Eve Higgins' late match-winning try against Canada completed an outstanding couple of hours for the IRFU Sevens Programmes at the HSBC France Sevens tournament in Toulouse.
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Higgins came off the bench to raid down the right touchline and see Ireland edge out Canada 22-21, setting up a renewal of rivalries with Australia in tomorrow's Cup semi-finals (kick-off 1.52pm local time/12.52pm Irish time).
It is only the second time ever that both the Ireland Men's and Women's Sevens teams have qualified for the semi-final stage at the same HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event.
Their semi-final appearances in Seville, back in January, marked a milestone achievement with the Ireland Women winning silver and then adding a bronze medal in Langford just three weeks ago.
Aiden McNulty's young squad are very much on the hunt for medals again at the Stade Ernest Wallon, and they are pushing for a first ever top three season finish as the 2022 Women's campaign comes to an exciting climax.
As ever, Lucy Mulhall led from the front against Canada. The captain's kick-off was tapped back by Stacey Flood and quickly retrieving possession, Mulhall stepped inside Nakisa Levale and darted clear to score under the posts.
Touching down after just nine seconds was a serious statement of intent, but Canada had a swift response through Renee Gonzalez who broke clear after a neat set-up by Breanne Nicholas. The latter's conversion made it seven-all.
Jack Hanratty's side absorbed some Irish pressure, with Katie Heffernan on while Flood was patched up, before replacement Olivia Apps used her fresh legs to scoot clear of Emily Lane from deep and make it 14-7.
Lane was picking up clever positions from restarts, also claiming turnover ball on the ground as Ireland ended the first half on the front foot. Mulhall and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe increased their threat with ball in hand.
When play moved back out to the left, a pinpoint floated pass from Flood allowed Erin King to come in off the wing and break past three defenders for a memorable first World Series try for the Wicklow teenager.
Mulhall's conversion came back off the near post, leaving Ireland two points down at half-time, but Canada conceded again early on the restart as the girls in green flooded forward to send King over to complete her brace.
Flood, Higgins and Murphy Crowe all carried with great intent and King, who was involved twice in the build-up with a couple of flicked offloads, crashed over out wide from a Megan Burns pass.
The tit-for-tat nature of the game continued with Bianca Farella's offload releasing Olivia de Couvreur clean through from 40 metres out to move Canada back in front at 21-17.
Ireland bounced back from a missed Murphy Crowe opportunity to thwart a Canadian breakout. Kate Farrell McCabe led a strong counter ruck that won a crucial penalty with less than two minutes remaining.
Up stepped Higgins, running hard from just inside halfway, and she used Murphy Crowe as a decoy to burst down the wing, handing off Kristy Scurfield along the way to decide this end-to-end quarter-final in Ireland's favour.
Mulhall's conversion came back off the near post, leaving Ireland two points down at half-time, but Canada conceded again early on the restart as the girls in green flooded forward to send King over to complete her brace.
Flood, Higgins and Murphy Crowe all carried with great intent and King, who was involved twice in the build-up with a couple of flicked offloads, crashed over out wide from a Megan Burns pass.
The tit-for-tat nature of the game continued with Bianca Farella's offload releasing Olivia de Couvreur clean through from 40 metres out to move Canada back in front at 21-17.
Ireland bounced back from a missed Murphy Crowe opportunity to thwart a Canadian breakout. Kate Farrell McCabe led a strong counter ruck that won a crucial penalty with less than two minutes remaining.
Up stepped Higgins, running hard from just inside halfway, and she used Murphy Crowe as a decoy to burst down the wing, handing off Kristy Scurfield along the way to decide this end-to-end quarter-final in Ireland's favour.