Katie Taylor signs off in style with points victory against Flora Pili in Dublin

With the nation’s gaze upon her, the Irish great became a three-time undisputed world champion by overwhelming the previously unbeaten Frenchwoman 100-90 100-90 98-91 on the scorecards.

Taylor dominated through her hand speed and movement and never looked in danger as she added the vacant WBC title to her WBO, WBA and IBF belts to begin the party at GAA headquarters.

As the final seconds before retirement approached, the Olympic gold medallist ended the 10th round by trading with Pili against the ropes knowing victory was assured.

Once Westlife had finished performing as the main warm-up act, Taylor made a slow but electric entrance on a stage that took her past one stand and then through the middle of the stadium.

‘All Hail King Jesus’ by Bethel Music and Bethany Wohrle was the song for the 40-year-old’s final ring walk and when the action began, there was no evidence of tension from the enormity of the occasion.

Instead, Taylor calmly took command of the centre of the ring and drew a roar from the crowd with every meaningful shot thrown, whether it landed or not.

Pili showed no sign of wilting despite having walked into the lion’s den and she hit back with a flurry in a third round which had otherwise continued a cagy start to the fight.

Taylor’s rapid hands were causing problems, however, with the limited Pili marching forward and showing little imagination behind a high guard.

Chants of ‘Katie, Katie’ broke out and in the sixth round she began to let her shots go, but a round later she came under sustained attack for the first time as Pili appeared to realise the fight was in danger of passing her by.

Taylor continued to move freely, occasionally coming under pressure but never with any real threat, and her punches were faster and more accurate throughout.

Only a knockout could rip up the script but Pili was incapable of delivering that against such a mobile opponent and to light up the crowd one last time, Taylor let rip with a flurry of punches before the final bell sounded.

The first fight staged at Croke Park since Muhammad Ali stopped Alvin Lewis in 1972 was a night to remember and a triumph on all fronts.

Initial concerns over whether Taylor would be able to sell out the cathedral of Irish sport, thereby making the event financially unviable, were immediately dispelled as all 40,000 pre-sale tickets were snapped up and the remainder went within 17 minutes of going on general sale.

The demand was a reflection of her rise to Irish immortality, made possible by her achievements in the ring but also by acting as a pioneer in women’s boxing, which included convincing authorities to make it legal for females to fight.

Taylor had headlined Madison Square Garden as part of her trilogy against Amanda Serrano, a trio of fights that provided the pinnacle of her career until she brought down the curtain on her three decades as a boxer at Croke Park.