finishing low past Zach Paris.
The Hibs forward then missed a glorious chance for his hat trick, when he was played through on goal with only the Hearts keeper to beat but watched agonisingly as his effort came off the post.
Despite the wee Hibees being by far the better of the two sides for the majority of the half, Hearts began to come back into the game in the final 20 minutes.
Hibs were forced to make their first change of the evening when Rudi Molotnikov was forced off with an injury with Jay McGarva coming on to replace him.
The hosts then gave themselves a lifeline just shy of the 75th minute mark when Rocco Friel grabbed a goal back from a corner. Hearts had hit the bar from the corner, however, the ball fell nicely to Rocco Friel at the far post who was never going to miss.
It was a flurry of pressure from the hosts for the final 10 or so minutes as the Hibs' defence was pegged back.
Callum Sandilands effort from inside the area was well tipped over the bar by Freddie Owens, who was at full stretch to prevent it from going in.
Hearts eventually found an equaliser five minutes from time with Ryan Duncan’s squeezing his effort past Freddie Owens at his near post.
Callum Sandilands had made a good run into the box, skipping past a few Hibs players before setting up Duncan, who was unmarked in the box.
Dean Clelland had the final opportunity of the game, however, he could only put his effort from the edge of the area well over the crossbar.
That proved to be the final action of note in a dramatic second half as the points were shared at Oriam.
Gareth Evans' side are next in action when they face Celtic on Monday 8 May at HTC.
Hibs Starting XI: Owens, Whittaker, Bulloch, Khan, Waugh, McAllister, J. MacIntyre, Molotnikov, Wright, Cleland, Landers.
Subs: Samuels, McGarva, Smith, McMurdo, McGrath, Calder
