Despite closing out the campaign with two defeats, there was huge pride for the Ireland Women's Sevens team as they made more history with a fourth place finish in the 2021/22 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
In Pics: Ireland Women Wrap Up World Series With Another High-Ranking Performance
Day 1 Round-Up: Murphy Crowe's Late Brace Seals Quarter-Final Spot For Ireland Women
Day 2 Round-Up: Ireland Women To Play Canada In Toulouse Quarter-Final
Day 2 Round-Up: Higgins Scores Decisive Try As Ireland Women Advance To Semi-Finals
Their hopes of medalling in Toulouse were ended by a 26-10 Bronze final defeat to Fiji, who also edged them out for third place overall this season, on the back of a 40-7 Cup semi-final loss to series champions Australia.
Ireland's previous highest ranking was eighth back in 2018/19. They were tenth last year, so the current campaign has seen huge progress made by Aiden McNulty's young squad who have enjoyed a number of breakthrough moments and milestone achievements.
Captained by Lucy Mulhall, they won a historic silver in Seville and backed it up with bronze in Langford - their first ever World Series medals - and showed impressive consistency with top five finishes at each of the last four tournaments.
A supreme finisher at this level, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe stood out again as the World Series' top try scorer for the second time in her career. Her enviable haul of 36 tries in 34 matches put her top of the pile, where she also was in 2019.
Mulhall, Murphy Crowe and the multi-skilled Stacey Flood remain the backbone of the side, while nine of the squad in Toulouse are aged between 18 and 23, including Wicklow teenagers Erin King and Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
It has also been a week to remember for Eve Higgins, who has starred in both codes this year. The 22-year-old Lucan native won two Rugby Players Ireland awards in midweek - including 15s Young Player of the Year - and scored a memorable match winner against Canada yesterday.
The girls in green were really up against it early on against Australia, losing Murphy Crowe to the sin bin for a high tackle. Quick thinking from Charlotte Caslick released Maddison Levi for the opening try.
Murphy Crowe lifted Ireland shortly after her return, breaking clean through from a ruck for a 40-metre run-in. Mulhall added the extras but their lead was a brief one.
Flood was unfortunately ruled offside from the restart and after a few phases, Caslick kicked through for Madison Ashby to control and make it 12-7 to Australia at the interval.
The second half was one-sided, though, as Tim Walsh's charges put the result beyond doubt. Levi doubled her tally before Faith Nathan saw yellow for a high challenge on scrum half Emily Lane.
However, Higgins was soon binned for lifting Demi Hayes in a tackle and the Australians pulled further clear thanks to converted efforts from Caslick, Dominique du Toit and Nathan in a clinical finish.
Ireland still had a shot at a podium place, facing Fiji in their final game at the Stade Ernest Wallon. Back-to-back tackles from Murphy Crowe avoided an early concession in a breathless start.
Megan Burns impressed with a break through midfield and only a forward pass stopped her from opening the scoring after good work by Murphy Crowe. It was an opportunity they were left to rue.
A powerful break from Alowesi Nakoci set the wheels in motion for Raijieli Daveua to break the deadlock, and a second quick-fire try from Nakoci - late in the first half - gave Ireland a 14-point deficit to overcome in the second period.
The Fijians maintained the momentum with a Sesenieli Donu effort, showing their speed and strength again, but Ireland stayed in the fight and the 19-year-old Elmes Kinlan sparked their comeback.
Lane and Murphy Crowe lifted the tempo in attack and Elmes Kinlan shrugged off a tackle to score to the right of the posts. Flood followed up with a second try, superbly stretching out to score one-handed past two defenders.
Credit to Flood for an initial kick into space with Murphy Crowe battling hard to retrieve it and Mulhall's clear-out allowing Flood to go for the line from a couple of metres out. The score went unconverted at 19-10.
Nonetheless, with less than two minutes left, Fiji made certain of their victory with some deft handling to set up the influential Nakoci for a converted try from far out despite Murphy Crowe's valiant chase.
There was still time for Ireland to hunt down a late consolation score, with Reapi Ulunisau in the bin for a high tackle on Mulhall. Agonisingly, Kate Farrell McCabe just lost control of the ball in the act of scoring.
With the World Series done and dusted, Ireland's focus will now turn to the Rugby Europe Sevens summer schedule and their opportunity to qualify for September's Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.
Mulhall, Murphy Crowe and the multi-skilled Stacey Flood remain the backbone of the side, while nine of the squad in Toulouse are aged between 18 and 23, including Wicklow teenagers Erin King and Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
It has also been a week to remember for Eve Higgins, who has starred in both codes this year. The 22-year-old Lucan native won two Rugby Players Ireland awards in midweek - including 15s Young Player of the Year - and scored a memorable match winner against Canada yesterday.
The girls in green were really up against it early on against Australia, losing Murphy Crowe to the sin bin for a high tackle. Quick thinking from Charlotte Caslick released Maddison Levi for the opening try.
Murphy Crowe lifted Ireland shortly after her return, breaking clean through from a ruck for a 40-metre run-in. Mulhall added the extras but their lead was a brief one.
Flood was unfortunately ruled offside from the restart and after a few phases, Caslick kicked through for Madison Ashby to control and make it 12-7 to Australia at the interval.
The second half was one-sided, though, as Tim Walsh's charges put the result beyond doubt. Levi doubled her tally before Faith Nathan saw yellow for a high challenge on scrum half Emily Lane.
However, Higgins was soon binned for lifting Demi Hayes in a tackle and the Australians pulled further clear thanks to converted efforts from Caslick, Dominique du Toit and Nathan in a clinical finish.
Ireland still had a shot at a podium place, facing Fiji in their final game at the Stade Ernest Wallon. Back-to-back tackles from Murphy Crowe avoided an early concession in a breathless start.
Megan Burns impressed with a break through midfield and only a forward pass stopped her from opening the scoring after good work by Murphy Crowe. It was an opportunity they were left to rue.
A powerful break from Alowesi Nakoci set the wheels in motion for Raijieli Daveua to break the deadlock, and a second quick-fire try from Nakoci - late in the first half - gave Ireland a 14-point deficit to overcome in the second period.
The Fijians maintained the momentum with a Sesenieli Donu effort, showing their speed and strength again, but Ireland stayed in the fight and the 19-year-old Elmes Kinlan sparked their comeback.
Lane and Murphy Crowe lifted the tempo in attack and Elmes Kinlan shrugged off a tackle to score to the right of the posts. Flood followed up with a second try, superbly stretching out to score one-handed past two defenders.
Credit to Flood for an initial kick into space with Murphy Crowe battling hard to retrieve it and Mulhall's clear-out allowing Flood to go for the line from a couple of metres out. The score went unconverted at 19-10.
Nonetheless, with less than two minutes left, Fiji made certain of their victory with some deft handling to set up the influential Nakoci for a converted try from far out despite Murphy Crowe's valiant chase.
There was still time for Ireland to hunt down a late consolation score, with Reapi Ulunisau in the bin for a high tackle on Mulhall. Agonisingly, Kate Farrell McCabe just lost control of the ball in the act of scoring.
With the World Series done and dusted, Ireland's focus will now turn to the Rugby Europe Sevens summer schedule and their opportunity to qualify for September's Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.