Big game hunter Craig McCracken was the Auchinleck hero again as his stunning second half drive secured Talbot a 14th triumph in the Junior Cup.
The defender - who netted an opener against Largs in the 2019 final and a last gasp winner against Hurlford United a year earlier at Rugby Park - returned to the scene to deliver a 73rd minute hammer blow to brave Yoker Athletic.
McCracken also scored the winner in Talbot’s famous Scottish Cup victory over Ayr United three years ago and was the toast of the Ayrshire village last night as Tommy Sloan’s side made it a cup double just a fortnight after lifting the South Challenge trophy against Bonnyrigg Rose.
Jamie Glasgow’s 90th minute strike put the seal on a 2-0 victory.
But Talbot were made to dig deep by a Yoker side who made a mockery of pre-match odds that gave the impression they were only in Kilmarnock to collect runners-up medals.
Gordon Robertson’s side - three divisions below Talbot last season - had the better of the first half and had the giants of the junior game seriously rattled before McCracken’s intervention.
But the trophy returns to Beechwood Park for the third time in a row as Talbot equal their previous record set by legendary boss Willie Knox’s side between 1986 and 1988.
Rugby Park was bathed in June sunshine making for a survival of the fittest contest.
And while Yoker were enjoying their day in the sun - their first final since winning the competition in 1933 - the Holm Park side were far from making up the numbers.
SFA chief Ian Maxwell was among the crowd as he looked for a footballing remedy to the nation’s World Cup play-off pain.
And he would have been on the edge of his seat as the contest sat on a knife edge for 73 minutes.
Yoker were predictably snapping at Talbot’s heels, denying the Ayrshiremen any rhythm although the baking heat meant the tanks were in for a severe test of endurance.
Greg Maitland stretched Andy Leishman with a well executed 25 yard effort after neat work from David Crerand just five minutes in.
Up top Scott Gallacher was stretching the Talbot backline as Yoker looked to get in behind the full backs and the 7/1 long shots were looking comfortable after half an hour’s play with goalkeeper Scott Urquhart still to be tested.
Talbot were flat, lacking a spark and looked every inch a team that had underestimated a side that Sloan admitted pre-match he’d not managed to watch despite his best efforts.
And they had a scare moments before the break when Ross McDonald stepped onto Gallacher’s lay-off and struck the side netting with a low drive that had Leishman beaten.
Sloan must have had concerns over his side’s first half display which had failed to register a single effort on target. But he kept faith with the same 11 after the break and finally saw his side exert some decent pressure.
Bryan Boylan’s rasping effort after 50 minutes was deflected into the side netting.
Urquhart was then called into action as he threw himself to his left to brilliantly turn a Graham Wilson header wide.
Jamie Glasgow was introduced after 68 minutes as Talbot looked for extra pace and creativity with Dwayne Hyslop also thrown on for the ineffective Mark Shankland.
But it was McCracken who, true to his name, stunned Yoker with a thumping 25 yard drive with 17 minutes remaining.
There looked little danger as Kieran Healy slid the centre half in but McCracken turned, drove into space and unleashed a pearler that Urquhart got a glove to but could do little to prevent bulging the net.
Finally the black and gold support who had made the short journey up the A76 were alive.
McCracken then thumped the crossbar from Glasgow’s free kick as Talbot looked to put the icing on the cake.
Glasgow put the seal on things in the 90th minute when he stabbed home from close range after latching onto Wilson’s flick.
