Scotland were looking to spoil Ireland's St Patrick's Weekend by sparking a tartan knees-up in Dublin but the hosts triumphed to win the Six Nations in back-to-back years.
Gregor Townsend's reign as coach of the country he served with distinction is packed with thrilling highs and brutal lows and he was unable to add a Triple Crown to those highs, as despite a late Scotland fightback, they fell to a powerful and disciplined Irish side.
This exciting team can take a nation's breath away and leave them tossing their See You Jimmy's away in disgust - there is often no in-between and today was the same.
A lapse in concentration allowed Ireland to score their first try and a lack of creativity in attack hampered the visitor's ability to advance with purpose up the field.