And then there were six. In fact, going into the concluding round of Division One fixtures, you could make an argument for seventh-placed Young Munster reaching the top four play-offs, but in the heel of the hunt, to have half the top flight in contention on the last day makes for the league's most dramatic finale ever.
As a result, the only Division One fixture with nothing at stake is the Buccaneers-Dungannon tie in Ballinasloe. Otherwise it's game on with everything to play for. Amid all the controversies attached to the vexed club versus province tug of war, club treasurers, Union organisers and sponsors alike could hardly have devised a better climax.
Few will have their full attention on their own games as the possible permutations would be enough to keep a rocket scientist entertained. Suffice to say that only the top four have their destinies in their own hands, and victories for all of them would assure a place in the semi-final.
St Mary's are best placed for their third successive appearance in the semi-finals, comfortable in the knowledge that victory at Templeville Road against the holders Cork Constitution would ensure them of a much-cherished home semi-final after away defeats in Limerick at this stage over the last two years. Terenure are similarly well placed although because of a much poorer points differential they are more prone to a mugging were they to trip up at relegation-threatened DLSP, who will be every bit as fired up in trying to protect their hard-earned first division status in their centenary year. They will also be mindful that bottom-placed Clontarf could overtake them by winning at Shannon.
There is also everything to play for at Dooradoyle where Garryowen (beaten finalists for the last two years) will also be seeking a third successive semi-final appearance. However, Ballymena will be every bit as motivated by the prize of becoming the first Ulster team to reach the semi-finals.
By comparison, Lansdowne will have a much clearer sighting of the top four when they entertain Young Munster, who will not be calling upon Mike Mullins due to Munster's impending European Cup semi-final against Toulouse. They will again be shorn of half their first-choice pack with the absence of Peter Clohessy, Des Clohessy, Ger Earls and the suspended Ian Dillon.
Indeed, none of the first-rank Munster forwards will be playing today - the premature exit of Shannon from the play-off picture constituting a silver lining for the province, and Peter Clohessy and David Wallace were effectively sidelined with injury. Keith Wood is also not expected to risk aggravating the knee ligament injury he sustained against Stade with a return to Garryowen's colours today.
Hence, only the likes of Ronan O'Gara, Killian Keane and Dominic Crotty from Munster's starting line-up in the quarter-final win over Stade Francais will ultimately be playing their third game in eight days, as well as squad members such as Frankie Sheahan and Jeremy Staunton.
"It's not too bad, it's only one more midweek game than would normally be the case," observed O'Gara phlegmatically yesterday. "In effect this is a quarter-final for the club and you don't forget your roots. The Con fellas got me on the road to where I am today. It's a huge game, St Mary's are a strong side and we're missing a few, but we've nothing to lose."
Similar sentiments were expressed by Keane, whose polished performance and near-immaculate place-kicking was so instrumental to Garryowen's stirring five-pointer against Young Munster on Wednesday. "It's not ideal but it's not that big a deal either, provided none of us get injured."
Even so, it's all been far from ideal for Munster's preparations (they had their first squad session in two weeks yesterday) as well for the clubs, and there will be some residual ill-feeling. It's worth noting that Declan Kidney didn't play the heavy, as he might have done (as Harry Williams justifiably did last season) by insisting on withdrawals today, while the clubs could have done more to help Munster's cause, not least by playing last Wednesday's re-arranged Munster derbies a week earlier - as had been offered to them by the IRFU.
The promotion race in Division Two is no less competitive or intriguing on the final day. While Blackrock have already been crowned as champions, their visitors today, Old Crescent, Belfast Harlequins (who travel to City of Derry), UCD (away to Bective) and Galwegians (at home to Greystones with a back match against Blackrock a week later) are all contesting the remaining three automatic promotion spots. City of Derry also have a shot at the two-legged play-off with the last-placed team in Division One.
Elsewhere this weekend, the Irish Schools, following their fine win away to England and a defeat in France, complete their programme against their Welsh counterparts in Lansdowne Road tomorrow while Blackrock seek to complete a memorable double in the Metropolitan Cup final at Donnybrook on Monday against Lansdowne.
