Boyd holds aloft the Scottish Cup after a match-winning display
Rangers rallied for one last push in what has been an arduous and ultimately rewarding campaign.
Scottish Cup success against Queen of the South adds to their CIS Cup triumph and goes some way to softening the blow of losing out in the title race and in the Uefa Cup final.
Of course, victory was expected against First Division opponents. But, boy, did Walter Smith's men have to work hard on their last day of term.
When Rangers trotted off at half-time two goals to the good, the contest looked well and truly over.
But gallant Queen of the South had other ideas.
Manager Gordon Chisholm must have delivered a stirring speech at the interval because Queens were soon level and suddenly we had the prospect of a major upset.
However, we don't get many shocks in Scottish Cup finals.
The oldest trophy in world football has been up for grabs on 123 occasions, but only once has it gone to a team outside the top flight.
Not for the first time this season, Rangers had to dig deep and their graft and resilience was rewarded when Kris Boyd headed home his second goal to clinch the trophy.
Skipper Barry Ferguson hardly had the strength to the lift the cup after an energy-sapping adventure.
And the winning players appeared shattered on their rather subdued lap of honour.
Prior to the match, the worry had been that one team would be dreaming of a well-earned summer holiday, while the other had already started theirs.
This was the 68th game of a hectic campaign for Rangers and it came less than 48 hours after final day heartache in the championship race.
Queens played their last competitive match four weeks ago.
However, both sides came flying out of the traps and the whirlwind pace seldom slowed on a thrilling afternoon at a sun-drenched Hampden.
Chisholm's side buzzed with the same enthusiasm that put Aberdeen to the sword in a memorable semi-final.
Rangers were rather more considered in their approach, but an adventurous line-up saw them playing with four up top when attacking.
DaMarcus Beasley bedecked in red,white and blue bunting
And Boyd, so often overlooked for bigger games, thrived with support from Jean-Claude Darcheville, Lee McCulloch and DaMarcus Beasley.
The Scotland striker cracked in a wonderful opener and Rangers fans started celebrating in earnest when Beasley rolled in the second goal just before the break.
But it was the Blues from Dumfries who were singing and dancing when Stevie Tosh bundled in Sean O'Connor's smart delivery early in the second half.
And, soon after, Jim Thomson thumped in a great header to send the Queens fans into further raptures.
The gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us 'the queen of the south shall rise up', but the only team to get a name-check in the Bible were undone by Boyd's predatory nature.
The Rangers hero added the kind of simple goal he is associated with when he rose to nod home from a corner on 72 minutes.
Queens fans contributed hugely to an entertaining day and can be proud of their team, who only turned full-time last summer.
They roared their favourites on with passion and the 15,500 tickets sold suggest Gretna's former benefactor, Brooks Mileson, backed the wrong horse in the south west.
Rangers will be sore at missing out on the SPL title, having squandered a healthy lead over the gruelling closing stages.
But supporters of the Ibrox club can reflect on the mess they were in before Smith returned 18 months ago and be satisfied with two trophies.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?