We're not quite drinking at the last chance saloon stage just yet, but the Morning Ireland presidential debate means the race is now closing in on that round being called.
With exactly a week to go until voters finally get to have their say on who will be Ireland's 10th head of state, Independent candidate Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys came face-to-face in the radio studio for the second last debate of the campaign.
Domestic matters, including the cost-of-living crisis and how to address people protesting asylum seekers, were on the agenda.
So too were controversies individual to both candidates.
Northern Ireland, Israel and how to handle US President Donald Trump were also up for debate.
And, alongside some barbed comments between the candidates over Brexit, cost of living track records and claims of inaccurate remarks during the campaign were raised , and there was even some discussion on personal matters including candidates views on God and poetry.
Here are seven key takeaways from the second last debate of the presidential campaign:
1. Cost of living
This morning's 40 minute debate began with domestic matters, and in the current climate one above all: the cost-of-living crisis.
Presenter Gavin Jennings first asked the candidates how they could understand the significance of the situation facing households across Ireland given they have both been TDs for a number of years - Ms Humphreys only leaving that role last November - and are seeking a job worth more than €2m over seven years.
Catherine Connolly was first to respond, saying she has "no difficulty in relating to people" and has had had different experiences "during different stages of life", and that "people are coming up to me telling me how difficult it is".
Ms Connolly also said during a canvas in north Dublin on Thursday she met people at a family resource centre who are "giving up food for three or four days, that's the level of deprivation we are at".
Heather Humphreys was clear on the situation too, saying she has "first hand" knowledge of the "challenges people are facing" due to her previous work as a credit union manager.
The Fine Gael candidate added that in her previous role as minister for Social Protection, she increased payments to pensioners and recipients of the living alone allowance, as well as introducing hot school meals.
Asked if there is anything she disagrees with in last week's budget, Ms Humphreys repeatedly said the president does not have a role in government finances.
Instead, she said she "stepped up" by entering government to "help people's lives" and "did not have the luxury of sitting on the opposition benches", a remark clearly aimed at Ms Connolly.
She added a suggestion that opposition TDs can change their minds on matters if it benefits them politically, whereas those in government must stick to hard choices, Ms Connolly said in response to that remark by Ms Humphreys: "I have never kept changing my mind, to frame me in those words is unacceptable."
Ms Connolly added the role of a parliamentary democracy is to "represent the people who are suffering" regardless of whether a TD is in government or the opposition, and that opposition TDs seek to do so while sticking to their own policies.
2. Asylum seeker protests
Another ongoing significant public debate concerns controversial protests against asylum seekers and IPAS centres. Its an issue which has so far been difficult for politicians to address.
Asked how they would address the matter while still staying true to their commitment to represent all people in Ireland, Ms Humphreys said "there's a lot of division there" and that her first priority on the issue would be to get people "to sit down and talk", referencing "how the peace process in Northern Ireland began" as an example of the benefit of "hard conversations".
She said she would tell protesters "they're wrong", and said if people are "entitled to be here, they go through the process".
Catherine Connolly responded to the same question by saying on two occasions that she finds "the terminology 'Ireland is full' disturbing and unacceptable", before saying "that doesn't mean I won't be able to listen to people who feel disconnected".
Ms Connolly said the housing crisis is among the possible reasons why people "are conflating words, that we're being overrun" - a remark she said was inaccurate - and that when she has met protesters "I have argued back with them, I have listened but said your anger is misplaced".
3. Individual controversies
Both candidates appeared to be on the back foot on individual controversies, which have at different times in recent weeks, impacted on their campaigns.
For Catherine Connolly, her fact finding trip to Syria with other left-leaning TDs a number of years ago continues to be a source of debate, the Independent candidate saying again that she "didn't know" who the individual was that they were meeting at the time and that "you have no control [over who you meet] when you go to a country like that".
In a pointed remark, she added that "I did not meet with [then Syrian leader Bashar al-] Assad, our Taoiseach met with Assad, I went on a fact finding mission".
Asked about suggestions that she and other TDs were shown around by people involved in the deaths of others, she said "lots of people came up to us, but we walked the streets, people came up to us and spoke as openly as they could".
Separately, Ms Humphreys was asked about recent criticism from Lucia O'Farrell, a former constituent who has been campaigning for a number of years for an inquiry into the hit-and-run death of her son Shane O'Farrell by man who had a number of convictions and who has now left the State.
Responding to the suggestion from Ms O'Farrell that Ms Humphreys did not do enough to seek an inquiry, the Fine Gael candidate said: "I did talk with Lucia at the time, I spoke with her over the phone... look, I did speak with her on the phone".
