Yet while the basic errors in possession, struggles at the breakdown and losses in the lineouts in this final game are crucial to answering why the visitors were brushed aside, they are a little too game specific to be relevant at this point. This is more of a where are we now situation?

Connacht have made progress this season, lots of it. In terms of points on the board, position in the table, tries score, tries conceded, young indigenous players blooded and even attendances at the still hopelessly outdated Sportsground.  That should have the Connacht rugby folk beaming. Beaming and bouncing on their toes, yet they’re not, for some reason everyone feels a bit flat. 

It might be because of this mass exodus of key players. Eric Elwood’s first season is coming to a close, progress has been made and now he has to rebuild but if Connacht can find the two key signings at tighthead and 12 then it will be hard to argue that next year’s squad would at least have the potential to bring things forward.

The missing sense of triumph might simply be down to the fact that after a run of six wins on the bounce four of the last five games were lost. It might also be because the gap between Connacht and the other provinces continues to grow or maybe simply because there is a clear reality that something more dramatic than a long term commitment from HQ is needed for the next step to be made.

To put it more simply, Connacht have had no ‘car flag moments’ this season. By that we mean, the green flag that goes on your back window and flew proudly in the week’s leading up to the Challenge Cup Semi Final against Toulon last season, has probably being stuck in the corner of your boot. There have been few reasons to put it up.

The few Connacht flags still trickling on the street poles across the Quinncentennial bridge are looking limp and tattered, a depressing symbol of a season with very few high points. The saving grace in that regard might come in the Leinster take the Heineken Cup and ending a long, long wait for Connacht’s inclusion in the competition.

There is of course there is a quiet appreciation, of what has been achieved. The good will towards Eric Elwood and Dan McFarland hasn’t dissipated and considering the province conceded 54 and 50 tries (averaging just under three per game) in the past two 18 game campaigns a return of the sixth best defence in the league (av two per game) is something that Mike Forshaw can be proud of.

Elwood is bringing on local talent too. Andrew Browne had yet another fine display last week to complete a breakthrough season, Eoin Griffin is now established as Connacht’s best outside centre and looking through the squad, Dermot Murphy, Shane Conneely, Aaron Conneely, Eoin McKeon and Tiernan O’Halloran have all seen valuable game time this year and are developing as a result.

The target for the Connacht coach from day one was –  using his own words – ‘to get off the bottom of the bloody table.’ They achieved that and more by beating Treviso, Glasgow and Aironi to ninth but it is clear that Connacht put their eggs in the domestic basket, got a return that they are satisfied with yet still didn’t create a buzz.

The Toulon game in April of last year turned the province green for a couple of thrilling weeks. Galway itself went rugby mad, Bourgoin were beaten in the quarter finals, Munster and Leinster visited for hair raising games in the build up and then came the big one. Irish sports fans love the big day, and we didn’t have enough them.

Forgive us for not bothering to dwell on the game itself. Munster had the class when it mattered. Simon Zebo pounced on a rare Gavin Duffy mistake, they drove over for Alan Quinlan’s try after the visitors scuffed a restart and once Duffy’s second half try was marked off because of a harmless off the ball trip from Johnny O’Connor the game was up and Dougie Howlett finished it off with the final try.

All eyes now turn to Leinster, there will be no shame in the back door route to Europe’s elite table, the Italian and Scottish sides get there automatically, the equally funded Welsh regions have a 75% chance of making it each year.

Connacht are due a break and three Heineken Cup weekends out west where those car flags will be flying and brand spanking new street flags will be raised is just what the game needs out here. Progress is all well and good but there is a longing for a few more marquee days. Fingers cross and Allez Les Blues.