Season 2004–05 was a relative success for Hibernian, as the team performed well in the league, finishing third and qualifying for the UEFA Cup in Tony Mowbray's first season as manager. Hibs lost to league strugglers Dundee United in both cup competitions; 2–1 in a Scottish Cup semi-final, and 2–1 after extra time in the League Cup quarter-final. The season also saw the development of a number of promising young players, particularly strikers Derek Riordan and Garry O'Connor. This relative success came after the club had been disappointingly beaten by FK Vetra in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Hibs enjoyed a successful first season under new manager Tony Mowbray, as the club finished 3rd in the league and qualified for the next season's UEFA Cup competition. Hibs were pushed for third place by Aberdeen and only clinched the position on the final day of the season. The final day match was against Rangers, who needed to win to have a chance of winning the championship, while Hibs needed to avoid a heavy defeat to prevent Aberdeen overtaking them on goal difference. Rangers took a 1–0 lead after 59 minutes, and the later stages of the game were played out without either team chasing a goal as it suited their needs. Highlights of the season included wins at Tynecastle and Celtic Park, which were big steps towards finishing in such a high position.

...
Wikipedia