First things first
The Galway side have for so long been considered the underdogs of the four Irish provinces, but if there was any doubt remaining before Saturday's victory over Glasgow Warriors, there won't be now.
Pat Lam's men beat the reigning champions on the last day of the regular season and repeated that feat in another intense battle at The Sportsground to reach the Guinness PRO12 final.
It's just another first in a year full of them - Connacht had not even finished in the top four before this year - but this was the all-important tick in the box.
It's one thing beating Glasgow when you know a play-off place is secure, and another altogether to prove that you can keep your form intact when it is needed the most.
Ak-tion man
The Warriors will have been bitterly disappointed to lose both Scotland fly-half Finn Russell and the club's player of the year, Simone Favaro, to injury in the first half.
But though it clearly put them off their rhythm, there was no bigger disruptive factor than Bundee Aki - by head and shoulders the best performer on the park.
Much like Munster's CJ Stander, a game does not seem to go by without the centre either being awarded man-of-the-match or coming very close to it.
It is almost impossible for one man to bring the centre down - two would have a big enough job - and all that power is backed up by poise, as it was Aki's skillful kick that Niyi Adeolokun collected to score Connacht's only try.
It will be interesting to see if the 26-year-old can exploit Leinster in the same way and the final promises a blockbuster clash with fellow powerhouse No.12 Ben Te'o.
Bundee Aki is the centre of attention at the moment
This is still Leinster as we know them
Leinster have made a habit of switching on the style just as they needed to and they still clearly have that spirit in abundance.
Ulster will have felt confident about breaking that away team winless streak in the play-offs after beating Leinster 30-6 at the Kingspan Stadium earlier this month.
But the superior play-off experience of Leinster shone through as after a see-saw first half that ended 13-11 in the hosts' favour, they powered through to reach their sixth Guinness PRO12 final in seven years.
While Ulster are not exactly wet behind the ears, when you can call upon the likes of seasoned veterans such as Jamie Heaslip, Jonathan Sexton and Isa Nacewa, it makes the task that much easier.
Ulster are on the verge
There will have been little consolation for Ulster on Friday night after they racked up another defeat in a play-off fixture against Leinster - they have yet to win a knockout game against the boys in blue in their entire history.
But much like Glasgow's play-off swings and misses before lifting the title last year, you get the sense that Ulster's nucleus can go on to achieve bigger and better things.
Many teams have wilted after conceding an early deficit to Leinster at the RDS but from 13-0 down, Ulster fought back to just a two-point deficit heading into the break.
It was ultimately fruitless but that resilience deserves to be talked up by the Ulster staff - who know they have a host of bright talents on their hands - ahead of next term's endeavours.
Paddy Jackson is being touted as Sexton's successor for Ireland, Stuart McCloskey earned his first international cap at the Six Nations and his fellow centre Luke Marshall has recently signed a new deal to name just a few.
Ulster leave the field dejected but with a bright future ahead
Attack v defence?
It seems fitting that, in order for Connacht to conquer the final frontier, they must overcome the most successful Pro12 team of recent times in Leinster.
And the two teams will make for a clash of styles at BT Murrayfield after making an impact in the statistical charts in varying ways.
Leo Cullen has moulded a defence at Leinster that is extremely tough to break down, conceding just 27 tries in 22 regular season games - including just the one to Connacht.
However, Connacht racked up a superior try-count - 60 compared to 51 - and can clearly defend when it is called for, as evidenced by their ultra-tense 7-6 victory over Leinster at The Sportsground.
They say defence wins championships but when Connacht are doing the attacking, every scenario seems possible this season.
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