Ms Humphreys said she made representations to then justice ministers Alan Shatter and Charlie Flanagan about the case and said: "I'm sorry if she [Lucia O Farrell] feels I didn't do enough".
In response to a question over why she voted against an inquiry as part of a government position, Ms Humphreys said: "I wasn't the minister dealing with it at the time" and that "I'm sorry if she feels that's the case, but I did my best".
4. Northern Ireland
Both candidates were also pressed on their views on Northern Ireland and the possibility of a future united Ireland, each outlining slightly different perspectives.
Heather Humphreys stressed, not for the first time in the campaign, that "I come from a minority community" and from the border, adding that "I want to say to the people in Northern Ireland you have nothing to fear".
She said that "we should continue to work towards the Good Friday Agreement, towards a united Ireland", but appeared somewhat vague on what exactly this would involve, referencing how "devolved government in Northern Ireland could work differently", and that "I believe we must unite people first as John Hume said" - adding she is "very well placed to bring that forward".
Ms Humphreys also said much of the potential future discussion on a united Ireland must be based on "building trust" and that "Bertie Ahern and Mo Mowlam didn't do it on a microphone, they sat in a room" and talked.
Catherine Connolly said her approach would be based on the Constitution "and respecting all sides", saying "that is a process" which should focus on emphasising "similarities rather than differences".
She said "I will do that as president as much as I can", but added that "it has to be worked out meticulously on the ground" and said it is "unfortunate" a green paper on a united Ireland has "not happened" to date.
5. Meeting dignitaries
Another area which will require significant diplomatic skills from whoever becomes Ireland's 10th President will be meeting foreign dignitaries, including an Israeli ambassador and US President Donald Trump.
On the question of meeting an Israeli ambassador, a source of significant tension due to Ireland's position on what has happened in Gaza, Ms Connolly was quick to say "I never called for the expulsion of the ambassador" and would "treat and meet everybody with respect" - while Ms Humphreys said the "job of the president is to meet ambassadors".
Similarly, on whether either candidate would meet Donald Trump, Ms Humphreys kept her answer brief and pointed, only saying "Donald Trump was elected president in the US and I respect his mandate", while Ms Connolly said "I will meet him as president".
Like the best of diplomats, both candidates made it clear in their answers that sometimes the message is in what is not said rather than what is.
6. God and poetry
The Morning Ireland debate also gave voters an insight, to an extent at least, into both candidates personal views and thoughts.
Both were asked if they believe in God given there are references to God in the Constitution they are tasked with upholding if elected President.
Catherine Connolly was careful in her answer, saying "I certainly believe in something bigger than me" and that "my belief is in a better society and a society in which we strive for fairness".
She said "all of those" views are part of her thought process when it comes to the question of God.
Heather Humphreys said "yes I do believe in God" and that this belief has helped "shape my life", stressing the need for "tolerance and respect".
She added, however, that her belief "is a private matter and I wouldn't impose my views on anybody else".
Asked for their views on poetry and their favourite Irish writer - a question no doubt influenced by outgoing President Michael D Higgins' love of literature and the arts - Catherine Connolly mentioned Irish poet Liam Mac Con Iomaire and "female poets".
For her part, Heather Humphreys said she is currently reading Frank McNally's 'Making Hay'.
Given the penchant of politicians for quoting a certain poet's work in recent years, no one should be surprised that the late Seamus Heaney also got a mention from both candidates.
One wonders what Michael D Higgins thinks of it all.
7. Candidate clashes
With exactly a week to go until polling day, the big question of course is how both candidates came across in today's debate.
One aspect that was increasingly clear is that there were more obvious on-air clashes between the contenders, with a sense blows now need to be landed.
Heather Humphreys on two occasions - firstly in her criticism that she did "not have the luxury" of sitting on the opposition benches, and secondly her contention that "some people here supported Brexit" - were clearly designed to target Ms Connolly.
They were of course also roundly rejected by her sparring partner, who said "I've been accused of supporting Brexit, that is inaccurate" and that "Heather's done this a number of times" including, she said, incorrectly referring on Thursday's News At One programme to People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy as her campaign manager, instead of one of a number of left leaning TDs who support her.
Expect more of these clashes to occur in the coming days, with the presidential polling day now within sight.
Today's debate was not quite a drinking in a last chance saloon scenario.
But with domestic, international, personal and cost of living records now being targeted by both candidates, in addition to open clashes and a focus behind the scenes on opinion polls, that last chance saloon door is about to swing open.
Read more:
Live: Updates as they happen
Sticky moments for candidates as Syria photo and O'Farrell case raised in debate
