Worth waiting for.
Ireland claimed a first Guinness Women's Six Nations victory in two years as they hammered Wales 36-5 in Cork.
The five-try win ended a seven-game losing streak in the championship, which stretched back to the 2022 success over Scotland.
Scott Bemand's side were far superior in every aspect and the victory will provide a much-needed boost ahead of next weekend's trip to Twickenham to take on perennial champions England.
Wales had finished third in the previous two seasons but now sit bottom after three rounds, still looking for a first win.
After a respectable loss in France, and a frustrating defeat to Italy in round two, Ireland came good in front of a crowd of 6,139 at a sunny Musgrave Park.
The hosts crossed three times in the first half, player of the match Aoife Wafer, Eve Higgins and Neve Jones touching down, while Katie Corrigan and Béibhinn Parsons scored one apiece in the second half.
The excellent Dannah O'Brien added 11 points off the tee.
The opening 40 minutes was easily the best the side have played in over two years.
The team showed intent, purpose and, most importantly, cohesion. The passes that went to ground in the loss to Italy, this time, stuck.
They tackled hard, ran hard and rarely took the wrong option. Ireland were best at the breakdown and Wales simply couldn't handle the pace of the game.
The net result was a 21-0 advantage by the end of the opening period.
It was, however, Wales who threatened first, taking advantage of a mistake by O'Brien from the kick-off.
The visitors worked their way to within five metres of the Irish line but scrum-half Kiera Bevan went off her feet at the ruck.
After that, it was all Ireland.
Co-captain Edel McMahon, recalled after missing out two weeks ago, won a jackal penalty and moments later Ireland opened the scoring.
Parsons came off her wing to look for work, Brittany Hogan made yards on the burst and Wales were on the back foot.
Enya Breen shifted the ball quickly to Wafer (above) who beat three defenders and powered her way over.
O'Brien embellished the score by converting left-footed from the sideline.
McMahon was the catalyst for the second try on 18 minutes after stealing a Wales throw-in in her own half, Ireland had Wales under pressure in their won half and Breen ripped the ball off a Welsh carrier.
Aoibheann Reilly sold a dummy making 30 yards but was stopped short. Sam Monaghan, who carried effectively all day, was in support and from the next ruck, Higgins (below) jinked her way over for a superb try, again converted by the out-half.
O'Brien's kicking was keeping Ireland in the right areas and when Wales went offside, the Carlow woman declined the points and kicked to the corner.
Jones took the ball at the back of the lineout maul and directed the pack over for yet another converted try.
But Ireland weren't letting up there and had their bonus point try just two minutes into the second half. O'Brien kicked in behind and Lleucu George took too long to set up her clearance.
Corrigan (below) stole up the wing and blocked down the out-half's kick before regathering and sprinting under the posts. She was never going to be stopped. O'Brien's conversion made it 28-0.
Another strong Monaghan carry, her 14th of the day, forced Wales offside under the sticks and O'Brien slotted over a penalty in the 48th minute. The co-captain left to a rapturous reception moments later, her job done, with Fiona Tuite the replacement.
Moments later it was time for Clíodhna Moloney (below) to make a long-awaited return after over two years out of favour, the hooker replacing the excellent Jones in the 52nd minute.
Still Ireland came, Christy Haney took up the mantle and took on ball after ball, always in place to secure front-foot ball. There was a debut for Shannon Ikahihifo, who came on for Hogan as the hosts pushed for try number five.
It duly arrived in the 60th minute. Dorothy Wall, McMahon and Wafer combined to work the ball wide to Parsons (below), who handed off Jenny Hesketh midway through a 30-yard run before dotting down.
Ireland lost Linda Djougang to what looked like a shoulder injury with just under 20 minutes to play before Gwennan Hopkins grabbed a consolation try after good work by Higgins had denied Carys Cox.
The centre had the final say of the game as she ripped the ball off Abbey Constable on the Irish line. A fitting end to superb performance.
Ireland: Lauren Delany; Katie Corrigan, Eve Higgins, Enya Breen, Béibhinn Parsons; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney; Dorothy Wall, Sam Monaghan (co-capt); Aoife Wafer, Edel McMahon (co-capt), Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Shannon Ikahihifo, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Nicole Fowley, Aoife Dalton.
Wales: Jenny Hesketh; Jasmine Joyce, Hannah Jones (capt), Kerin Lake, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu; Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans; Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.
Replacements: Molly Reardon, Abbey Constable, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Gwennan Hopkins, Sian Jones, Kayleigh Powell, Courtney Keight.
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
