Sinn Féin will take some time to get over this election though to be fair they did well. They had hoped to wipe out the SDLP but that did not happen. Hopefully, those responsible for the Sinn Féin strategy of 'Demolition SDLP' won't be asked to show up in Falls Park to get a hiding from their balaclava covered colleagues.
However, the breathing space (and that is what it is) created by the victories of Durkan, McDonnell and McGrady is timely for the party and it will have to be used wisely.
In the face of relentless media commentary writing off the party it is the SDLP that has not gone away you know!
Over the past 30 years the great strength of the SDLP has been its perseverance and that paid dividends last week, but the SDLP cannot take anything for granted – this is a time out and not the final whistle.
That said, the SDLP margins in both Foyle and South Down are comfortable enough to see the 60-something Mr McLaughlin pick up his bus pass and for Louth-based Ms Ruane to brush up on eco-tourism with the Columbia Three.
The South Belfast victory was sweet. The less than progressive Mr Spratt would have been a dreadful choice as MP but of all the candidates who lost out Michael McGimpsey deserved it most.
He ditched his liberal credentials in a futile attempt to woo hard-line loyalists. It did not work and he has alienated many moderate nationalists.
He says he will be still around in four years but I doubt it very much. He came third in a three horse race – even Eastwood's won't be giving odds on him again.
The real crime is the loss of David Trimble. David took some risks for the peace process but was taken for granted by the British government.
Even more than the war in Iraq, Mr Blair's advisor Mr Powell has made a 'hames' of Northern Ireland.
There is no strategy for peace or indeed a process. It has all become a form of cheap bartering with the natives. To borrow Dr Paisley's words, if Mr Trimble faced the 'rope' this week, it was a rope provided by the British government.
One of the most powerful and enduring images of how the north could be was provided by Seamus Mallon and Trimble attending together the homes of the Poyntzpass murder victims Messrs Trainor and Allen.
The 'Decent people vote UUP' slogan was an abject failure, though the thoroughly decent Lady Hermon came through with flying colours in North Down.
They may not have been completely honest with their voters yet but the DUP will learn that they too will have to go the Trimble route if they are serious about making political progress.
However, it would be churlish of any political commentator not to recognise the DUP victories as anything other than a stunning electoral achievement.
Hopefully, with the election of people like Sammy Wilson, the secular wing of the DUP has the upper hand, though the resurrection of 'Box Car' Willie McCrea in South Antrim makes me wonder.
As nationalists we should be grateful that we don't have to endure any gospel singing candidates. Though Sinn Féin do come close with their ex-RUC reservist and ex-preacher Mr Leonard in East Derry!
I wonder if former RUC Police Federation, and now DUP stabled, Mr Spratt made sure Mr Leonard got all his entitlements when he retired?
To Dr Deeny well done, it was a good showing but the results show that your vote is practically all SDLP, whatever the make up of your election team. Yet you have shown that West Tyrone is marginal.
As for David Ford – isn't it time to fold up the tent? As liberal unionists you are not in the centre ground and that is reflected in your vote, which is practically non-existent in any nationalist area. As decent people just go and join the UUP!
It was strange during the election to hear Mr Adams write off the chances of Alasdair McDonnell as a no hoper. What happened to maximising the nationalist vote?
Even more disparaging was Sinn Féin criticising the SDLP for having the temerity reach out and attract some unionist voters. What happened to persuading unionists they had nothing to fear from a united Ireland?
The election may be over but the fun is just starting. Part-time newcomer Peter Hain will have difficulty maintaining his perma-tan in the grey skies of Belfast.
