Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara became only the 15th player in rugby union history to win a hundred Test caps when he came on as a replacement in the Six Nations match against Scotland at Croke Park on Saturday.
O'Gara's 51st minute appearance off the bench, after coming on for starting stand-off Jonathan Sexton, took him to a century composed of 98 caps for Ireland and two for the British and Irish Lions.
He reached his century a match after Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll became the first back to win a hundred caps for Ireland alone.
This Six Nations saw prop John Hayes become the first player to win a century of Ireland caps, in the 20-16 victory away to England.
Scotland's victory on the final day of the tournament was their first in this Six Nations and first in nine Championship meetings against Ireland, who had so wanted to say farewell to Croke Park with a victory.
Their first Six Nations success under coach Andy Robinson also meant Scotland avoided the wooden spoon in a match where Ireland scored two tries, through captain Brian O'Driscoll and wing Tommy Bowe, to one from Scottish No 8 Johnnie Beattie.
Ireland, gunning for a fifth Triple Crown in seven seasons, were 7-17 down early in the second half only to stage a recovery that would have left Scotland fans fearing the worst after last weekend's 15-15 draw with England and their agonising loss to Wales last month.
The hosts squared the game at 17-17 with 16 minutes left when neat play from O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy sent in Bowe for a try.
Replays suggested there may have been some doubt about the grounding but the score stood and replacement fly-half Ronan O'Gara, introduced after starting stand-off Jonathan Sexton had another hit and miss day with his goalkicking, landed the difficult conversion to tie the match.
It was some way for O'Gara to mark his 100th Test appearance (98 for Ireland and two for the British and Irish Lions).
However, with eight minutes left, Ireland went offside some 30 metres out and Parks's sweetly struck penalty nudged Scotland 20-17 in front.
Minutes later though, Scotland infringed at a scrum just outside their 22 and O'Gara squared the match at 20-20 with the ensuing penalty.
But the see-saw finale continued as Rob Kearney was penalised for holding on in the tackle with less than two minutes left on the clock. Parks's swerving penalty from wide on the left ultimately stayed true and Scotland were three points in front.
Scotland had upset the formbook by turning round at half-time 14-7 in front after a first half where both sides opted for an attacking game.
It was Scotland who took the lead in the sixth minute when Parks kicked a simple penalty after Ireland infringed in their 22.
But Ireland hit back with the opening try of the match in the 11th minute. Sexton cleverly looped with D'Arcy and then fed to O'Driscoll.
Sexton's final, inside, pass looked suspiciously forward but the try stood. Sexton converted and Ireland were 7-3 in front.
Scotland though rallied to score a try just minutes later.
Strong driving by forwards Ross Ford and Kelly Brown, as well as centre Graeme Morrison, took Scotland into Irish territory.
And twice at the end of the first half they scored points with Parks's penalty followed by a smartly taken 35 metre drop-goal on the stroke of half-time that gave Scotland a seven point cushion.
Sexton, who had been off-target with his goalkicking against both England and Wales, missed a gettable penalty effort early in the second half.
Parks, showing Sexton how it should be done, struck from 40m out to extend the visitors' lead to 17-7.
Ireland though managed to retain possession and a strong driving ruck created another penalty opportunity in the 50th minute.
Final Score Ireland 20 (7) Scotland 23 (14)
Scorers
Ireland
Tries - O'Driscoll, Bowe
Pen - Sexton, O'Gara
Con - Sexton, O'Gara
Drop -
Scotland
Tries - Beattie
Pen - Parks 5
Con -
Drop - Parks
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (RSA)
Att: 80,330
Teams (15-1)
Ireland Geordan Murphy; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O'Leary; Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Stephen Ferris; Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan; John Hayes, Rory Best, Cian Healy
Replacements used: Robert Kearney, Ronan O'Gara, Tony Buckley Unused: Sean Cronin, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan
Scotland Hugo Southwell; Sean Lamont, Nick de Luca, Graeme Morrison, Max Evans; Dan Parks, Chris Cusiter (capt); Johnnie Beattie, John Barclay, Kelly Brown; Alastair Kellock, Jim Hamilton; Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Allan Jacobsen
Replacements used: Alan MacDonald, Mike Blair, Richie Gray, Alasdair Dickinson, Scott Lawson Unused: Phil Godman, Simon Danielli
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