Connemara qualified for next season's AIL Division Three with an exciting victory over Highfield at Ennis on Saturday.

In a very tight and tense opening period, Highfield got off the mark when Aidan Rees landed a penalty from 40 metres. Connemara replied with a Mark Foyle penalty after 30 minutes and then took the lead when winger Vinny Heffernan went over, setting the scene for a dramatic second period.

Highfield came out with all guns blazing and mounted a huge offensive for the first 15 minutes. However, a 60thminute penalty by Rees was their only reward and they seemed harshly treated when the referee awarded Connemara a penalty (for offside) which Henry O'Toole converted to make it 11-6.

Another O'Toole penalty, three minutes from the end of normal time, seemed to decide the contest. But Highfield, fighting for their senior status survival, had other ideas and substitute Philip O'Sullivan touched down nine minutes and 40 seconds into added time with Rees adding the two points. But Connemara held on to record a famous victory, despite referee Moloney playing 11 and a half minutes of time added on.

CONNEMARA: H O'Toole; A Keogh, P O'Toole; P O'Neill, V Heffernan, M Foyle, D Keogh; F Wood, T King, G King, F Madden, S Eckhoff, K Keogh (capt), B Keaney, G Burke.

HIGHFIELD: L O'Toole; M Hayden, A Rees; H Garret, D Healy, D Buckley-Barry, B Quinlan (capt); A Bohane, M Hennessy, G Hewlett, J Murphy, K Condon, C Crowley, M O'Connell, H McCrea. Replacements: C Rees for Quinlan; K Fitzgerald for McRea; J Roche for Hewlett; P O'Sullivan for Healy.

Referee: D Moloney (Munster).