Sweet 16 for Ireland as they finally broke Scotland's resistance to lift the Six Nations trophy.
The celebrations that followed swept away the disappointment of Twickenham a week earlier and that lost opportunity to make it an historic back to back Grand Slam.
As the party started, skipper Peter O'Mahony - who lifted the trophy with Tadhg Furlong - confessed that it could be his 105th and last game in green.
READ MORE:Peter O'Mahony says he doesn't know if he's played his last Ireland game after Six Nations triumph
The rumour mill exploded before kick-off that the 34-year-old was ready to leave the Test arena behind.
The emotion he showed during the anthems and at the final whistle added to the intrigue.
If that's the case then he will go out on the high of a fifth championship title alongside Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Iain Henderson.
It wasn't easy. After a series of near misses, the hosts' second half dominance finally delivered Andrew Porter's killer try with 15 minutes to go, and after Dan Sheehan touched down in the first half.
It was a nervy encounter to the end for Andy Farrell and his side against the Triple Crown chasing visitors, whose 78th minute try left the Aviva Stadium crowd on the edge of their seats.
Fortunately for those hoping to party into the night, Ireland held firm in the closing moments to finish on top in a bruising, scrappy encounter.
James Lowe's kick to touch ended the agony and Ireland's 16th title triumph - only their third ever back to back - was secured.
That, with Jack Crowley's conversion, gave Ireland the cushion they needed, especially when Finn Russell converted Huw Jones' late try.
There was further drama before kick-off as Hugo Keenan had to cry off with a hip injury suffered in the warm-up.
Keenan's absence opened the door for Jordan Larmour's first international start since the 2021 Six Nations - and his first at full-back since the 2019 World Cup.
A first minute Sheehan turnover failed to settle Ireland - and a poor lineout in Scotland's 22 added to frayed nerves.
The Scots were unlucky not to draw first blood when an inspired Andy Christie charged down Lowe's clearance and the ball ricocheted into touch.
The hosts impinged at the lineout, gifting their rivals a free five metres from their line - but Joe McCarthy turned the tide, ripping the ball from Zander Fagerson.
Ireland went on the offensive. Crowley pinned the Scots back in their own 22 with two grubber kicks and a penalty.
Then George Turner's overthrow to Grant Gilchrist sailed straight into Sheehan's arms for his 10th Test try in the 13th minute.
Ireland got their passing game going but were frustrated by Christie in particular at the breakdown.
For their part, the Scots had an inkling of an opening when Stafford McDowall broke Bundee Aki's tackle in midfield but they failed to take advantage.
The last scoring chance of a scrappy half went to Crowley, who took aim from the Scots' 10m line after Christie was pinged for crossing, but the No.10 fired wide.
But the home side came out firing from the restart.
Lowe make hard yards on the wing before passing inside to Aki, then O'Mahony kept the move alive off a poor Crowley pass.
The Scots went off their feet at the ruck and Crowley tapped over to make it 10-6
Russell kicked straight to touch from the restart, Ireland won a penalty from the scrum on half-way and suddenly the home crowd were as energised as their team.
Sensing blood, Ireland piled into the attack with their best move of the game and, off a five metre penalty, Tadhg Furlong thought he scored.
Ref Matthew Carley and his officials, however, felt that he lost control just before dotting down - with Christie's touch crucial to his side's cause.
Another chance went a-begging in the 54th minute - once more it was Christie who was there, this time denying Calvin Nash after his swerve inside beat four defenders.
And Ireland blew a third opportunity on the hour when Garry Ringrose, who had just come on for Nash, knocked forward close to the line.
Ringrose redeemed himself with a lung-busting charge up the right wing as the Scots coughed up possession.
Farrell's side, yet again, couldn't find a way through but the Scots conceded a close-range penalty and, with Ewen Ashman sent to the sin-bin, Sheehan's tap set up Porter to crash over in the 65th minute.
That, with Crowley's conversion, gave Ireland the cushion they needed, especially when Jones danced through Ireland's cover to keep the game alive right to the death.
Ireland: Jordan Larmour (Harry Byrne 68), Calvin Nash (Garry Ringrose 57), Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park (Conor Murray 71); Andrew Porter (Cian Healy 68), Dan Sheehan (Rónan Kelleher 56), Tadhg Furlong (Finlay Bealham 52), Joe McCarthy (Ryan Baird 56), Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (Jack Conan 65), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn (Kyle Rowe 67), Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall (Cameron Redpath 62), Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White (George Horne 62); Pierre Schoeman (Rory Sutherland 49), George Turner (Ewan Ashman 49), Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings (Sam Skinner 72), Andy Christie, Rory Darge (Matt Fagerson 62), Jack Dempsey.
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
