Wexford Eagles enjoy away victory over the Causeway Giants

The wind whipped in from the Atlantic. Eight hours from home, on a windswept pitch carved into the Antrim coastline, the Wexford Eagles stood together with their season on the line and left no doubt about who they were…

This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement from a team that has been fighting since day one.

The Eagles launched their 2025 campaign with a relentless opening stretch across just 14 days. First, the high-profile Paddy’s vs Patty’s Day Charity Bowl against the touring Philadelphia Blueflame. Then back-to-back league fixtures against the Westmeath Minotaurs and the Louth Mavericks. It was trial by fire, and it never really eased up.

With the club’s tenth anniversary season approaching in 2026, this group has already laid down a marker for what it means to wear the jersey.

On Sunday, that long road brought them to Armoy and a 30 to 6 victory over the Causeway Giants that closed out the regular season with consecutive road wins and, for a moment, appeared to seal a playoff berth. It was a performance full of grit, execution, and that now familiar edge the Eagles wear like armour.

Game Summary

Final Score: Wexford Eagles 30, Causeway Giants 6

Location: Armoy, Co. Antrim

Record: 4 to 4 (5th place finish – missed playoffs due to league-imposed points deduction)

Offensive MVP: Trevor Smith – 2 Rushing Touchdowns, 2 Two-Point Conversions, 3 Pass Breakups

Defensive MVP: Henry Foxton – 2 Sacks

The First Blow

The Giants won the toss and chose to receive. They were met instantly by a fired-up Eagles defence, forcing a three and out. Wexford’s response was immediate, a composed drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run from quarterback Doran Traylor and a successful two-point rush from Terry Carey.

But Causeway weren’t interested in being extras in the Eagles’ play-off story. They hit back quickly with two sharp completions and a score of their own. The two-point try was shut down, but suddenly it was 8 to 6 and game on.

It would be the last time the Giants crossed the goal line all day.

Setting the Tone

The Eagles began to take hold. Trevor Smith, as dangerous as he is dependable, powered into the end zone from 10 yards out before converting the two-point run himself. The Eagles entered halftime with a 16 to 6 lead, ahead but hungry for more.

Then the rain came.

A sudden squall swept across the field during halftime, soaking what had been a dry and fast surface. The slick turf turned the second half into a test of control, composure, and physicality. Wexford didn’t blink.

Smith struck again in the third, gliding over the drenched grass for a 20-yard score. Traylor added the conversion and the lead stretched further. In the fourth, it was Carey’s turn – a 12-yard bruiser of a run through the slop that sealed the deal.

Carey ran with relentless purpose, fighting for every yard in the trenches and setting the tone for a dominant ground attack. Behind him, the offensive line turned in one of their best performances of the year, opening lanes and controlling the point of attack. The Eagles finished with approximately 250 rushing yards on the day – a testament to the execution, unity, and grit of the men up front.

Led by veterans Paddy de Brún and Anto Byrne, the line kept the pocket clean, opened up gaps, and never let the moment slip.

Defence Wins the Journey

After the first-quarter score, the Eagles defence simply locked the door and threw away the key.

Defensive MVP Henry Foxton led the assault with two sacks. Aidan Barrett added 1.5 of his own, while Shane Whelan and Paddy Bissett each got home to take the quarterback down. Carey and Whelan each registered multiple tackles for loss, while Smith and Carey combined for six pass breakups, erasing the edge and shutting down any attempt at a comeback.

And some efforts go beyond the stat sheet. Smith, Carey, and Bissett didn’t leave the field all afternoon, playing every single down across all three phases of the game. Offence. Defence. Special teams. Whatever it took.

The Giants had flashes. But never momentum.

A Team That Wouldn’t Quit

“We’ve talked all year about executing our assignments to a high level,” said Head Coach Ross McCooey. “it’s been an up and down year as the guys learned and developed, but today we did enough on the field to earn a playoff spot, and I’m really proud of all these guys.”

“We’ve taken the long road all season. But we never stopped believing. This team fights. That’s who we are,” added Trevor Smith.

Written off at 1 and 3. Battered but unbroken after the Rhinos. The Eagles didn’t sneak into the playoff race. They fought their way into it. No shortcuts. No favours. Just belief, execution, and a relentless attitude that has defined their season.

This wasn’t just a team that found form. It was a team that found belief. In each other. In the jersey. In the grind. From opening day to Armoy, the 2025 Eagles earned their identity the hard way.

Somewhere, Billy would’ve smiled at the grit on display.

The Ruling

The final decision came during the week. The league confirmed that Wexford would be deducted one point for the unplayed fixture against the Mavericks, despite the club’s efforts to reschedule.

The ruling dropped the Eagles to fifth place in Division 1 – level on record with the Crusaders at 4 and 4, and with the head-to-head advantage firmly in Wexford’s favour. But the point deduction overrode performance.

They did enough on the field. But it wasn’t enough on paper.

Still, the facts remain. Wexford finished with two statement wins on the road in County Antrim. They battled through the toughest schedule in the division with the smallest squad in the country. They fielded ironman players. They beat playoff-bound teams. And they earned the head-to-head tiebreaker over the very side that leapfrogged them.

There were no shortcuts. No soft wins. No easy travel. Just belief and bodies and a refusal to flinch.

On the long ride back to Wexford, there were tired legs, bruised shoulders, and quiet conversations. A job well done. A scoreboard won. A standard set. No playoff football this time. But the identity is clear. And the fire is already lit for 2026.

Whatever the table says, the 2025 Eagles didn’t just show up. They showed who they are. Relentless. Always

(Pics via Paul McIlwaine)

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