St Mirren 3 Hearts 2

Yesterday it seemed that way again.

For the first time in 26 long years Saints have a major trophy to their name.

At Hampden their black and white colours draped from the League Cup.

Iain Ferguson was the hero of Buddies everywhere in their 1987 Scottish Cup victory.

Here it was so fitting that one of their match-winners was someone who stood, wide-eyed on the east slopes all those years ago.

Steven Thompson grew up with a dream of marching into the history books and joining legends he once idolised.

With one swipe of his left foot, he did. In a pulsating five-goal cup final, Esmael Goncalves and Conor Newton hit vital goals to send 15,600 Paisley fans delirious.

Poor Ryan Stevenson struck twice for the Kambos, but ultimately his goals amounted to nothing.

Hearts had hoped this was their date with destiny as they aimed win back-to-back trophies following their historic win over Hib in last season’s Scottish Cup Final.

But lifelong Jambo Gary Locke was denied a result he would have cherished for the rest of his days.

Calendars said it was St Patrick’s Day, but it wasn’t. It was St Mirren’s.

Danny Lennon and his side only felt like they had died and gone to heaven. Truth is, they are immortal now. Those Buddies supporters pushed them through the game and then pulled them back to Paisley.

There in the town crowds gathered to salute their stars in an open-top bus parade, just like Alex Smith’s heroes did before them.

Having beaten Celtic in the semi-final, no one can deny Saints deserved to lift this rare piece of silverware on a day to remember.

But spare a thought for Hearts supporters, players and staff who have had a season they would love to forget.

Just ten months ago they celebrated their greatest ever result when they hammered Hibs at Hampden.

But since then it has been a catalogue of chaos.

John McGlynn arguably should have been the man leading out the men in maroon at the national stadium but ruthless owner Vladimir Romanov took the decision to wield the axe and deny him one of the biggest thrills of his life.

McGlynn was in the stand beside the Lithuanian owner urging on his former players.

From the off it did not look like they needed any help.

Hearts has such a great start to the game they could have had the final done and dusted before half-time.

They went in front after 14 minutes and fully deserved their goal with Saints struggling to get any foothold.

Stevenson put them ahead after running at full-back Paul Dummett who stood off him, with the midfielder twisting and turning on his way.

Unleashing his right foot shot, it clipped off the defender and looped over keeper Craig Samson.

It had luck with it as it flew into the net, but there was no denying that Hearts merited the lead. Saints just could not get going and the final was in real danger of passing them by.

In 21 minutes ex-Saint John Sutton hit the post with a header after a great cross from youngster Jamie Walker.

It was a major let off for the Buddies who were hanging on grimly.

Samson saved a free-kick in 28 minutes then two minutes later Mehdi Taouil flashed a tremendous ball across the six yard box which had no taker.

The massive Hearts support must have sensed a second goal was on its way — and it was.

Out of nowhere it was Saints who got it with a leveller in 37 minutes.

Gary Teale expertly beat the Hearts offside trap down the right flank with skipper Andy Webster playing a high line.

Darting into the box and cleverly drawing keeper Jamie MacDonald from his line, Teale unselfishly laid the ball across for Goncalves to steer the ball into the empty net. Saints were back in it and confidence surged through their legs like electricity.

The break gave both gaffers a chance to regroup.

But seconds into the second half St Mirren stormed into a sensational lead.

The excellent Dummett worked the ball in from the left and fired in a near post cross which Thompson was alive to, unlike his marker Danny Wilson.

Using his experience to get across Wilson he blasted a great shot high into the net.

Saints fans had not seen a more important left-foot strike into those goals since Fergie’s winner in ’87.

Hearts were now the team chasing the game which was being played at a thrilling pace. Michael Ngoo almost levelled in 52 minutes when Taouil picked him out after a terrific run into the box off the right wing.

At the other end Paul McGowan pulled a shot wide from the edge of the box.

It was end to end stuff with the next goal crucial as to which trophy cabinet the silverware was going to grace.

Critically it was Saints who got it. With 66 minutes on the clock, on-loan Newcastle starlet Newton latched on to a threaded through ball from Goncalves after Wilson lost his run.

With the goal at his mercy he steadied himself before rattling a tremendous shot into the net. At 3-1 up it was an unbelievable turnaround but Hearts refused to lie down.

In 82 minutes Samson pulled off a crucial stop.

Within 60 seconds Stevenson hit the bar when he looked certain to find the back of the net. It was backs to the wall stuff for the Buddies, who were battling desperately to maintain their two-goal lead and see the game out.

But with five minutes left Hearts pulled one back.

Stevenson was played in by Ngoo on the left and from a tight angle squeezed a low shot beyond Samson’s outstretched arm.

Buddies fans were now living in fear of being pegged back, with Hearts looking to force a leveller to take the game into extra-time.

Amazingly Stevenson hit the woodwork again with an effort off the post after an initial block from Samson.

But after nerve-wracking added time ref Craig Thomson blew for time up and signalled the start of a massive Paisley party which will go for days to come.