Eve McMahon has won a gold medal in the ILCA 6 dinghy event at the Princess Sofia Sailing regatta in Mallorca.
In a thrilling two-race final round, McMahon's friend ashore but rival afloat, Britain's Daisy Collingridge, appeared to secure gold after the first race, placing one spot ahead of the Howth sailor.
But while McMahon had bagged at least silver, there was plenty of fight remaining and options open in race two. She pulled ahead and into the lead, managing to leave Collingridge several places behind.
It was payback for Friday's surprise match-race move where Collingridge ousted McMahon from the overall lead and took over the yellow leader's bib.
There were emotional scenes immediately after the last race finished as the friends embraced warmly, with Collingridge helping McMahon to recover her dinghy at the beach.
The gold medal win is the first such result for Ireland in Palma since Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern won the 49er men's skiff event in 2016.
This year's event saw a record entry in the women's one-person dinghy that featured 143 sailors including Sienna Wright, also from Howth who won a place in the gold fleet and secured 36th spot overall at this early stage of her senior career.
McMahon is also the youngest sailor in her finals event with her sights set firmly on the Los Angeles Olympics. Her current world ranking of seven is likely to improve based on this week's outcome.
