Harlequins may have suffered play-off heartbreak last Saturday, but Conor O’Shea could not be prouder of his players.

Quins’ defence of the Premiership crown ended at Welford Road as a dominant second-half performance from Leicester Tigers saw them ease to a 33-16 victory to set up a final against Northampton.

While it was a disappointing end to the campaign, O’Shea believes the season as a whole – during which they won the LV= Cup and made the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, success that three seasons ago would have been hailed as glorious – has been a good one.

“This group is ambitious and that’s why we are disappointed and the players are disappointed. If we were happy and cheerful, we would be the wrong people,” he said.

“But I am very proud of these boys, they have been tremendous for the club this season and I will always defend them.

“We can reflect with a huge amount of pride on where the club is and where it has got to in the past three years.

“The expectation of everyone in the group and outside of the group of what we want to achieve has changed – we have won a trophy in each of the past three years and won more games every season.

“And this season has helped us learn about learning to live with that expectation, as well as dealing with more international call-ups than we have ever had before and playing massive matches every week.

“This experience will stand us in good stead moving forward.”

Quins were the better side for most of the first half on Saturday but the tie turned in Leicester’s favour just before the break.

Three Nick Evans penalties had Quins ahead 9-6 on the stroke of half-time before the ball was overturned and Niki Goneva scored a converted try to put Tigers 13-9 ahead.

From there, they scored three more tries in the second half before a late Ross Chisholm try reduced the deficit.

“I thought we were outstanding for the first 39 minutes and could have had a better lead,” said O’Shea.

“The try just before half-time started to change the momentum and Leicester were brilliant second half but, overall, I am incredibly proud of the effort the boys put up.

“Already, we are trying to get ready for the new season and we want to improve.

“The players are away now but us coaches will sit down together and look over what we can do to improve as a coaching group to become better.

“The league is very competitive – it was this year and it will be next year.

“We beat the Premiership finalists, Leicester and Northampton, home and away in the regular season but lost twice to Exeter, and they didn’t even make the play-offs. That’s life.

“It shows you have to turn up every day in this league and every team is getting stronger.”

Five Quins players are to move on loan to Championship side Ealing Trailfinders next season. Full-back Charlie Walker, back row Jack Clifford, centre Harry Sloan, second row George Merrick and prop Kyle Sinckler will all make the switch.