After much intrigue, former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin won the internal Fianna Fáil vote to be its Presidential Election candidate.
But the political fallout centres on the scale of the challenge mounted by Ireland South MEP and party stalwart Billy Kelleher.
In the end, he secured 29 votes versus 41 for Mr Gavin, a solid 58.6% of the vote.
Even this morning, his closest supporters predicted a height of 27 votes which they felt would have a been a good showing.
Speaking afterwards, Billy Kelleher stressed that he would unite behind Jim Gavin but he would not be drawn on the message the strength of his vote sends to the party leadership.
But make no mistake, the fact that more than 40% of the parliamentary party defied Micheál Martin's wishes is telling.
It reflects an unhappiness with the centralisation of power that manifested itself in the party leader keeping his counsel for most of the summer on whether Fianna Fáil would even field its own candidate.
The early signal from Mr Martin was that he would be content to sit out the Presidential race.
But one interpretation of events of recent weeks is that internal unrest forced his hand in selecting a candidate as he lost control of the narrative around Fianna Fáil's intentions.
He eventually showed his hand but he anointed somebody from outside the party ranks.
Mr Martin was also said to be blindsided by Billy Kelleher’s evolving position.
Initially, the MEP said he wanted clarity on Fianna Fáil’s intentions in the election.
But that turned into him putting himself forward.
However, Mr Martin endorsed Jim Gavin and eventually all seven other Fianna Fáil Cabinet Ministers got behind the former defence forces man amid internal grumblings that much pressure was exerted.
Pointedly, Mr Kelleher said today that he was reluctant to call for public declarations of support, especially early on.
The message now is about party unity and doing everything to support Jim Gavin in the upcoming campaign.
But some in the party feel they have wounded the party leader and mounted a not insignificant challenge to his authority.
Asked about this, Mr Martin said: "There was a referendum on Micheál Martin’s leadership, it was less than a year ago, it was called a general election. And the people gave their answer".
But make no mistake, a nosedive showing by Jim Gavin would have repercussions at the top of Fianna Fáil.
Because this decision is owned by Mr Martin and he would also have to own any failure.
