Another fine mess you’ve got me into, Olly
A dramatic day, which began with Thomas Bjorn pulling out injured and having to concede defeat to Paul Casey and then saw Colin Montgomerie at last beat Seve Ballesteros in the clash of the captains, ended on a 15-13 scoreline, with the two former Ryder Cup team-mates locked in conversation for around 15 minutes beside the 18th green.
It all stemmed from an incident on the third green in their singles.
Harrington, 10 feet away in three at the par five, thought Olazabal should have waited for a referee over whether he could repair a couple of marks on the line of his eight-foot putt, but Olazabal had already started the repairs and when Harrington spoke to him the Spanish star conceded the hole.
Harrington later said: "It's not worth losing a friend over, but we had 15 very awkward holes after that big-time.
"I was not trying to question his integrity, but that's what he thought and I can 100% see his side. I certainly won't be celebrating tonight and it's not the way I would have liked to get a half."
Britain and Ireland, winners at Druids Glen last year, led 10-8 overnight and that became 11-8 when Bjorn withdrew because of neck trouble.
The problem for Continental Europe, however, was that injured players are awarded a half with a player chosen by the opposition captain only if it happens 30 minutes before a session starts.
That was 9.42am, but at that point Bjorn felt fine. It was only when time went by that he began to realise he was in serious difficulty.
"It got worse and worse and I know this injury well," he said.
"It won't improve quickly. It could take two days, but it could also take two weeks. I'll see the people I normally see in London."
Bjorn is due in South Carolina this week for golf's World Cup, which carries a million-dollar first prize.
If Bjorn had played and won the two teams would have been tied and there would have been a greensomes play-off. Instead Britain and Ireland always had the edge.
Montgomerie, beaten by Ballesteros both last year and in the inaugural match, must have feared a hat-trick of defeats when he fell two down after seven.
But Ballesteros' game then fell apart. He lost the next seven holes to lose five and four, covering them in six over par.
David Howell added the next point for the visitors, denying Alex Cejka a perfect five wins out of five with a last-green win, and Justin Rose did the same to Raphael Jacquelin with a three and two victory.
That left just a half a point required and Harrington achieved it with a marvellous approach to four feet on the last. But there was no joyous punching of the air when he made it and everyone soon discovered why.
Olazabal said: "I don't want to spend any time talking about it. We had a difference of opinion and I'm not going to waste any more time talking about it.'
Harrington added: "My reaction put Jose in a very difficult position and he did the honourable thing in his eyes and conceded the hole not that I wanted him to. I was happy to take a half on the hole, but he was put in an awkward situation and did all that he thought he could."
Each member of the Britain and Ireland side walked away £107,000 richer, with Howell particularly enjoying the reward since he came into the team only last Sunday night when Darren Clarke qualified for the US Tour Championship in Houston.
Continental Europe earned £50,000 per man.
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