After the goal, Suburbs settled into the game and found their rhythm, getting back on level terms when Birkenhead turned the ball over deep in their own half. Mohamed Awad was played into the box and dummied his way around a challenge before firing past Hirst in the 34th minute.
Wests looked the more likely to claim the lead heading into halftime and should have done so in the 40th minute on the back of a hotly-debated penalty decision. Nathanael Hailemariam stepped up to take it but was denied by a spectacular save from Hirst. It was a huge moment in the match - and when the second half and extra time came and went without goals, Hirst was called upon to be the hero again in the penalty shootout.
Both sides struggled to keep their composure initially, with each team missing their first spot-kick, but the subsequent penalties were all successful. So it went until Hirst pulled off another great save to keep out Dominic Wooldridge's attempt and bring the cup back to Auckland's North Shore.
Earlier, Dunedin Technical made history when they won the inaugural Kate Sheppard Cup, beating Forrest Hill Milford United 4-2.
The first team from Dunedin to make the final of New Zealand's premier women's knockout competition, Dunedin Technical dominated the match from the outset and won the final on the back of a commanding first half performance in which they scored four goals.
Forrest Hill Milford fought hard to get back into the game, but Dunedin Technical were good enough to hold on for a memorable win.
Shontelle Smith, who drove most of Tech's attacking play from midfield and set up two of their goals, was named as the player of the final and the recipient of the Maia Jackman Trophy.
"This means the world," said the 21-year-old. "We came up here and thought that if we play our best and get beaten then that is ok, but we played our best and we won. This is huge for female players in Football South because we don't get a lot of recognition and hopefully this will change that."
