What’s the Irish for déjà vu? England have trodden this painful path twice before in Dublin, beaten on the Six Nations Championship’s final day in 2001 and 2011 when they had a Grand Slam at stake - but this magnificent, focussed, clever effort by Ireland surely topped both of those much-recalled days of recent rugby history.

England had mitigating circumstances to point to on those previous occasions, based around delays and disruptive injuries – whereas this time they looked well set to round off a campaign, that had already delivered them a second successive Championship title, by completing their world-record 19th straight win, and a first back-to-back Slam since 1991 and 1992.

Instead at the end of a clattering, entertaining, occasionally controversial match it was left to the visiting captain Dylan Hartley to reprise the glum role of Matt Dawson in 2001 here, and Nick Easter 10 years later, by receiving the champions’ trophy in the aftermath of a morale-shredding defeat.

Ireland vs England player ratings Show all 32 1 /32 Ireland vs England player ratings Ireland vs England player ratings Ireland: 15. Rob Kearney- 7 Coped with everything that came his way and threatened on occasion. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 14. Tommy Bowe - 6 Posed Nowell problems in the air but starved of clean ball in space. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 13. Jared Payne - 7 Defensive work was of the highest calibre and didn’t put a foot wrong until injury forced him off. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 12. Robbie Henshaw - 9 Strong running caused England huge problems and leaped above Goode for try that won the game. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 11. Simon Zebo - 7 Excelled under the high ball as England continuously tested him and defended strongly. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 10. Jonathan Sexton - 9 Tackled ferociously and his genius kept Ireland on the attack before exit gave England a reprieve. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 9. Conor Murray - 8 Provided quick and clean ball behind dominant Irish pack and box-kicked for Henshaw’s try. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 1. Jack McGrath - 7 Kept Dan Cole quiet which is enough in itself, carried well and added force to the maul. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 2. Rory Best - 8 Unfaultable at the lineout, always had his hands on the ball in the maul and stood out in the pack. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 3. Mike Ross - 8 Scrummaging was miles better than in the past and he won the battle with Marler. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 4. Devin Toner - 9 Disrupted English lineout when Ireland were under pressure and outshone second-row partner O’Connell in the lineout. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 5. Paul O'Connell - 7 Battled to the very end with a late charge down and continues to defy his age of 35. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 6. Peter O'Mahony - 7 Carried well and was on the receiving end of some big runs, but stopped nearly everyone. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 7. Sean O'Brien - 5 His first rampaging run at Ford led to the injury that forced him off in a rather dazed fashion. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 8. Jordi Murphy - 8 In to replace Heaslip and paid back the favour with a brilliant display on the floor to win numerous penalties. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings Best off the bench: Tommy O'Donnell - 6 On for the injured O’Brien after 25 minutes and added running power where needed. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings England: 15. Alex Goode - 8 His kicking got better as the game went on and his dancing out of the deadball zone was sublime, but beaten in the air for the try. GETTY IMAGES Ireland vs England player ratings 14. Anthony Watson - 6 One second-half break threatened to open the game but panicked with a pass to thin air. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 13. Jonathan Joseph - 6 Given little chance to show his agile best and replaced when England’s chances were dying. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 12. Luther Burrell - 5 Didn’t put in his best shift and will be under pressure for selection against Scotland. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 11. Jack Nowell - 6 Picked in favour of Jonny May, and showed why with impressive pace, but targeted in the air. Ireland vs England player ratings 10. George Ford - 6 Missed penalty would have levelled it up early and two errant passes, but continues to learn at this level. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 9. Ben Youngs - 6 Caught at the base on occasion but passing was good enough before being withdrawn. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 1. Joe Marler - 5 Couldn’t find an edge on Ross which was a surprise and suffered as a result. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 2. Dylan Hartley - 6 Lost two lineouts and was absent in the loose, though his defence was commendable. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 3. Dan Cole - 7 Came to life late on with a barnstorming run over Healy and tried his best to snaffle a turnover or two. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 4. Dave Attwood - 5 Ill-disciplined throughout and was probably the most disappointing in white. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 5. George Kruis - 7 Disrupted the Irish maul very well and the fact he stayed on for the 80 shows how far he’s come. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 6. James Haskell - 6 Gave away an early penalty, and given no quarter at the ruck where he was caught isolated repeatedly. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 7. Chris Robshaw - 6 Tackling was as determined as ever but sloppy with ball in hand. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings 8. Billy Vunipola - 7 Another who improved as England grew into the game, but ran out of options after an impressive 40m break. Getty Images Ireland vs England player ratings Best of the bench: Richard Wigglesworth - 6 Injected some pace into England’s attack with two good breaks. Getty Images

The England players did their best to raise smiles for the photographers as they climbed onto the champions' podium and were announced over the public-address system one by one, as fireworks lit up the night sky, but the true feelings that lay inside can be easily guessed at.

While England had been rightly feted for winning their last 18 matches, Ireland had won only half of theirs - but one of those was the famous victory in Chicago last November that stopped the All Blacks’ world-record sequence at 18, so the men in green had “form”.

They also had an excellent record at this stadium to protect, with only two losses in their previous 17 matches here, and none in the Six Nations Championship under head coach Joe Schmidt.

