For eight relentless months, Celtic chased Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
For eight months they clawed, scrambled and somehow stayed alive in a title race that seemed destined to slip away.
In the end, it took until the final minutes of the final day for Celtic to complete the comeback and retain their crown in one of the most dramatic conclusions to a Scottish season in decades.
Daizen Maeda was the hero once again.
The Japanese forward struck three minutes from time to fire Celtic to a stunning victory over Hearts and secure the Premiership title in extraordinary fashion, capping a remarkable turnaround under veteran manager Martin O’Neill.
The final whistle should have marked a moment of pure celebration.
Instead, scenes were overshadowed by a pitch invasion that crossed the line from emotional release into chaos, with investigations expected after disorder erupted inside Celtic Park.
Yet amid the controversy, the football story remained unforgettable.
For long stretches, Celtic looked set to fall short.
Hearts defended brilliantly and carried a real threat on the counterattack.
After more than half an hour, Celtic had failed to register a shot on target and barely troubled the visitors inside the penalty area.
Then came the breakthrough that sent shockwaves through Celtic Park.
Lawrence Shankland rose at the back post to head Hearts in front with their first effort on target, putting Derek McInnes’ side within touching distance of a historic title triumph.
Celtic suddenly needed two goals.
Arne Engels gave them hope from the penalty spot, and O’Neill’s substitutions began to change the momentum.
Kelechi Iheanacho injected urgency, while young Callum Osmand - making his first appearance since November - added energy and belief.
Still Hearts held firm.
As the clock ticked down, Iheanacho struck the post and Benjamin Nygren forced a dramatic save from Alexander Schwolow.
Every minute felt like another step toward a famous Hearts title.
Then Maeda delivered again.
Osmand burst down the flank and whipped in the cross that Maeda turned home with just minutes remaining, sending Celtic Park into delirium and finally swinging the title race in Celtic’s favour.
The winger, exhausted and emotional, collapsed in tears after scoring his seventh goal in five league games during a sensational end-of-season run.
For Hearts, the pain was immense.
For so much of the afternoon they looked like champions-elect, defending courageously and carrying themselves with composure under enormous pressure.
McInnes’ side battled through injuries to key players including Beni Baningime, Michael Steinwender, Stephen Kingsley and Alexandros Kyziridis as they were gradually pushed deeper and deeper.
But the resistance finally broke.
Even after Maeda’s goal, Hearts threw everything forward during eight tense minutes of added time, desperately chasing the equaliser that would have restored their title dream.
Instead, Osmand broke away late on to seal the victory and spark the scenes that followed.
Despite the heartbreak, Hearts have emerged as genuine challengers again.
Under McInnes, backed by strong recruitment and ambitious ownership, there is growing belief that this season could be the beginning rather than the end of something significant.
For Celtic, this title may ultimately be remembered as one of the most dramatic and difficult in the club’s history.
There were moments throughout the season when they looked disjointed, vulnerable and miles away from championship form.
Yet somehow O’Neill kept dragging his side forward.
Again and again they rescued points late, found decisive goals under pressure and refused to let Hearts pull away.
This final triumph summed up their entire campaign - chaotic, emotional and ultimately successful.
There will be questions for Celtic’s hierarchy over how the club allowed the title race to become so precarious in the first place. Major rebuilding work still lies ahead.
But those conversations will happen from a position of strength.
Celtic are champions again - and this season, more than ever, simply getting over the line was enough.
