The 2005-06 campaign was a season of soaring ambition and eventual frustration for Hibernian, who finished a respectable 4th in the Scottish Premier League, securing a spot in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Under manager Tony Mowbray, The Hibees roared out of the blocks, defeating Rangers 3-0 at Ibrox, a victory immortalized by Ivan Sproule's stunning second-half hat-trick. Leading the charge was the clinical young striker Derek Riordan, whose 16 league goals (20 total) proved his immense value and earned him the Young Player of the Year award. However, the season was also defined by a significant dip in form after Christmas, and a crushing 4-0 loss to rivals Hearts in the Scottish Cup Semi-final, marking a period of unfulfilled potential for the talented 'Golden Generation' side before Riordan’s eventual departure.