Armagh finally put their Croke Park hoodoo to bed on Sunday, holding off a brilliant Cavan side in one of the most entertaining camogie matches seen at headquarters in years.
It was the kind of game that reminded everyone why camogie deserves every bit of attention it gets. Two evenly matched sides going hammer and tongs from the first whistle, with neither willing to give an inch until the very end.
Cavan had been the feel-good story of the championship. Nobody gave them much of a chance getting to this stage, and they carried that underdog energy right into Croke Park with them. Their supporters packed into the stands with the kind of excitement that comes with a county experiencing something genuinely new, and for long stretches of the match it looked like they might just pull off something remarkable.
But Armagh had other ideas. They came into this one with unfinished business and a point to prove, having let chances slip at Croke Park before. That hurt clearly stayed with them, and you could see it in how they played, particularly when the pressure was at its highest.
The margin between the teams was tiny throughout. This was not a game where one side dominated and the other chased shadows. Both sets of players put in serious shifts, and the standard of camogie on show was genuinely top drawer. Scores were traded, momentum shifted back and forth, and the crowd was kept on edge right through to the final whistle.
Armagh showed real composure when it mattered most. When Cavan pushed and looked like they might snatch it, Armagh found something extra. That ability to stay calm in the big moments is what separates sides at this level, and Armagh had it in abundance on the day.
For Cavan, there will be pride rather than heartbreak when the dust settles. Reaching Croke Park and pushing one of the top sides to the wire is no small thing. The foundations are clearly there, and their players will be better for having experienced a day like this.
Armagh now move forward with that monkey well and truly off their back. Winning at Croke Park changes something in a squad, and this group will carry that confidence with them going forward.
It was a brilliant advertisement for camogie, the kind of match that deserves to be talked about long after the final scores are forgotten.