The Wallabies' grand slam dream has ended in dramatic circumstances as Michael Cheika's men came back from 17-0 down to briefly lead before eventually falling 27-24 in what could have been one of the all-time comebacks given the circumstances.
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When Bernard Foley slotted a penalty in the 61st minute to put the Wallabies ahead 24-21, a dream script was being put together.
A grand slam would have been there for the taking, with a final clash against Eddie Jones' England - the team that stole Australia's thunder in June - at Twickenham on Saturday the only thing standing in the way of the Wallabies and a 32-year grand slam drought.
Instead, Ireland's ability to withstand a rampaging Wallabies outfit in the second half saw them come out on top - thanks to a 66th minute try to Keith Earls - and create history of their own by beating Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all in the same calendar year for the first time.
The Wallabies were dead and buried in the first half, unable to get out of second gear as they trailed 17-0. However, they hit the lead when Sefa Naivalu scored in the 57th minute, after tries from Dane Haylett-Petty and Tevita Kuridrani had brought the visitors back into the match.
As valiant as the Wallabies were, Ireland deserved this win for their set-piece was phenomenal, as was their collective work around the breakdown that was greatly appreciated by a passionate crowd at Aviva Stadium.
Australia had their heroes too and should be credited for their ability to change momentum so efficiently. David Pocock was yet again on another level while the Wallabies' backs all deserve a mention for continuing to ask questions of a robust Ireland defence.
Earlier, Australia were completely under the pump from the get-go as Ireland strung together 16 phases within the Wallabies' 22-metre area.
Instead of taking penalties on offer, the Irish continued to kick for touch - a sign of their positivity even if they were unable to make the most of it on the scoreboard.
After 17 minutes and with basically all of possession – 80 per cent at that point and 92 per cent territory – Ireland finally broke the deadlock with a penalty to five-eighth Paddy Jackson.
Australian players' lungs would have been burning after an energy-sapping first quarter of an hour but things got even worse when recalled blindside breakaway Dean Mumm was sent to the sin bin in the 23rd minute.
Referee Jerome Garces and his assistant Nigel Owens came to the conclusion Mumm had lifted Irish tight-head prop Tadhg Furlong into a dangerous position.
As a result, Ireland made the most of one less player in front of them as second-rower Iain Henderson crashed over for the first try of the evening to put the hosts ahead 10-0 in the 25th minute.
There was even more controversy shortly after regarding Ireland's second try with a potential obstruction waved away despite Australian protests that Rory Arnold was impeded from making a tackle on finisher Garry Ringrose.
It mattered little as the margin stretched to 17 points, but Pocock could also have had a case for being taken off the ball during the phase before.
Pocock made his feelings known to referee Garces, saying: "There's a lot of off the ball stuff, they're taking me out."
Stephen Moore appeared to have difficulty communicating with the French man in charge, in a similar way to his troubles with Romain Poite in Wellington against the All Blacks.
A try to Haylett-Petty under the posts – with a probable forward pass from Israel Folau in the lead up - just before half-time took the score to 17-7 but it was a completely unfair reflection of how one-sided things had been until then.
In the first 40 minutes, Australia conceded eight penalties to Ireland's one, were without Mumm for 10 minutes, had 28 per cent of possession, but only trailed by 10 points.
After half-time, and perhaps following a Cheika spray, the Wallabies looked a different outfit and hit back with Kuridrani continuing his remarkable try-scoring feat with his fourth in as many games on the spring tour.
Folau looked his dangerous self but it was a moment of selfishness as the ball was being spread right - with the Wallabies trailing 20-14 – that gave off the impression he was more concerned about breaking what is now a 10-game point-scoring drought.
It was one point in Edinburgh, two points in Paris, but even a pint of Guinness will do little to help the Wallabies feel better after this tough three-point defeat in which they fought harder than ever this year.
IRELAND 27 (Iain Henderson, Garry Ringrose, Keith Earls tries; Paddy Jackson 3 conversion; Jackson 2 penalties) defeated AUSTRALIA 24 (Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Sefa Naivalu tries; Bernard Foley 3 conversions; Foley 1 penalty) at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Referee: Jerome Garces.
