In the 11 years since the All-Ireland League was inaugurated, the senior club scene in his country has undergone radical alteration. It is not that the balance of power at the top of the first division has swung away from Munster - nine wins in 10 years and two clubs in the semi-finals this season.

What we have seen is the advent to the senior scene of some very welcome newcomers and the eclipse of some others, who had sat at the top table.

The inauguration of the league was a tortuous process. It was not the legislators who hid behind tradition and buried their heads in the sand.

It was some clubs who fought relentlessly and indeed a few unethically against the concept. What we have, we hold. Never mind merit, achievement or incentive.

It started with two divisions in 1990-91, nine in the first and 10 in the second. The composition of those two divisions had been based on merit, the placings in the provincial leagues over the previous three seasons.

Well nothing emphasises the change in the scene in a more pronounced manner than the fact that just 11 of those 19 clubs are now in the top two divisions even though they now consist of 32 clubs, 16 in each.

There are the four ever-presents in the first division, Cork Constitution, Garryowen, St Mary's College and Shannon.

Ballymena and Lansdowne were also in the top division at the outset, both had spells in Division Two before returning to the top grade.

Malone, Wanderers and Instonians made up the nine originals. Old Wesley, Young Munster, Bangor, Terenure College. Greystones, Sunday's Well, CIYMS, NIFC, Athlone and Corinthians, were in the second division.

Young Munster and Terenure are now in the first division. Malone and Sunday's Well in the second.

Athlone, NIFC and Corinthians were relegated in that inaugural season. Athlone amalgamated with Ballinasloe to form Buccaneers.

NIFC and Collegians, both of whom struggled in the league in the early years, amalgamated to form Belfast Harlequins and that club has just been relegated from the first division.

Instonians, Bangor, Greystones, Corinthians and Old Wesley are all now in the third division, CIYMS no longer a senior club.

The AIL format changed over the years. Originally, entry to Division Two came from a round-robin series of the provincial league winners. Then the league was extended to all senior clubs and we had four divisions.

There was ongoing wrangling about the number of clubs that should be in the first division and this season that was extended to 16, - far too many - and the second division went from 15 to 16. The third division comprised 16 clubs and there was no fourth division.

Over the period of the league we have seen some old clubs gone from the senior scene. Queen's University and UCG, two of the most successful clubs in their provincial competition through the years. Gone too are CIYMS, Armagh, Sligo, and now Highfield and Ards.

But the reverse of their experiences, has been the arrival on the scene of some very ambitious clubs who have proved their worth.

For far too long there was no means by which clubs could win promotion from junior to senior status as a right irrespective of how successful those clubs were.

The experiences of Terenure and Shannon in the 1950s were classic examples. In Leinster, long after such as Skerries and Greystones got senior status, there was provision if a junior club won the Junior One league. The odds against that happening were high.

But the AIL changed all that nonsense. And when the way was opened for the junior clubs by winning their provincial leagues and then in the play-offs to earn the right to promotion, justice was done.

Who could have imagined that Clonakilty and Connemara would be senior clubs? Both won their way into the third division in recent weeks.

And we have Thomond now in Division Two. And they will be accompanied into the second division by Barnhall, a club founded as recently as 1969. The Midleton Club has been another great success story and so too Ballynahinch.

Carlow's achievement in winning promotion to Division One reflects splendidly on this great old club. It has taken Carlow just four years to reach first division status.

Carlow, Ballynahinch, Midleton, Thomond, Barnhall, Naas, Banbridge, Richmond, Suttonians, Clonakilty and Connemara are all now senior clubs.

How many of those clubs would be playing in senior rugby I wonder, had we not had an All Ireland league?

And what a splendid achievement by the Bruff Club in winning the All-Ireland under-20 title, beating, as they did Lansdowne, Harlequins and UCC in the knockout stages.

Rugby in rural Ireland is alive and very well. Senior status is no longer a divine right. It has to be earned and then maintained and that is as it should be.