The Heineken Cup continues to reach the parts that other tournaments fail to find and even the most seasoned of watchers never cease to be amazed by its ability to spring yet another surprise and raise the drama to new heights.
Take the veteran RTE radio rugby commentator Michael Corcoran, for example. He was calling his 158
th Heineken Cup tie at Thomond Park last weekend and almost ended up bursting a blood vessel as he tried to keep up with Munster's injury time march victory.
"Just when you think you've seen it all something like that happens and Ronan O'Gara does what he does best to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. I lost count of the number of phases Munster went through to get into position for the drop goal," said Corcoran.
"I was shouting as the phases built and then screaming my head off when the kick went over. The whole place erupted and went mad.
"I was at Thomond Park for Munster's first game in the Heineken cup against Swansea on a Wednesday afternoon way back in 1995 and, over the 16 years of this great competition, I have witnessed some great games.
"There have been plenty of dramatic moments and finishes, 'Miracle' matches and great second half comebacks. But nothing like the ending we saw last weekend.
"I've learned over the years never to write off a team before the final whistle, whether it's to come back and share the points, score some late tries to secure a losing bonus point or come back from the dead to win a game as Munster did in the 84th minute.
"There had been some talk last week that the game against Northampton Saints might not be a sell-out at Thomond. Times are tough in Ireland, particularly so in the greater Limerick area where some major companies have shut-up shop and left thousands behind unemployed.
"But when kick-off came the ground was unsurprisingly full to overflowing - another 25,543 crowd making it 760, 068 people who have seen Munster play 52 home games in the Heineken Cup.
"Northampton were disciplined and impressive in the first-half, yet it was Munster who led at the break 17-13. Munster are in transition, only two players in their starting team had played more than 50 Heineken Cup games and three more were making their debuts.
"Ironically, it was a former Munster player, James Downey, who silenced the crowd with a try in the 57th minute that edged the Saints in front at 21-20. Time to bring on the old warriors - John Hayes was introduced to become the first player to win 100 Heineken Cup caps, Donnacha O'Callaghan was added to the second row and Denis Leamy joined them to try and rescue the game.
"Northampton gave nothing away, their defence was outstanding, their discipline impeccable. Munster were in trouble, they knew it, the fans knew it and in the commentary box, I knew it - time was running out.
"A scrum for Munster after 77 mins, 30 secs proved to be the beginning of the end for Northampton. Not that any of us knew how the dram was going to unfold - you simply couldn't have scripted it.
"Munster prodded, they probed, they made ground and they were driven back. They made it towards the 22, still keeping the ball alive, but Northampton were ferocious, driving them back. At one stage Peter O'Mahony was driven back into the Munster half of the pitch.
"I had Donal Lenihan alongside me trying to describe the action for RTE Radio, trying to capture the drama that was unfolding in front of us. Munster never gave up, 41 phases, 13 different players carrying, including 10 from Denis Leamy, and all of that to set up a drop goal attempt for Ronan O'Gara.
"One chance, one man, one shot - and what a shot. Munster snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat. Northampton were shell-hocked, Munster were euphoric - and who could blame either of them.
"Pandemonium reigned, my voice had gone and more than anything I needed a lie down! Good old Ronan, well done mighty Munster and their roaring fans and on to the next Heineken Cup classic.
"Surely it can't get any more dramatic than this . . . can it?"
To listen to Michael's final few minutes of commentary click here
And here are those dramatic closing moments in words:
Michael Corcoran (Commentator)
"30 odd phases of the game . . .as Munster try to bring it now . . . there is an opportunity if they can move it quickly . . . towards Denis Leamy . . Denis Leamy reverses his way towards the 22 . . . chance here for O'Gara . . . O'Gara now . . . well if he backs himself . . . lets it availale here . . . high enough challenge on Wian du Preez, but he fell into it . . Munster now try to take control of it ….O'Gara standing on the 10 metre line . . . back with Denis Leamy . . . O'Gara calling for the ball . . . Denis Leamy tries to get it . . . back towards O'Gara . . . the attempt at drop goal . . . outside the 22 . . . towards the posts . . O'Gara with the drop at goal . . . it has gone between the posts . . . Ronan O'Gara between the posts after about 145 phases . . . O'Gara between the posts . . . between the posts . . . the referee has blown the full time whistle . . . Northampton have been absolutely kicked where it hurts the most . . . Munster at the death . . . Munster with the victory . . . Northampton are devastated . . . they have only been brilliant for eight and a half matches . . . they were fantastic for 79 minutes and 50 odd seconds . . . maybe 85 seconds . . . Munster after 100,000 phases . . . O'Gara with the drop at goal . . . they have beaten Northampton by two points . . . Incredible!"
Donal Lenihan (Summariser)
"What an incredible finish to a game . . . close on 40 phases . . . Munster for the first 20 were going backwards, they were going nowhere . . . O'Gara twice dropped back into the pocket . . . the first pass was from O'Connell along the ground and he had no chance of converting it . . . eventually Denis Leamy the one who gave the pass and O'Gara, what a drop goal under pressure . . . the last kick of the game . . . Munster may have had to scrape for everything but they have won the game . . . and that's all that matters!"
You can listen to the Heineken Cup on RTE radio and follow Michael Corcoran on Twitter, @Michael_RTE