McGrath simply drilled the ball hard – and we mean hard – across the six-yard box at a height of about seven-and-a-half feet after winning a free kick following Jordan Obita’s adventure down the left. Bushiri met it with his forehead at the back post, sending his effort screaming past a defeated Max Stryjek.

Youan made it 2-0 just over five minutes later, taking a sublime through ball from Hoilett and beating Stryjek despite the goalkeeper’s touch on the ball. Hibs were now firmly in control of the game. And looking for new goals.

Bushiri, on the other hand, was too easily beaten by Marcus Dackers on the wing, after the centre-back gave up possession early on with a surging run and an inaccurate pass, allowing the Killie No. 9 to cut the ball back for Polworth. His sliding effort was successful despite Jordan Obita’s best efforts on the goal line.

Dackers squandered a golden opportunity just 30 seconds into the second half, shooting over from five yards out with little pressure. However, the equaliser was not long in coming. Hibs actually cleared their lines quite well after a corner kick.

They couldn’t explain Brannan’s incredible goal, a right-footed volley from well outside the box that arced over Jordan Smith and into the far top corner.

As the game entered its final phase, both teams had chances, with goalkeeper Smith almost giving Killie a goal, and Josh Mulligan making the wrong decision on a three-man counterattack with Dylan Levitt and substitute Martin Boyle.

Mulligan’s hard running and Boyle’s goal-scoring instincts contributed significantly. But Hibs never seemed to click. And had to settle for a single point when they could have had three.