Bective Rangers 37
Enniskillen 31
Enniskillen’s bid to win the All-Ireland Junior Cup for the first time ended in heartache at Ashbourne RFC on Saturday, as Bective Rangers staged a stunning second-half comeback to secure a 37-31 victory.
Despite a clinical first-half performance that saw Enniskillen race to a 25-15 lead, their hopes unravelled in a fiercely competitive final. Bective, driven by their powerful pack, turned the tide with crucial second half tries from Gavin Kelly and Scott Barron before Conor Kelly’s late effort sealed a famous victory.
For Enniskillen, who also fell at the final hurdle in 2023, it was a bitter blow in a season full of promise. For Bective, it was an historic triumph, marking their first All-Ireland title since lifting the Bateman Cup in 1925.