The future is exciting for both teams as they will be Europe’s vanguard alongside New Zealand and Australia as the top four seeds for the 2019 World Cup draw in Japan in May.

But Ireland knew they could only finish second-best in this competition after their losses away to Scotland and Wales – and maybe the overriding lesson of another Slam gone west is just how difficult it is to win away from home in this claustrophobic competition.

Iain Henderson scored the try for Ireland (Getty)

Peter O’Mahony was a surprise starter in the Ireland pack after the late withdrawal of No.8 Jamie Heaslip but the experienced Munster flanker’s familiarity with the plays and ploys was such that he was the main line-out target in the first half.

And it was a set-piece based around O’Mahony at the tail of the line-out which brought the only try of the match with 23 minutes gone. The scores were locked at 3-3 after a penalty goal by Johnny Sexton replied to by Owen Farrell – the pair of kickers also had an off-the-ball scuffle with Farrell pushing his opponent in the face as Sexton held onto his legs – when England’s returning No.8 Billy Vunipola transgressed by diving over a ruck.

The offence was in the England 22 but Ireland kicked for touch, their captain and hooker Rory Best picked out a soaring O’Mahony with the line-out throw and Iain Henderson peeled off a dynamic maul to dot down a dramatic try, which Sexton converted.

It was Henderson’s fifth try for Ireland in his 32nd Test, and reward for his selection over the demoted Devin Toner.

It was a bruising encounter in Dublin (Getty)

The atmosphere around Lansdowne Road before kick-off had appeared muted, almost in expectation of an English win, but the majority in the crowd loved what they eventually saw as a first half that was delayed while the France vs Wales game was completed finally got going.

Successful Irish choke tackles to create turnovers, a penalty against Maro Itoje for a late charge on Sexton, a desperate chase-down of Keith Earls by Elliot Daly and a crucial intervention in tackle by Mike Brown on Earls to force a fumble were all examples of the odds-on favourites England being put under tremendous pressure.

Collisions with English forwards had removed a handful of Italian and Scottish players from the field in the past two rounds of Six Nations matches but Ireland appeared to have the will and the wherewithal to stand up to the challenge.

The interval gave the chance for the respective head coaches Joe Schmidt and Eddie Jones to tweak tactics, and both men made changes, with Andrew Conway sent on for Earls to make his debut, and Mako Vunipola replacing England’s loosehead prop Joe Marler.

And Hartley made his now customary third-quarter exit, in favour of Jamie George.

Ireland have made a habit of ending winning runs (Getty)

Where Jonathan Joseph had ripped through a disjointed, disrupted Scotland last week, Garry Ringrose of Ireland was looking the star No.13 this time, consistently making gains over the advantage line with the footwork that has earned the 22-year-old Leinster centre so many plaudits this season.

Jared Payne and Kieran Marmion covered capably for the injured Conor Murray and Rob Kearney respectively, and although Farrell’s 47-metre boomer of a penalty trimmed Ireland’s lead after 50 minutes, Payne’s thrilling break maintained the feeling Ireland were on the front foot, going into the final quarter.

Sexton matched Farrell again with an equally monstrous penalty in the 63rd minute for 13-6, then substitute Ben Te’o was tackled in the air by Conway.

It gave England – who had just replaced George Ford and Billy Vunipola – the much-needed fillip of an attacking base near the Ireland 22, and a penalty accrued when the Irish pulled down a maul.

Farrell, now at fly-half with Daly about to move into the centres, converted it coolly and the gap was back at four points with 13 minutes remaining.

Farrell kicked nine points for England (Getty)

Ford was restored when Te’o suffered apparent concussion, and a reset scrum with an England put-in on halfway ratcheted up the tension – as if there was any need to.

England were unable to get far across the gainline but they kept possession and earned a penalty which – on a knife-edge decision with seven minutes still available on the clock – vice-captain Farrell chose to put to touch.

It misfired horribly for Farrell and England as O’Mahony made a tremendous leap at the front of the line-out to steal the ball from Itoje.

Care’s lunge to knock the ball out of Luke McGrath’s hands behind a scrum conceded a crass penalty at a crucial time, and Brown’s knock-on chasing the game was an agonising finish.

Scorers:

Ireland: try: Henderson; conversion: Sexton; penalties: Sexton 2

England: penalties: Farrell 3.

Teams:

Ireland: J Payne; K Earls (rep A Conway 41st min), G Ringrose, R Henshaw, S Zebo; J Sexton, K Marmion (L McGrath 69); J McGrath (C Healy 60), R Best (capt; N Scannell 10-18), T Furlong (J Ryan 76), D Ryan (D Toner 65), I Henderson, P O’Mahony, S O’Brien (D Leavy 68), CJ Stander.

England: M Brown; A Watson, J Joseph (J Nowell 68), O Farrell, E Daly; G Ford (B Te’o 63-70), B Youngs (D Care 65); J Marler (M Vunipola 41), D Hartley (capt; J George 56), D Cole (K Sinckler 78), J Launchbury, M Itoje, C Lawes, J Haskell (T Wood 60), B Vunipola (N Hughes 63).