It mightn't go down well in some households, and it might mess up many an annual summer holiday, but based on a straw poll conducted by this column over the last few weeks there is virtual unanimity among rugby players. The season should be starting now, not finishing.

The congested run-in over the last couple of weeks undoubtedly suited the more attack minded, top-of-the-ground teams. Mind you, the wintry conditions for much of the Irish season had often been held up as a mitigating factor in the dominance of Munster clubs over their Leinster counterparts. Well, that certainly doesn't wash now.

Allowing for some honourable exceptions, mostly at St Mary's, contracted Leinster players were more notable by their absence on the AIL run-in. Not surprisingly though, despite having a longer European Cup campaign and carrying a greater international load, the clubs seemed to matter more to Munster's players, who mostly played on without complaint.

Hence, last season's Leinster domination of the knockout stages increasingly looks like an aberration caused by Munster's run to the European Cup final. Whereas two Munster sides have made the semi-finals along with newcomers at this stage from Connacht and Ulster, only one Leinster side (St Mary's) even mounted a challenge worthy of the name and finished in the top half of the table. As was the case provincially, once again they have underachieved.

Cork Constitution and Galwegians have been the pacesetters all along and deserve home advantage in the semi-finals. Con have again looked the best side in the country but are further troubled by the likely absence of Anthony Horgan from the semi-finals and Ronan O'Gara from a putative final.

Still, they have been the most complete team and have the strongest squad, with enough versatility to cover virtually every position adequately; highlighted by the six wins out of six with Conor Mahony at outhalf.

Ominously for Galwegians, last Saturday's nervy one-point win over Buccaneers was a second example of them freezing a little on the big stage. Granted they showed what they are capable of against Terenure and you'd hope they'll be able to play with the requisite freedom on Saturday.

This pair meet two sides in a rich vein of form. Dungannon seem a classic case in point of a top-of-the-ground team, with their representative back line dipping their bread on a run of five successive wins which has yielded 27 tries. Likewise, Young Munster have revelled in the end-of-season conditions, putting together their most impressive back-toback performances of the season.

Ballymena fed off the midfield penetration of Shane Stewart and Rhys Botha, unearthed some talented outside backs and belatedly discovered a real gem in the talented Neil Doak, but, predictably, suffered four defeats out of five in a tough run-in and once again their poor away form (only two wins out of seven) undid them.

Garryowen, with a bunch of kids, and relatively little cutting edge (only Lansdowne scored fewer tries) yet with that trademark spirit and the points gathering of Jeremy Staunton and Killian Keane, somehow sustained a challenge until - forgiveably - hitting the wall with three games to go. They surprised even themselves.

SHANNON developed their latest crop of likely lads and gave it a go. John Lacey was reconverted and reborn as a full back, becoming the league's most potent strike weapon with 13 tries while Mossie Lawlor especially gave note of his talent. They lacked a playmaker though and ultimately threw in the towel a little.

Blackrock, despite never having Emmet Farrell and rarely having Brian O'Driscoll, gradually saw their first-choice pack eroded as well and so can feel well pleased with the way they rolled up their sleeves on their return to the top flight. Less so Terenure, who took inconsistency to laughable levels and, indeed, became something of a joke.

Despite conceding more tries (55) than anyone, Clontarf made the most of what they had, winning six of eight at Castle Avenue to ensure a smooth mid-table ride. They had the prolific boot of Richie Murphy to thank on some occasions but also unearthed some promising under-20 prospects in Dara O'Shea, James Downey and Andy Cullen.

Lansdowne, also injury ravaged, suffered badly for Barry Everitt's departure, though in hindsight Mark Woods might have been given more of a chance and ultimately came to their rescue. By popular consent, they were the most boring team in the first division.

Being the second coach after Eddie O'Sullivan at Buccaneers was always liable to be better than the first, and so it has proved with Simon Allnutt making a promising start. Establishing themselves after the post-promotion euphoria was always going to be more difficult as well but now they've done so they have the structures to strengthen.

Similarly, DLSP have done well to hang on where others have failed and are also another to have benefited from the top-of-the-ground conditions on the run-in. Typical of them, they dug deep to finish the season with three wins out of four and deservedly stay up.

Old Crescent recruited big, talked big but came up short again and there'll be another summer's inquisition and nervous wariness of the vultures around them. They remain Limerick's enigma, for they have some very good players yet definitely underachieved.

Belfast Harlequins were possibly promoted a year too quickly for their own good. They could put together a decent enough first team, but didn't have the depth for a 15match programme. Nonetheless, they have the financial resources and ambition to bounce back.

gthornley@irish-times.ie