A penalty six minutes from time by Abdessalam Benjelloun gave Hibernian the win that cements their third place in the Scottish Premier League.
Kilmarnock's Ryan O'Leary hit the post in four minutes and Graham Stack saved Conor Sammon's shot from the rebound.
Derek Riordan offered the most potent goalscoring threat for the Easter Road side as he peppered Kilmarnock keeper Mark Brown's goal with shots.
Gavin Skelton fouled Benjelloun and the Moroccan converted from the spot.
Kilmarnock had the first chance in the Easter
Road sunshine.
Hibernian goalkeeper Stack blocked a weak effort by Sammon after O'Leary's shot had bounced off the post and found the Killie striker ill-prepared to pounce from three yards out.
Two pieces of skill in the first 20 minutes Riordan showed the form that persuaded George Burley to include him in the Scotland squad for Japan.
First he cracked a shot just over the bar from outside the box, then left Danny Invincibile chasing shadows as he cut inside from the left wing and fired into the side netting.
Despite this being an open match, Brown had only one save to make in the first half, a shot from Benjelloun, who later was inches away from connecting with an Anthony Stokes knock-down in front of goal.
For Kilmarnock, Jamie Hamill ran clear of Kevin McBride and fired in a wonderful curling shot in 36 minutes which went just wide of Stack's post.
Frazer Wright, having recovered from a knock to make the starting line-up, was tremendous at the back for Jim Jefferies' side.
Time after time he put his body between the Hibs strikers and goal as the home side pushed for the points that would cement their third place in the league.
If his bravery was commendable, Wright's timing in the tackle was exemplary.
As Zemmama galloped towards Brown's goal, the Killie defender, rather than commit himself too early, tracked the run of the Moroccan and cleared the danger without breaking sweat.
With the Leith faithful urging their team forward, Riordan, sticking to the left flank, looked their best bet for a goal.
In 72 minutes he forced a save from Brown from 18 yards, then five minutes later a swerving effort had the Killie number one flummoxed but relieved to see the ball go over his bar.
Skelton conceded a penalty by fouling Benjelloun with seven minutes to go and, after a debate with Zemmama over who should take the spot kick, Benjelloun stepped up to score his 18th goal in 76 appearances.
Sandy's Match Pic's are HERE
