So, how was that for the old ticker, then? A day which promised relentless drama at the top end of the Scottish Premiership most certainly did not disappoint.
With Celtic needing a 97th minute goal to complete a victory from two goals down at Rugby Park, the pressure was ratcheted up on Hearts and Rangers as the other title contenders locked horns at Ibrox.
Twice behind in a game they couldn’t afford to lose, Danny Rohl’s side earned a prized victory through Youssef Chermiti’s hat-trick to ensure they remain right in the hunt.
By the time the dust began to settle on what was truly a Super Sunday, Hearts were just two points ahead of Rangers with both sides having 11 games left. Martin O’Neill’s outfit are three points behind the Tynecastle men but have played a game fewer.
The first proper three-way title fight since 1998 now seems destined to go right to the wire and the world is sitting up and taking notice.
It might be wise for the SPFL to reserve that helicopter for the final day on May 17.
Pilot David Young prepares to deliver the Premiership trophy back in 2009 season but will a helicopter be needed on the final day of this season?
Derek McInnes issues instructions to his players during their defeat at Ibrox on Sunday
Here Daily Mail Sport’s John McGarry seeks to determine which of the three teams is entitled to fancy their chances as the home straight approaches.
CURRENT MOOD
HEARTS
Disappointed after losing to Rangers, naturally, yet with no reason to be despondent. Derek McInnes didn’t have to remind his group that they are still in an enviable position after Sunday’s 4-2 reverse. His players did his talking for him.
Hearts had beaten the Old Firm four times already this season. That sequence was always going to end at some point.
They could have had no complaints at the outcome and will console themselves with the knowledge that they again scored twice at such a tough venue. Had it not been for some cheap turnovers in transition, they’d have consolidated their position at the top of the table.
RANGERS
Joyful. United. And increasingly optimistic. On the back of a poor show in the draw at Fir Park, Rohl was a feeling the heat due to his questionable personnel decisions.
Youssef Chermiti rises to head home his second goal for Rangers against Hearts
It made a win against Hearts non-negotiable for the German. His side had to deliver. After experiencing considerable adversity, they did.
It extended the German’s points tally to 46 from a possible 57. They’d taken just nine from 24 at the point where he came in. Rangers are the form team in the country in the period since Rohl was appointed.
CELTIC
Relief and then some. An acceptance that while naturally welcome, scoring goals in the 97th minute (Junior Adamu v Dundee in cup) the 91st minute (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain v Livingston) and the 97th minute (Julian Araujo v Kilmarnock) is a high-risk strategy that rarely leads to the big prizes being lifted,
Martin O’Neill shouts encouragement from the sidelines during Celtic’s win at Killie
O’Neill will not need to tell his players that, starting with the visit of Hibs on Sunday, they are going to have to deliver far sooner in every match.
FIXTURES
HEARTS
After being on the road in three of their last four games, there’s a bit to home comfort on the horizon with that schedule reversed.
Hearts face Falkirk, Aberdeen and Dundee in Gorgie with a trip to Kilmarnock coming prior to welcoming Steven Pressley’s men to the capital.
Hearts have relied on the goals of Claudio Braga in the absence of injured Lawrence Shankland
They’ve been strong at home thus far, unbeaten in 13 and winning nine, so there’s good reason to believe they’ll bolster their position across those matches.
Coming just before the split, a home game with Motherwell on April 11 will be pivotal. They now have no Scottish Cup to distract them. McInnes side must go to Celtic Park after the split but will be at home to Rangers.
RANGERS
Livingston at Almondvale on Sunday will be a challenge not to be taken lightly then comes the small matter of Celtic at Ibrox in the league with a Scottish Cup clash against O’Neil’s men arriving a week later at the same venue.
Trips to St Mirren and Falkirk look potentially awkward, less so, on current form, the home games against Aberdeen and Dundee United in the middle.
The post-split fixtures will see Rohl’s outfit travel to both Tynecastle and Celtic Park. If they can win both of those, the other closing games should take care of themselves.
CELTIC
The impact of playing Stuttgart at home prior to tackling Hibs and away just before O’Neill’s side go to Ibrox could be definitive.
There’s not a chance O’Neill will mix his selection up against the Germans meaning this period is going to be enormously taxing on his players.
Coming in between the two Ibrox matches, the rearranged game at Pittodrie must also be taken care of.
Celtic also face Motherwell and St Mirren at home together with successive trips to Tayside to take on Dundee United and Dundee.
Home advantage for the post-split meetings with Hearts and Rangers may be crucial.
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL / FEARFUL
HEARTS
Hearts remain in a position which every single player and supporter would have taken in a heartbeat before a ball was kicked. If they outperform the two Glasgow sides over the next 11 games, they will be champions of Scotland for the first time since 1960.
Manager Derek McInnes will be keen to welcome back Hearts’ midfield talisman Cammy Devlin
If they are to pull it off, it will require all hands to the pump. To that end, news that Cammy Devlin might return against Aberdeen later this month is welcome. Lawrence Shankland looks to be three or four weeks behind the Australian. His goals could prove pivotal going down the home straight.
The concern must be stuttering momentum. Rangers were 13 points behind McInnes’ men when Rohl came in and are now just two back.
Likewise, a once eight-point lead to Celtic will be wiped out if the champions win their game in hand against the Dons. Hearts need to dust themselves down and go again.
RANGERS
At the point when Russell Martin departed, Rangers’ title hopes looked all but over.
Rohl has brought them back to life with his pragmatic approach often winning matches ugly before he got to January.
He’s been backed to the hilt since through the acquisitions of Andreas Skov Olsen, Ryan Naderi, Tochi Chukwuani and Tuur Rommens. On the limited evidence to date, the quartet represent an upgrade which could turn the side from contenders to unlikely champions.
Rangers have pushed the boat out to sign Danish winger Andreas Skov Olsen on loan
Youssef Chermiti, a player who initially looked lost, might just turn into the most unlikely saviour if Rohl pairs him with Naderi more often.
The nagging doubt among Rangers fans is that they’ve seen different sides under different managers arrive in promising positions around this time of year and lack the belief to get the job done.
There’s talent and spirit in this team, but there’s a lack of individuals who have been over the course and distance before.
CELTIC
The Martin O’Neill factor is the single biggest reason why supporters are now believing that they can pull this off.
Either side of the Wilfried Nancy debacle, the Northern Irishman has taken charge of 11 league matches. He’s won 10 and drawn one with acts of escapology commonplace among them.
The veteran manager simplifies his instructions and rings every drop out of his players.
Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate looked out of sorts in Sunday’s game at Kilmarnock
Seb Tounekti, whose recent performance levels have been unrecognisable, is testament to O’Neill’s man management.
The worry for all will be that not every player falls under the manager’s spell.
Reo Hatate seems to have checked out. Daizen Maeda is offering very little.
Paulo Bernardo and Michel-Ange Balikwisha have disappeared from view.
There’s more of an onus on Oxlade-Chamberlain to play and to play well than O’Neill would have liked at this juncture.