Hibernians claimed the Meridianbet FA Trophy for the eleventh FA Trophy in the history of the club after defeating Birkirkara 2-1 in the final in front of five thousand spectators at the National Stadium on Sunday.
The Paolites will therefore represent Malta in the UEFA Conference League this summer as cup winners, along with 360Sports Malta Premier runners-up Birkirkara and third-placed Floriana.
Birkirkara, on the other hand, lost the second final in a week after losing the Championship final of the 360Sports Malta Premier to Hamrun Spartans.
Hibernians managed to take the lead on 14 minutes when Apostolos Martinis beat goalkeeper Giacomo Volpe with a direct freekick after Alessandro Coppola brought Miullen down outside the area with the Italian defender being sent off by referee Malcolm Spiteri.
Volpe performed a good save on Lucas Villela on 27 minutes but four minutes later, Donovan Makoma had a shot from midfield ending just over the bar.
Nicholas James Agius went close for Birkirkara when he rounded two players before testing goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez with a powerful shot which was however blocked by the Hibernians custodian on 37 minutes and just before the end of the first half, Leandro Lacunza just failed to connect off an inviting cross by Alex Satariano from the left.
Five minutes in the second half, Lucas Villela rounded a defender before testing Volpe with a fine shot from the edge of the area which was turned into a corner by the Birkirkara goalkeeper.
Pablo Sanchez performed a great save on a close-range effort by Pablo Gaitan on 58 minutes and five minutes later, Villela had a diagonal shot from thje right which scraped past the post.
Birkirkara levelled matters on 72 minutes after they were awarded a freekick when Alex Satariano was brought down just outside the area by Khevin Fraga. Maxuell Maia delivered the freekick, placing the ball in the top left corner.
However, ten minutes from time, Hibernians regained the lead. Apostolos Martinis delivered a corner from the right and Kurt Shaw headed home past goalkeeper Volpe.
In the final stages, Hibs went close to increasing the lead further with Lucas Villela hitting the foot of the upright off a cross by Alex Bruno on 86 minutes and five minutes in added time into stoppage time, Volpe came to the rescue for Birkirkara, blocking a close-range effort by Alex Bruno from the right.
Apostolos Martinis was voted Player of the Match.
After the match, the Paolities were presented with the trophy by Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo.