So suddenly David Jeffrey's class of 2008 have earned the right to be talked about in the same breath as past heroes.

Like those who last completed three league and cup doubles in the distant past.

You really do have to blow away the dust from the archives to discover it was Linfield again who achieved such a marvellous feat 115 years ago £ starting in 1891.

Yesterday's victory - achieved in a sensational three minute spell just after the break - chalked up Linfield's 39th cup success just a week after winning the league title for an amazing 48th time.

But it certainly wasn't the easy touch some pundits thought it would be.

Bookies had installed the Blues as clear favourites at odds of 2/11 and as usual they got it right.

But if the truth be told the odds were a bit generous because in the first half it was the Bannsiders who looked every inch the favourites.

They led 1-0 thanks to a strike from central defender Paddy McLaughlin following a corner Noel Bailie conceded when keeper Alan Mannus was slow to leave his territory to collect.

Dangerman Stephen Carson whipped over the corner and when Marty Hunter's header was cleared off the line by Aidan O'Kane, the ball fell kindly for McLaughlin and he needed no invitation to have a go and the ball rocketed low just inside Mannus' left hand post.

Coleraine were industrious and played throughout with their hearts on their sleeve but courage isn't always enough and Linfield needed only seven minutes of the second half to turn the game on its head.

Linfield were in no mood to pass up the chance of another moment of history and gradually took the initiative.

It was all down to those opening minutes of the second half. Dickson replaced Paul McAreavey and suddenly the Blues looked a different side.

And it was the old firm of Ferguson and Thompson who did the damage.

Pistol Pete fired home the goals but it was the skill and craft of Spike who created the chances.

For the first in 49 minutes Fergie stepped over the ball leaving Thommo to roll McLaughlin and beat Davy O'Hare with a low left footer.

Three minutes later sub Dickson's perseverance saw the ball break for Fergie and he immediately released his strike partner to score this time with the right foot, the ball squeezing through the legs of the hapless O'Hare.

On reflection Coleraine will feel they missed the boat in that first half when they took the lead and missed a couple of glorious opportunities to put the issue beyond doubt. They will also look back on a great save by Mannus when he somehow got his right hand to a swerving blast from Davy Patton.

But it's all about scoring goals and on the day it was Linfield's deadly hitman Thompson, voted Man-of-the-Match, who produced with a lethal double to bring his tally for the season to 44!