After more than a year of misery and 14 straight defeats under the now departed Warren Gatland, Wales finally put some much-needed pride back into the country’s national game as they came far closer than anyone could possibly have expected to derailing Ireland’s Grand Slam bid in Cardiff.

This was a proper Test match. Wales were transformed from the team which played turgid rugby with no confidence under former coach Gatland into a side which rivalled one of the best on the planet. About time. It still wasn’t enough for victory. The winless run is now 15.

But, finally, here we saw cause for Welsh optimism. Ireland hung on to claim a Triple Crown and move to within two games of a clean sweep. But boy were they given a fright.

In the stands, former Wales wing turned NFL hopeful Louis Rees-Zammit smiled as his old team piled on the pressure late on and realty made Ireland sweat. Simon Easterby’s Ireland, however, did just enough to claim a Triple Crown and move two games away from a clean sweep.

Had Ireland’s Garry Ringrose been shown a straight red and not a yellow, which was then upgraded to a red, then the result may well have been different.

Wales fell to a 27-18 defeat by Ireland in their third Six Nations game despite a valiant effort

Interim Wales boss Matt Sherratt had his side playing with a renewed positivity against Ireland

However, the visitors hung on to claim a Triple Crown and move two games from a clean sweep

With Gatland now departed, you felt a sense of renewed positivity among Wales’ fanatical fan base in Cardiff city centre.

This game represented the dawn of a new era, with Sherratt in interim charge. Principality Stadium was packed out as those of a Welsh persuasion prayed for something to cheer about. ‘We need all the help we can get,’ one police officer on Westgate Street told the hordes of fans waiting to see both teams arrive.

Inside the home of Welsh rugby, the mood was different. A spinetingling version of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was belted out. And Wales, with the odds stacked against them, had plenty of cause for promise. Taulupe Faletau collected the kick-off and stepped in trademark fashion. The Welsh scrum won a couple of penalties. Tom Rogers leapt like a salmon.

The problem was Ireland’s undisputed class in the opposition ranks. Jack Conan powered over and Sam Prendergast kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Gareth Anscombe put Wales on the board in response. And when the home side put the ball through the hands of the back division, the crowd came alive.

Welsh supporters have had a low bar for success in the last 18 months, but at last they had something to cheer. Had Tomos Williams collected Jac Morgan’s pass, they’d have had a try to celebrate too. With the line gaping, Williams dropped the ball.

At the other end, Ireland butchered a second. Jamie Osborne’s poor pass gave Ringrose a difficult task of collecting he couldn’t manage. It soon got worse for Ringrose.

He should have been far lower in the tackle when he went to stop Ben Thomas, colliding head-on-head with the Wales centre. Ringrose was yellow carded, with the decision to be reviewed further. Anscombe kicked the resulting penalty.

Sherratt had just four training sessions with his Wales squad to prepare for the Ireland game

Ireland continue their Six Nations defence against France on March 8 as they seek their third straight title

Prendergast’s attempt to cancel it out from range came off the upright. With Ringrose in the bin and Ireland not firing on all cylinders, Wales sensed blood.

With a man advantage, they went to work. Welsh forwards powered away at the Irish line on the verge of the break. Eventually, after it looked like they had been repelled by a wall of white, captain Morgan went over. Principality Stadium went wild.

Anscombe’s conversion put Wales three points up at the break. You could barely believe it.

Ringrose’s yellow was upgraded to a sending off at half time, the 20-minute red card ruling meaning he could be replaced after that period of time had elapsed. However, the brutal truth is Ringrose should have been shown a straight red by Christophe Ridley because his hit on Thomas was exactly the sort of tackle that has to be stamped out of the game in order to protect player welfare. Had Ringrose been shown a straight red, Ireland would not have been able to replace him. However, with Ireland still down to 14, Wales scored again.

Another brilliant back-line move ended with Blair Murray putting Rogers into the corner and he finished acrobatically. Anscombe couldn’t convert, but Wales led by eight.

Ireland were in trouble. Prendergast made their deficit five with a simple penalty.

The monstrous Bundee Aki then came into the game in the 52nd minute, replacing Ringrose. Frankly, he would not have been allowed on had Ridley shown Ringrose red.

The brutal scale of the contest began to mount up, Wales fly-half Anscombe forced off for a head injury assessment and Jarrod Evans coming on at No 10.

With 20 minutes left, the game was tied at 18-18, but Ireland scored nine straight thereafter

Prendergast then unleashed a brilliant, spiralling 50:22 kick.

It was a crucial moment as from the resulting field position, Jamison Gibson-Park kicked to the corner and Osborne pounced to score.

At the hour, against all the odds, the game was tied at 18-18.

Both teams unloaded their benches. Barely believable defensive work from Murray somehow stopped Ireland wing Mack Hansen scoring in the corner.

As a result, Prendergast was forced to kick for goal and he nailed two sweetly-struck penalties to finally give Ireland some breathing room.

It was enough for them to hang on, but only just. Impressive Wales debutant Ellis Mee dived for the line late on, but he was judged to have spilled forward. Ireland were the better team – just – and Prendergast’s boot won it for them as the away team’s bench made a big impact. Aki, ironically, was at the heart of it as he goaded Wales’ fans late on.

But this was the day Welsh rugby finally showed signs of a revival. They must now build on this with Scotland and England to come.

Both teams could go home happy.