St Johnstone lifted the SFL Challenge Cup for the first time at Dens Park on Sunday following a 3-2 win over First Division rivals Dunfermline.Saints showed no hangover from the midweek departure to Burnley of manager Owen Coyle, who was a spectator for this one as caretaker boss Sandy Stewart took charge.

And they won the cup thanks to a three-goal blast in the first half hour, when Paul Sheerin, Peter MacDonald and Kenny Deuchar scored.

Although Stephen Kenny's team fought bravely to try to make a game of it, pulling two goals back thanks to Scott Wilson and Stephen Glass, this will go down as another bad result in a nightmare season for the Irishman.

His troubles started in the 12th minute when Saints eased ahead from the penalty spot.

A deflected shot by MacDonald brought a corner on the left and when the Pars could not clear Sheerin's kick, Stephen Simmons was forced into a rash challenge on Steven Anderson.

He went crashing to the deck and referee Eddie Smith immediately pointed to the spot.

It was then left to Sheerin to step up and leave Paul Gallacher no chance with a drilled low shot.

Before the Perth fans had stopped celebrating it was almost 2-0 as Deuchar's header from a Gary Irvine cross flashed inches wide of the right post.

The second goal was only delayed and with just 18 minutes on the clock St Johnstone looked to have both hands on the trophy as MacDonald put them two up.

Goran Stanic's throw was headed on by Deuchar and when the ball broke to the striker he blasted it home with the outside of the foot from 14 yards.

Saints were rampant and with only 20 minutes on the clock it was close to being 3-0 as Gallacher was called on to beat away a fierce drive from Deuchar.

Ten minutes later Scottish football's most famous doctor did get on the score sheet as the first half turned into a rout.

A free-kick was played into the big striker and he turned Sol Bamba with embarrassing ease before shooting low past the hapless Gallacher for a deserved third.

Dunfermline had not been in the game at all, but nine minutes from half-time they were given some home when skipper Wilson headed home from close range to reduce the deficit.

And within seconds they were almost right back in the game as an 18-yard effort from Stevie Crawford was pushed just wide by veteran goalkeeper Alan Main.

At last the Fifers were making a contribution and Crawford turned neatly on the edge of the box before shooting too high.

Next a Bobby Ryan drive was brilliantly beaten away by Main. As he desperately tried to rescue the final, and possibly his job, Kenny sent on Darren Young for Calum Woods and on the stroke of half-time the substitute rattled the post with a shot.

Early in the second half the frame of the same goal was hit again when Saints' Rocco Quinn beat Gallacher with a low shot, only to see it rebound off the woodwork.

Midway through the half it was game on when Dunfermline won a penalty for Anderson's challenge on Jim Hamilton on the edge of the area.

Glass stroked home the spot-kick and a most unlikely comeback looked on.

The equaliser almost did come when Hamilton's cross was sliced against his own bar by Stanic.

As the Pars threw everything forward, Mark Burchill headed straight into Main's arms from no more than six yards.

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