It was hard to envisage the same level of drama on this occasion, but with time practically up at the end of the contest, Birr nervelessly split the uprights to help Georgia claim the spoils.

The third year in succession that this college football classic has been held at the Aviva, it will become a fourth in 2025 when Iowa State and Kansas State lock horns on Lansdowne Road on August 23.

While there may have been lull periods over the course of the play, there was more than enough drama on display in south Dublin to suggest that next year’s Aer Lingus Classic will be another affair to remember.

As expected, there was plenty of spectacle on offer in the hours and minutes leading up to kick-off with the Lansdowne Road ground looking world’s apart from the one that traditionally hosts rugby and soccer fixtures on a regular basis.

After Georgia Tech’s Yellow Jacket marching band had performed the Star Spangled Banner and a selection of other numbers with typical gusto, Irish soprano Claudia Boyle produced a stirring rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann to the sold-out Aviva crowd – which was estimated to have included more than 25,000 American-based supporters.

In a nice touch from the organisers, Special Olympics athlete Caolan McConville was called upon to deliver the game ball onto the field. From Craigavon in Armagh, McConville is set to represent Ireland in skiing at next year’s Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Once the game finally kicked off, any notion that it was going to be a slow burner were quickly dismissed. Last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference champions, Florida opened the scoring with just over four minutes gone when running back Lawrance Toafili raced through for a 28-yard touchdown that was followed up by Brian Courtney’s two-point conversion.

Georgia Tech had also arrived in Dublin with plenty of intent and after Jamal Haynes was agonisingly close to get into the end zone, quarter-back Zach Pyron eventually secured a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets from one yard out.

Birr’s one-point kick in the direct aftermath of this kick was successful and left the bare minimum (8-7) between the teams with seven minutes of the opening period still remaining.

During one of several stoppages in the first quarter, a short video was shown on the big screen of the aforementioned Shanahan, which saw him detailing a remarkable journey from his native Castleisland to becoming a punter within this Georgia Tech side.

He got a chance to showcase his kicking ability in the 14th minute of play and the former Kerry U17 Gaelic footballer got the Yellow Jackets in a good field position with his first meaningful involvement of the day.

In total, Shanahan made 93 yards from his two punts over the course of the game for an average of 46.5.

Although Florida subsequently created additional daylight in the second quarter courtesy of an excellent 52-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, Georgia Tech later edged in front for the first time when running back Haynes joined his team-mate Pyron in securing a one-yard touchdown.

Another single point bonus from Birr looked set to give Georgia the upper hand heading into the half-time break, but in the final second of the second quarter, Fitzgerald produced another monstrous field goal to leave the sides tied at 14-14.

This latest contribution from Fitzgerald served to ramp up the tension and even though the action resumed with a scoreless third quarter, this meant there was a significant amount at stake for both sides moving into the final 15 minutes of the game.

Whilst Georgia once again regained the initiative with a second Haynes touchdown at the very start of the fourth quarter, Florida running back Roydell Williams responded by getting through the end zone with just over six minutes left to play. The dependable boots of Birr and Fitzgerald complimented these efforts at either end of the pitch, but just when it looked like the sides were practically inseparable, Birr provided the boisterous Georgia Tech fans with a moment to savour right at the death.