Cardiff's hopes of reaching the United Rugby Championship were ended as they went down to a heavy defeat to Connacht in Galway.
Dai Young's side travelled to Ireland sitting five points off Connacht in the table, making victory in the season's penultimate match crucial to reeling in the province and reaching the top eight.
Earlier in the week, Cardiff's players had acknowledged how their final two matches of the season basically resembled knockout rugby - such was the must-win nature of both.
