How did Matchroom and Eddie Hearn end up promoting Katie Taylor? Well, she only reached out by sending him a direct message on Instagram.

And here is the very message that changed everything about women's boxing:

Hi Eddie, I hope you're well. I hope you don't mind me reaching out like this out of the blue. I've been seriously considering turning pro the last few months, I think I could do for women's boxing what I did for the amateur sport: bring it into focus and generate a serious interest. I already have a global profile and a great fan base. Of course, the pro game is impossible without a great promoter so I'm wondering if you would be interested in talking more about this?

Much appreciated,

Katie.

Image source, Getty Images

Right then, that was quite something, wasn't it?

On to the main event we go.

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

You don't have to do an awful lot to sling a guy over the ropes when they're going at the ropes and a big guy as well.

What was really interesting was that the fight was warming up because Carty had been illegally hit on the back of the head and then Carty had backed away with a look of venom on their face.

He then opens up, forces Dave Allen on the other side of the ropes, and then they manage to spiral around, and then we had the incident.

It might sound really odd, even though I'm at ringside, but we have one blind spot in the entire ring.

He just moves out of the way. He does a matador move, Ole. Moves his feet out of the way, and out of the ropes goes Thomas Carty. The blow on the back of the head was illegal, though.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

Hard to argue with referee Emile Tiedt's decision there.

Hugely unsatisfactory and while Allen did connect to the back of Carty's head, it seemed a victim of circumstance without malice.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport boxing journalist at Croke Park, Dublin

Extraordinary scenes. The first bell had barely rung when Allen appeared to catch the Irishman on the back of the head at close quarters.

Carty, clutching the back of his head, fell head-first through the ropes and onto the floor. He remained there for several minutes and needed oxygen.

There were initially no replays shown on the big screen - and when one eventually appeared, it was greeted by huge jeers from the crowd. Doncaster’s Allen maintained that Carty had turned his head.

I’ve seen plenty in boxing, but I can’t recall ever being ringside for anything quite like this.

A sequence of events.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

So, the co-main event lasted one minute and 22 seconds and has just been declared a no contest with Thomas Carty unable to continue.

Dave Allen says, "That's one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen in my life".

Me too, Dave.

We've got a few boos now as replays show Dave Allen caught Thomas Carty on the back of the head before they stopped clinching.

Carty then went through the second and third ropes.

Thomas Carty is now sitting up out of the ring and receiving oxygen. I don't know what he's injured but he had a pretty heavy landing.

DAZN cameras just picked up Dave Allen saying, "he jumped out of the ring."

They are quite incredible scenes.

What on earth has happened here?

We're in round one still and Thomas Carty has tripped, gone straight through the ropes and is laying on the ground out of the ring.

Allen is standing in the ring in complete disbelief.

I've never seen anything like this.

Katie Taylor's Irish legacy was sealed on 9 August 2012 when she won an Olympic gold medal in London.

Destined for greatness right from the start.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Carty is in the ring and here comes Dave Allen to his familiar ringwalk of My Way and Fields of Gold.

We won't be going round-by-round for this one but we will definitely be giving updates when needed.

Right, time for you all to be honest. How many of you knew Katie Taylor used to play international football for the Republic of Ireland?

She made her debut in 2006 and made 11 appearances - scoring six times.

Ten points if you can pick her out below.

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Hearn
Matchroom promoter

Ireland, thank you so much for what you've done tonight for Katie Taylor. It will be one of the greatest moments in the history of Irish sport when she makes that ringwalk.

She needs to control the emotions - I don't know how she'll do it - she's nervous to walk out one final time. You have to live in the moment, enjoy it but win as well. This has been years in the making.

I was disappointed in myself that I allowed people to question whether this was possible. When you look around tonight you can see how good this country is at supporting on of their own. Let's take the roof off this place and enjoy the moment.

The proudest mother in the world right here.

If you couldn't guess, that is Katie Taylor's mum, Bridget.

Image source, Getty Images

Oh, Kaitlyn!

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport boxing journalist at Croke Park, Dublin

There is serious excitement in Dublin about Westlife performing a couple of hits before the main event.

They were here earlier today for a two-hour soundcheck - determined to get every note absolutely right before a packed Croke Park.

My colleague Kaitlyn - surname withheld to protect her from the backlash - had no idea who Westlife were. She is only 22, so we were prepared to give her some leeway.

Then she did some research and doubled down. “One-hit wonders,” was her verdict.

Thumbs up if you agree with Kaitlyn. Thumbs down if you don't.