Connemara All-Blacks covered themselves in glory at Lansdowne Road when they won the Division Three title of the AIB League with a thrilling victory over Dublin University.

Connemara supporters were in full voice at the Irish headquarters as they became the first Connacht side to contest a national final and after six minutes of nerve-wrecking stoppage time at the end, they took to the field to carry off their heroes.

Man of the match Henry O’Toole, who made his Connacht debut on this pitch way back in 1985, led his charges from the front against a mobile Trinity side who looked dangerous in the opening half when they sprayed the ball wide. Trinity led 15-10 at the break, thanks to tries from Connacht lock Alan Maher and centre John Quigley, but a try three minutes from the interval by winger Pat O’Toole kept the All-Blacks in touch, with Henry O’Toole adding the points to a 15th minute penalty.

Lock Kevin Keogh got in for an equalising try six minutes after the restart before David Johnston again edged Trinity in front eight minutes later. But back came Connemara in droves with centre Mark Foyle superb in defence and attack, and it was Henry O’Toole who again put them in front with their third try sixteen minutes from the end. But Trinity were not finished and Johnston again restored their lead with thirteen minutes left with another penalty.

However, Connemara were not to be denied, and five minutes from the end of normal time they struck for the winning try. A superb move from left to right finished with right winger Alan Keogh getting in for the crucial score, which sparked off joyous scenes among the huge Connemara following. After that it was backs to the wall stuff as Connemara had to endure seemingly endless stoppage time before referee Simon McDowell blew the final whistle.

Afterwards the incoming President of the IRFU, Connacht’s Don Crowley, had the honour of presenting the trophy to Connemara captain Bernard Keaney. The celebrations will go on long into the week as the first ever Irish rugby trophy is brought back across the Shannon and the Corrib and all the way out to the most westerly club in Europe.

Connemara: H. O’Toole; A. Keogh, M. Foyle, P. O’Neill, P. O’Toole; F. O’Rourke, D. Keogh; F. Wood, T. King, G. King; F. Madden, K. Keogh; N. Walsh, G. Burke, B. Keaney.
Replacements: C. Joyce for G. King, 57 mins; M. Walsh for P. O’Neill, 75 mins.

Dublin University: A. Howell; A. Jackson, S. Kelly, J. Quigley, D. Johnston; D. Crotty, C. Curneen; C. Sheehy, K. Murphy, S. Brophy; A. Maher, P. Raftery; D. St George, R. Wilson, H. Hogan.
Replacements: D. Greer for Howell, half-time; P. Lennon for St George, 65 mins

Referee: S. McDowell (IRFU).