Buccaneers - 28 Ballymena - 28 Mathematical calculations proved irrelevant. After a weekend of final qualifying matches with much at stake for at least six contenders, the equation remained the same.
Lansdowne eked out a home semi-final over third-place finishers Ballymena, whose draw with Buccaneers at Ericsson Park ensured neither Belfast Harlequins nor Galwegians could catch the midlanders in fourth place - even if they had won. And, at the top, Clontarf duly took the honours.
However, the two Antipodean coaches of Ballymena and Buccaneers appeared to derive little pleasure from a gripping second half in Athlone.
"We did not play to potential," said Ballymena's Tony Darcy.
"Buccaneers were hungrier at the breakdown, hitting breakdowns with bodies and energy and that put pressure on our attack. It was a wake-up call for our guys."
Buccaneers coach John McKee, although delighted his youngsters had come through another make-or-break test, was adamant they will have to take another step up for the semis.
"What it does show is the club strength of Buccaneers in a two-week period in which we lost five key players. These young guys stepped up and they did the job and you can't get to a final without it, but they will have to take another step up for the semis."
Without five first-choice players, Buccaneers had to put several under-21s into the breach and were up against a packed Ballymena outfit that on paper looked capable of walking it. Certainly Ballymena appeared complacent in a first half in which they failed to capitalise on the possession won by their pack.
As a result, Buccaneers led 9 - 3 at the break, but the game exploded in a second half in which the lead changed on several occasions.
Paddy Wallace kick-started the entertainment with an early penalty after centre Chris Keane was sin-binned. No coincidence then that Ballymena's centre Hew Jones burst through the porous cover in his absence to grab the first of six tries, which Wallace converted for a 9 - 13 lead.
While Ballymena looked to their experienced generals to lead the charge, Buccaneers' young guns proved equal to the challenge. Lock David Kelly initiated the Buccaneers' riposte with a 25-yard burst upfield, which led to captain Eoin Brennan finishing in the corner.
However, Ulster right wing James Topping showed real class when he grabbed the first of his two tries, before another Buccaneers counter-attack in which lively Connacht under-21 scrumhalf Conor O'Loughlin took a quick penalty and young William Wallace raced under the posts.
A drop goal from Wallace and Topping's second try restored the visitors' lead and four minutes from the end a bonus point for Buccaneers looked sufficient to see them through as news came through from Deramore Park of Harlequins' loss to Shannon. Yet Buccaneers' young guns were not finished.
Justin Meagher, the best Buccaneer back on show, staged a dramatic late burst, found the gap and rounded the cover to touch down, Turner adding the points.
Understandably, Tony Darcy is appealing to his old brigade to make a last stand for All-Ireland honours.
"Irish rugby is going through change and with the expansion of the Celtic League next season we will not have the likes of our Ulster and international players available. This is the last opportunity for them to win an All-Ireland medal and also for the club to pull such a pool of talent together."
McKee, meanwhile, will hope his team have learnt from the earlier loss to Clontarf and said: "Certainly we did not play well in the first half of that match, but we have developed since then and in all defeats we have learnt something."
SCORING SEQUENCE
13 mins: L Turner penalty 3-0; 19 mins: P Wallace penalty 3-3; 22 mins: Turner penalty 6-3; 35 mins: Turner penalty 9-3. Half-time: 9-3; 43 mins: Wallace penalty 9-6; 52 mins: Jones try, Wallace conversion 9-13; 59 mins: Brennan try 14-13; 64 mins: Topping try, Wallace conversion 14-20; 70 mins: W Wallace try, Turner conversion 21-20; 72 mins: Wallace drop goal 21-23; 76 mins: Topping try 21-28; 78 mins: Meagher try, Turner conversion 28-28.
BUCCANEERS: N O'Hara; J Meagher, C Keane, W Wallace, P O'Sullivan; L Turner, C O'Loughlin; R McCormack, J McVeigh, M Cahill, D Kelly, N Smullen, G Schoeman, E Brennan, G Kenny. Sin-binned: McVeigh (17-27 mins), Keane (42-52 mins).
BALLYMENA: M Waterhouse; J Topping, S Young, H Jones, A Maxwell; P Wallace, P Spence; S McConnell, P Shields, B Young, M Blair, G Longwell, M McCullough, N McMillan, R Nelson. Replacements: N McKernan for McConnell (h/t), A Graham for Blair (73m), D Topping for Young (76m).
Referee: A Lewis (Leinster)
Division One: Play-offs (May 3rd): Clontarf v Buccaneers, Castle Avenue; Lansdowne v Ballymena, Lansdowne Road. Relegated: Terenure College and UL Bohemians.
Division Two: Champions and promoted: Dolphin. Play-offs (May 3rd): Dolphin v UCC, Musgrave Park; Old Crescent v DLSP, Rosbrien.Relegated: Greystones and Portadown.
Division Three: Champions and promoted: Waterpark. Play-offs (May 3rd): Waterpark v Corinthians, Ballinakill; Instonians v Wanderers, Shaws Bridge. Relegated: Monkstown.
