Enniscorthy travelled to Belfast on Saturday with everything to play for. A maximum points haul would guarantee second place in the league and a home playoff semi-final, but there was even more on the line. If Midleton slipped up away to Monkstown, Enniscorthy could end the day as league champions.

The weather in Belfast was glorious, but a strong wind would play a significant role, with Enniscorthy kicking off the first half facing into the strong breeze. The opening 10 minutes saw Harlequins come out of the blocks quickly, putting Enniscorthy under sustained pressure. However, Enniscorthy’s lineout defence was outstanding, time and time again disrupting the Harlequins attacks.

As the half wore on, Enniscorthy began to find their feet and build some attacking momentum. This led to Tomas Stamp opening the scoring with the first try of the game. Just a few minutes later, Nick Doyle read Belfast’s playbook to perfection, intercepting a pass on the halfway line. Doyle sprinted clear, touching down for a stunning solo try to put Enniscorthy 12-0 up after 28 minutes.

A serious looking injury to a Belfast player disrupted the flow of the match shortly after the try (the player in question recovered and was fine by the end of the game). Following the delay, Belfast managed to get on the scoresheet, but Enniscorthy responded with another try before half-time. Daniel Pim crossed the whitewash following a period of sustained Enniscorthy pressure, giving the visitors a 19-5 lead at the break.

The message from the sideline at half-time was clear: use the wind to their advantage, control the territory, and put themselves in strong positions. The second half began with Enniscorthy applying pressure, and captain, Davie Murphy, was the man to capitalize. He powered over from a driving maul to extend the lead. Belfast, though, were not going to let up, and they quickly responded with a try of their own, reducing the gap to 24-12.

With 18 minutes remaining, Davie Murphy scored again, this time for his second try of the game, putting Enniscorthy in a commanding 29-12 lead. However, Belfast were not done yet. Their captain and full-back led a late charge, and after scoring a try, the game was suddenly back in the balance, with the score 29-19 and just 10 minutes to go.

The tension heightened as Enniscorthy’s Liam Stamp was shown a yellow card, and the team found themselves down to 14 men. Belfast capitalized on the numerical advantage, earning a penalty try when MJ Doyle was also sent to the sin bin. Suddenly, Enniscorthy held a narrow 29-26 lead with just 3 minutes left on the clock.

The final moments were tense, with Enniscorthy finishing the game with 13 men. Nick Doyle got a chance to kick the ball dead after an initial poor attempt from Tomas Stamp to secure the win and the AIL 2C title.

The celebrations that followed were unforgettable. Enniscorthy had not only secured the win but had also claimed the league title in dramatic fashion. After collecting the cup on the way home, the celebrations continued throughout the long bus journey back to Enniscorthy. The squad arrived to jubilant scenes at ERFC, with loyal supporters welcoming them back as heroes.

This victory capped off what can only be described as a Lazarus recovery from a challenging start to the season. With just 2 points from the opening 4 games, Enniscorthy had risen to the top of the league with 64 points after 18 games, a remarkable turnaround that saw them lift the title.

Looking ahead to the 2025/26 season in AIL Division 2B, Enniscorthy will now aim to build on this success. This squad of young men can be immensely proud of their achievements, and the future looks incredibly bright for the team. 

Squad: Ore Lasisi, Davie Murphy (c), MJ Doyle, Tom Ryan, Tomàs Stamp, Liam Stamp, Lee Treacy, Timmy Morrissey, Fiachra Hourihane, Graham Barry, Dave O’Dwyer, Daniel Pim, Nick Doyle, Rhyan Whelan, Jack Kelly, Scott O’Connor, Mikey McVeigh, Darragh Joyce, Dominik Morycki, Miguel Byrne, Andrew Redmond

You can view photos from the day here.