The fairy tale is finally over and for St Mary's College it doesn't have a happy ending, as they exited the National RBTT InterCol after a 2-1 loss to El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
But El Dorado had to fight for every inch they got from the St Mary's defence and, if chances were anything to go by, the East Zone runners-up would have been looking at a drubbing.
St Mary's, however, went unrewarded for their bravery and "El Do" live to fight another day, for the most precious piece of silverware in schools football.
The North Zone winners should have taken the lead in the 21st, but national Under-17 midfielder Sean De Silva shot wide of the near post and T&T youth teammate Leston Paul dragged wide of the other upright four minutes later.
Most of the pressure was on El Dorado goalie Hakeem Blake, but he rose to the challenge to keep out threatening shots from Saints attackers.
Against the run of play, Gay, who was kept quiet by the St Mary's defence for most of the opening period, broke the deadlock, running onto a long clearance, outpacing his marker, and beating Saints 'keeper Matthew Jardim.
Defender Nicholas Walker then headed into the El Do net in first half stoppage time, but he was ruled offside.
The pressure, though, was building on the El Dorado defence and it eventually told in the 54th, Paul eluding three defenders in a beautiful solo run, then blasting beyond Blake.
The celebrations were defeaning from the St Mary's supporters and rhythm section, as they urged their team on.
The players responded, Paul and striker Hakeem King forcing the El Dorado defence to scramble away the ball on several occasions, but they were unable to find the winner.
Paul forced saves from Blake twice from close range and David Maloney's header came off El Do's near post.
The last chance for a late winner fell to El Dorado's Nuru Muhammad, but he failed to beat Jardim in a one-on-one.
Extra time, though, was the deciding period. Paul had two drives saved from close up, but that was as near as St Mary's would come to beating Blake again.
Gay was the main threat to the Saints' defence and they had trouble controlling him. In the 99th minute, he, made sure El Dorado will face the winners of today's semi-final between Naparima College and St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive.
In similar fashion to his opening goal, he raced onto a long ball, held off his marker's challenge and planted beyond Jardim as the goalie came rushing out.
This time, the Saints could find no answer to prolong their dream run. But, while it lasted, St Mary's contribution to the InterCol competition was exciting. El Dorado, meanwhile, will have the chance to claim their second national InterCol title and their first since their maiden 1986 triumph.
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