Exciting finale concealed the flaws

So the Munster clubs went to the well but found the well had run dry, and so the AIB League trophy will be travelling beyond the frontier for the first time in its 10-year existence. All in all, as entertaining as the manic end-of-season dash for tries and bonus points was, it left a slightly unsatisfactory aftertaste.

Curiously, this applies almost as much to the successful Leinster clubs as the unsuccessful Munster ones, for they were well aware that their achievement was going to be slightly devalued by the player demands and fixture pile-ups placed on the Munster quartet. They wanted the Munster clubs' best shot, but alas there's little doubt that the Munster clubs were unable to deliver. Come Saturday and the four of them were flahed, as the concession of 174 points from normally penurious defences clearly demonstrates.

Admittedly the conditions had finally improved and clubs belatedly strove harder for bonus points. Compare for example, the opening-day haul of four bonus points with last Saturday's bountiful harvest of 10, easily the highest of the campaign.

The Munster clubs argue that bringing forward last Wednesday's rearranged derbies to the previous Wednesday at roughly 48 hours' notice was not feasible, although you can't help but think it would have helped their cause.

Nor will Declan Kidney and the Munster management have been amused, for this was hardly ideal preparation, and they can only wait and see how Ronan O'Gara, Killian Keane, Jeremy Staunton and Dominic Crotty react to playing three games in eight days, never mind the lack of preparation afforded the Munster squad before arguably the biggest competitive game in their history next Saturday in Bordeaux against Toulouse.

Clearly then, there are lessons to be learned - at least two free weekends for rearranged AIL games will have to be built in.

ST MARY'S: Players Used: 29. Tries for: 27, Against: 6. Leading points/tries: Mark McHugh 133/John McWeeney 9, Dennis Hickie 4. Rather typical campaign, bright start of four wins followed by five-game run illuminated only by nervy wins at home to bottom two before finishing with big wins against Shannon and Constitution. Deserve first place, with comfortably best points and tries differentials, hitting form at right time.

Odds: 13/8 favourites (Paddy Powers).

TERENURE: Players used: 29. Tries: 23-25. Leading points/tries: David Lynagh 109/Richie Governey 3.

Possibly surprised even themselves. Conceded more tries than they scored, but their Munster-style grit saw them win three matches by a point and six of their seven wins by under five points. A settled side, unchanged in three games and Lakelands semi-final, where they are unbeaten.

Odds: 11/4 joint second favourites.

LANSDOWNE: Players used: 30. Tries: 2510. Leading points/tries: Barry Everitt 152/Ray Niland 6.

Solid, defensively sound side beginning to flow of late with Barry Everitt's return to form. Old inconsistencies haunted them until decisive three-win run-in. Real dark horses.

Odds: 11/4 joint second favourites.

BALLYMENA: Players used: 31. Tries: 3031. Leading points/tries: - Simon Mason 124/Simon Broughton 6, Dion O'Cuinneagain 5.

Metamorphosis from last season's forward-oriented outfit helped by Ulster's poor season and Andre Bester calming down - as he admits. Finally hit upon settled side (17 players in last five games) and rid themselves of "home" tag too but still brittle under pressure.

Odds: 4/1.

GARRYOWEN: Players used: 29. Tries: 3220. Leading points/tries: Killian Keane 94/Jeremy Staunton 8.

Division's top try scorers, but devoured by Munster injuries in round two against Constitution and then by enforced month's idleness before three games in eight days. Unluckiest of all to miss out but did so with grand flourish.

CORK CONSTITUTION: Players used: 29. Tries: 28-30. Leading points/tries: Ronan O'Gara 109/Cian Mahony, Brian Walsh 4 each.

Gave it a good shot with three five-point hauls in a row before demanding run-in caught up with them. In truth, so too did poor early away form (one point from four games).

YOUNG MUNSTER: Players used: 30. Tries: 9-24. Leading points/tries: Tom Cregan 139/Cregan 3.

Perhaps flattered to deceive a little given limited potency but were top of the table before month's idleness and three defeats in last week when injuries hit hard.

SHANNON: Players used: 34. Tries: 23-25. Leading points/tries: Conor Burke 98/Eddie Halvey 4.

Munster's demands exacted biggest toll on Shannon long before run-in amid rumours of chasm between full-timers and part-timers. Showed conveyor belt is still well oiled at death though.

BUCCANEERS: Players used: 23. Tries: 2222. Leading points/tries: Simon Allnutt 62/Rob Lee 5.

Always likely to be a case of second season syndrome. Still limited in ambition but ultimately proved their mettle at Young Munster. Could regroup next season though IRFU's Connacht cost-cutting may hurt.

DUNGANNON: Players used: 27. Tries: 25-29. Leading points/tries: David Humphreys 113/Jan Cunningham 4.

Injuries to key personnel hurt and like Ballymena a little too porous under pressure, but proved mettle when arresting four-loss slide with big win at home to Garryowen. Should be better for experience.

DLSP: Players used: 29. Tries: 17-20. Leading points/tries: Mark Kavanagh 35/John Corr, Shane Stephens 3 each.

Handicapped by lack of goalkicker but unflattered by final standing as they were very competitive in five games they didn't win. With one draw from demoralising first six games, to beat Shannon and Constitution in successive games reflected well on them.

CLONTARF: Players used: 29. Tries: 18-36. Leading points/tries: Richie Murphy 91/Ronan O'Reilly.

Front-row weaknesses and injuries crippled them but the escapologists still have another route.