Scotland ruined Ireland's hopes of claiming a fifth Triple Crown in seven seasons, and avoided the ignominy of 'winning' the wooden spoon in the process, with a shock 23-20 victory in Dublin on Saturday evening.
After three defeats in their four previous games, the Scots had been written off in the lead-up to the game but fly-half Dan Parks proved the difference between the two sides, nailing a stunning penalty from the left touch-line with just over two minutes remaining to win the game.
Parks had been majestic throughout, landing four earlier penalties, a drop goal and a conversion, after Johnnie Beattie had barged his way over in the first quarter.
Beattie's touchdown had come after an extremely lively opening from the Irish which featured a fine try from Brian O'Driscoll.
Indeed, Ireland had begun as if intent on marking their last game at Croke Park before their return to Lansdown Road with an exhibition of free-flowing, attacking rugby. The opening quarter was marked by a succession of scintillating passing moves, one of which yielded that 39th Test try for O'Driscoll.
With the visitors three points up against the run of play, after a penalty from Dan Parks, Jonathan Sexton exchanged passes with Gordon D'Arcy in midfield before showing an impressive turn of pace in busting through the Scottish line. The Leinster fly-half then waited until the last possible second before passing the ball inside to the supporting O'Driscoll, who raced away to score.
That appeared the signal for the floodgates to open but they did not, Scotland reclaiming the lead less than six minutes later after sublime, off-the-floor off-loads from Ross Ford and then Kelly Brown released Graeme Morrison. The centre set off down the left wing before feeding Beattie, who steamrolled three Irishmen on his way to the line.
Parks failed to convert but the momentum of the game had shifted. Ireland were still trying to play all the rugby but to little affect. That was particularly troublesome for the hosts because Sexton was still not kicking the ball well off the floor.
Parks, by contrast, was brimming with confidence and he kicked the Scots into a 14-7 half-time advantage with a penalty and a drop goal just before the interval.
Ireland needed an encouraging start to the second half but Sexton failed them in that regard, missing another penalty shortly after the restart.
However, after Parks had extended Scotland's advantage with a third penalty of the afternoon, Sexton responded in kind to keep Ireland within a converted try.
That was to be the Dubliner's last contribution to the game because he was replaced by Ronan O'Gara before the resumption of play.
The latter's introduction did little initially to soothe Ireland's nerves and Parks went close to putting two scores between ten points between the sides once more just before the hour but his long-range penalty attempt drifted just wide.
Ireland were in dire need of some inspiration and it came courtesy of Tommy Bowe, who just about managed to ground the ball in the right corner with his fingertips after stepping inside Hugo Southwell. O'Gara then underlined exactly what Declan Kidney had brought him on for by converting majestically from inches in from the touchline to level the game.
Again the home fans expected Ireland to push on and win the game, as they have so often done over the past two years.
However, after Parks and O'Gara had exchanged penalties, the latter was presented with the chance to win the game when Rob Kearney was pinged for not releasing the ball. Parks took it in fine style, somehow blocking out the boos ringing around the ground to send the ball hurtling between the posts from the most acute of angles.
Croke Park had been silenced and Ireland's tenancy at Croke Park, which had begun on a losing note, had ended on a losing note.