The ace Linfield goal poacher turned the JJB Sports Irish Cup Final on its head just when Coleraine looked like being the ultimate party poopers.

And if Marty Quinn wasn't feeling bad enough, he even got a smacker from David Jeffrey as his side's brave fight ended in vain, but this was yet again Linfield and Thompson's day.

Don't Stop Believing would perhaps be a more appropriate tune for the south Belfast men, although the customary dance from the Blues' manager was missing from the repertoire.

Having watched the Linfield team fail abysmally in Soccer AM's Crossbar Challenge in the morning it seemed to be a day when bovine backsides were destined to be spared the pain of being struck by banjos.

Paddy McLaughlin showed them how to do it, the big centre-half reacted quickest when Marty Hunter's header was cleared off the line and he hammered it past Alan Mannus.

There were few stars in 45 opening minutes for the team looking for a third double in three seasons, but it's a good thing the players and manager didn't share the angst of the less than happy Blues' fans at the break.

The chorus of boos that heralded the half-time whistle certainly showed that but three minutes after the restart that was all forgotten as Thompson took centre stage.

Another three minutes and it was the same story, Thompson released by one of the oldest swingers in town, Glenn Ferguson, and the ball was in the net.

It wasn't game, set and match at that stage, there were still fingernails to be gnawed but, try as they might, Coleraine couldn't scrape their way back into it and this Linfield squad's place in history was secured.

It was certainly more secure than the stage that was being erected on the Windsor Park pitch, not so much Blues Brothers as Chuckle Brothers, as something resembling a giant toilet seat came into view.

The Linfield boss took himself away from the throng on the pitch but, just as we all expected him to change into dancing pumps, he fooled us all but showed his appreciation to the Blues' fans by respectfully applauding them.

Back to the stage and the champions were led up to collect their silver discs by Ferguson, and the way was then cleared for captain sensible Noel Bailie to get his hands on the Irish Cup yet again.

And the tune to finish it all will be one that will reverberate for some time around Windsor Park - are you watching east Belfast?

This is a number one team that may be around for some time yet.