Ireland blitzed Wales early before clinching a winning bonus point try to end their Cardiff hoodoo - and open up their 2023 Six Nations campaign on the right foot.
Hopes of a swift Welsh revival under Warren Gatland hit the skids right from the start as Andy Farrell's visitors shrugged off two late injury-enforced changes to win a championship game at the Principality Stadium for the first time in a decade.
The need for a fast start was a common theme from the Ireland camp all week at their warm weather camp in Portugal and so it came to pass - two tries in the opening nine minutes stunned the hosts and their vociferous supporters.
It only got worse for Wales with James Lowe's intercept try in the 21st minute but, after Johnny Sexton kicked Ireland 27-3 ahead in the 26th minute, it was a whopping 45 minutes before the visitors scored again with Josh van der Flier securing a potentially important fourth try.
Ireland lost their mojo in the period in between as they allowed Wales to come at them in waves and that will concern Farrell as he turns his attention to the home clash with defending champions France at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.
On the plus side, the men in green only conceded one try and produced some crucial defensive moments to prevent the Welsh building up a head of steam.
That breathtaking opening burst was all the more impressive for what occurred in the hours before kick-off.
First Jamison Gibson-Park was ruled out with a hamstring injury and veteran scrum-half Conor Murray was promoted to the team, with Craig Casey - who started ahead of Murray for Munster in Europe in recent weeks - added to the bench.
Then loosehead reserve Cian Healy cried off with the same complaint and Dave Kilcoyne came onto the bench in his place.
Already without hooker Rónan Kelleher and world-class tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong, who was ruled out earlier in the week as he returns to full fitness after a calf injury, Farrell's desire that his team embrace the unexpected - as they did when Sexton was withdrawn during the warm-up for the Australia game in November - was put to the test again.
Murray, 33, reached a century of Ireland caps in November, only to suffer a groin injury early in the contest. He certainly stayed the pace this time.
The fear was that the absence of Gibson-Park meant that the visitors' ambition to play their effective high-paced, high-intensity game would be stunted. However Murray was outstanding in terms of his delivery, kicking and overall game management.
Ireland's intent was clear from Sexton's kick-off and Stuart McCloskey's first minute skip pass to Lowe saw the winger kick deep. Liam Williams collected but was tackled by Garry Ringrose, and Josh Adams' clearance didn't leave Wales' 22.
The visitors had the platform they wanted and took full advantage as Sexton kicked to the corner. Off the line-out, Sexton's inside pass was taken up by James Ryan before Caelan Doris finished the job.
Sexton converted, and there was a sense of inevitability about the second try seven minutes later. Ireland rumbled into Wales' 22 before winning a breakdown penalty. This time Doris made the hard carry and Tadhg Beirne - who had got up from a leg injury - latched on to help Ryan over the try-line.
Skipper Sexton added the extras but Ireland were quickly on the defensive and Hugo Keenan's speed saved a try at the other end as he dived in to prevent Rio Dyer from scoring. Dyer kicked on after Gareth Thomas' tackle on Sexton saw the ball run loose, but Keenan got their first to carry over the visitor's line.
Murray superbly halted Taulupe Faletau's progress but Wales were awarded a penalty by ref Karl Dickson and Dan Biggar's kick put Wales on the scoreboard.
However Sexton restored the 14-point advantage soon after as Wales were off their feet in front of their own posts - the captain decided to take the three points on offer.
Biggar and Wales suffered a hammer blow as the second quarter began. Just as they were gaining momentum in attack, Lowe picked off the out-half's attempted pass to Liam Williams.
There was no stopping the flying Leinster man as he raced in from 70 metres out, and Sexton again nailed the two-pointer.
He also tacked on another penalty in the 25th minute when Ken Owens was pinged at the breakdown, but not before Ringrose came up with a big tackle as Biggar as the no 10 threatened .
That penalty made it 27-3 but there was plenty for Farrell to say at half-time as Ireland's clinical edge deserted them - and Andrew Porter held up Jac Morgan over the try-line to deny the Welsh a morale-boosted score before the break.
Nevertheless the hosts had hope when they finally made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute, the damage done off a lineout platform deep in Ireland territory before Williams had time and space to make the vital incision.
Porter tackled the full-back late and Dickson awarded Biggar a penalty after he added the conversion, but Wales couldn't capitalise.
Ireland were on the back foot again in the 51st minute before Doris' choke tackle on Justin Tipuric earned a vital penalty.
But it was all backs to the wall stuff as the contest opened up and the Welsh looked to run the ball back at their rivals at every opportunity.
The tricky Williams set off after gathering a Sexton clearance and beat Ringrose and Beirne in midfield before finding Tipuric, but his pass for Dyer was over-cooked.
Beirne's 55th minute replacement Iain Henderson was fortunate not to be immediately shown the yellow card when his attempted block down of Williams' kick saw him catch the Welshman on the chest with the ball gone.
Dickson, however, decided against sin-binning the Ulster captain and Ireland were relieved to carry on with a full deck.
The pressure on Ireland's defence continued. Bundee Aki was introduced on the hour and was initially awarded a big turnover penalty win on Dyer, but it was quickly reversed as the Connacht man was judged to have tackled off the ball.
The visitors saved themselves once more, this time thanks to Ryan's lineout steal and the Welsh players and supporters were frustrated when Liam Williams saw yellow for a slightly high tackle on Sexton on 65 minutes.
Ross Byrne replaced the 37-year-old with just over 10 minutes to go and, finally, Ireland roused themselves with a move that was reminiscent of the good stuff they played in the first half hour.
Byrne patiently managed his team through the phases down the right, with Mack Hansen featuring heavily for the first time before Josh van der Flier raced in under the posts to secure the winning bonus point with six minutes remaining.
Hansen was also denied a try in the corner in the final play of the half, Alex Cuthbert stopping the winger in his tracks, but Ireland got what they wanted out of this one.
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