EVEN though we came up short in our first-ever RaboDirect PRO12 final I believe the experience has been a positive one.

I think that the final has given us a fantastic platform to build on and grow Glasgow as a club and a sporting institution.

In many ways I think we are in a similar position to where Munster were 10 years or so ago.

They kept knocking on the door before they got their breakthrough and as they did so the support they had steadily grew.

I will never forget leaving the team hotel in Dublin on Saturday night and seeing the streets towards the RDS lined with Glasgow fans, it really put the emotions in the blender.

We had around 3,500 fans behind us in the Irish capital and I think, although we came up short, the atmosphere and the effort the players put in will encourage the fans to travel in bigger numbers to get behind Glasgow next season.

Clearly there were a lot of lessons to learn from the final and we will make sure that we make the most of them.

The main thing is that we use this first major final to kick on and get stronger.

We have also not only made our first final but we have also recorded our highest ever league finish with second place.

Collectively and individually it was pretty much the first final for us and the players will all benefit from that.

But season on season we have shown that we are continuing to progress and develop as a team and what we can't allow to happen is the disappointment of losing the final to stall that.

Instead we must use the pain of Saturday night as a driver to come back next season more determined. I believe we will do just that.

The aftermath of the final saw the squad break up with players jetting off all over the globe to represent their countries on Test tours.

We had Leone Nakarawa and Niko Matawalu heading for Fiji, DTH van der Merwe heading for Canada and our large Scotland contingent also dispersed for a busy summer.

In many ways that was a big plus as it stopped a sense of anti-climax taking over the place.

But there were a few goodbyes to be said. Obviously Chris Cusiter, Moray Low and Ruaridh Jackson have all played their last games for Glasgow and are heading for the English Premiership.

Everyone wishes them all the best and I thank them for everything they have done for us at Warriors.

We have had some notable breakthroughs over the season and none more so than Jonny Gray.

Right from the friendly against Harlequins in pre-season all the way through to the final he has been immense and so consistent for a 19-year-old.

Finn Russell is another who was handed an opportunity during the Six Nations and grabbed it with both hands.

He showed tremendous composure and maturity in the final and he is a player with a big future ahead of him.

But some of the experienced players like Chris Cusiter, who probably played some of the best rugby of his career this season and our captain Al Kellock, who was immense in the semi-final victory over Munster, made huge contributions as well.

Amazing though it may seem we have already started to plan for the new season but for now I'd just like to end by thanking each and every one of the Glasgow fans who made the trip to Dublin and those who have backed us all year.

Rest assured we will be back stronger and more determined than ever to win our first piece of silverware next season.