The contrast in confidence displayed by both sides in possession could hardly have been more stark in the first half.
Hibs played some lovely stuff, with the interchanges between Youan and Junior Hoilett in particular a cut above anything Killie were able to offer.
The visitors dominated the ball and fashioned some good openings. If David Gray had one complaint at the break, it may have been his team’s failure to make the most of that dominance by creating more clear-cut chances.
That could have proved costly because a Killie side who looked well off it in that opening period suddenly found the intensity and energy that had been lacking in their performance.
They started to hustle and harry Hibs out of their rhythm and that was perhaps best demonstrated by the melee in the penalty area that ended with John-Jules stabbing home the equaliser.
Hibs weathered the mini-storm and finished strongly and there can be few arguments that they were deserving winners.
There was no shortage of desire on show from Killie, but a lack of quality could be there undoing this season.
Unless they can bring in some reinforcements in this transfer window, whoever the new man is in the Rugby Park dugout will face an uphill battle to keep them in the Premiership.
More to follow.