Antrim Senior Hurling League – Division One
Dunloy 4-16 Glenariffe 0-17
Sunday 12 April
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy continued their winning start to the 2026 league campaign with an 11 point win over Glenariffe. Two goals in either half proved to be the difference with a fast start by the home side laying the foundation for the victory.
Despite going nine points down after just over 10 minutes, Glenariffe hit six points unanswered to find their footing in the game but they never looked like they were going to add to their opening day victory.
Oisin McCallin added to his burgeoning reputation with a final tally of 1-6 while Aaron Crawford, Ciaran Elliott and Eamon Smyth all found the back of the net. Aodhan McGarry had another busy performance while Ryan McGarry excelled at full back.
The Oisín’s were best served by Niall Magee, Orrin O’Connor and Alex O’Boyle – O’Boyle finishing top of their scoring charts with 0-6 while O’Connor and Oliver Kearney shared six points between them. Despite the result, it was a strong performance from the Waterfoot men who showed they are well able for Division One hurling.
With the wind blowing towards the Academy, it favoured Glenariffe in the first half. Despite this, the Cuchullains started superbly. Ciaran Elliott’s goal with the home sides first attack coming via a super delivery into space from Ryan McGarry. Elliott rounded his man and hammered home from close range to give Dunloy the perfect start. McCallin and Nicky McKeague raised white flags either side of O’Connor’s first point of the game before Aaron Crawford fired in the second goal. The home side cutting through the Glenariffe defence before Nigel Elliott’s reverse pass found Crawford in space. The Dunloy man made no mistake from close range.
Scores from McCallin (free) and Aodhan McGarry followed but the home side wouldn’t register another score for 15 minutes as the Oisin’s found their feet in the game. Four points from Alex O’Boyle along with scores from O’Connor and Michael O’Boyle brought Glenariffe to within three points with five minutes of the half remaining.
Dunloy responded with scores from McCallin, Smyth and Tom McFerran before Alex O’Boyle’s fifth white flag of the half left Dunloy 2-8 to 0-8 ahead at the interval.
Dunloy started the second half brightly with points coming from Smyth, Aodhan McGarry, McCallin and McKeague – Alex O’Boyle with the solitary response for Glenariffe in that opening 10 minute spell.
Points followed for the visitors from substitute Oisin Gillan and Oliver Kearney to keep Glenariffe within touching distance. The home side responded with McCallin firing over either side of McKeague’s third white flag of the match and while Daniel Kearney left nine points between the sides going into the final 10 minutes, the home side scored their third goal of the game to all but end the hopes of a Glenariffe win. Daire McMullan sent a free into the path of Ciaran Elliott who found Smyth running through the middle. The half back had work to do but he finished superbly to put the difference into double digits.
Glenariffe responded well with three unanswered points in as many minutes – Gillan, Michael O’Boyle and Oliver Kearney with the scores. Kearney bringing the best out of Ryan Elliott in the Dunloy goals with the Cuchullains ‘keeper deflecting his goal bound effort over the bar.
Substitute Chrissy McMahon dissected the uprights and while Glenariffe responded with points from O’Connor (free) and Oliver Kearney’s third of the match, Dunloy and McCallin had the final say. McMahon this time with the assist as he unselfishly passed to McCallin who was unmarked to fire home from close range.
The Cuchullains are on their travels for their next game, heading to Ballygalget next Sunday while Glenariffe make a first trip to the City when they face Rossa on the same afternoon.
TEAMS
DUNLOY: Ryan Elliott; Conor Kinsella, Ryan McGarry, Sean Og Blaney; Eamon Smyth, Paul Shiels, Daire McMullan; Aaron Crawford, Paudie McGilligan; Nigel Elliott, Nicky McKeague, Aodhan McGarry; Ciaran Elliott, Oisin McCallin, Tom McFerran
Subs: Ben O’Kane for C Kinsella (42); Chrissy McMahon for N Elliott (42); Oisin McCamphill for N McKeague (47); Jack Martin for P McGilligan (52); Francis McMullan for A Crawford (56)
Scorers: O McCallin 1-6 (3fs); E Smyth 1-2; N McKeague 0-3; A Crawford 1-00; C Elliott 1-00; A McGarry 0-2; R McGarry 0-1; T McFerran 0-1; C McMahon 0-1
GLENARIFFE: Paul McMullan; Odhran Gillen, Colla Ward, Conor Patterson; Niall Magee, Daniel Kearney, James Kearney; Calum McIlwaine, Donall Kearney; Orrin O’Connor, Phelim Ward, Michael O’Boyle; Seanie McIntosh, Oliver Kearney, Alex O’Boyle
Subs: Oisin Gillan for P Ward (24); Cailin Devlin for D Kearney (40); Canice McIntosh for S McIntosh (54)
Scorers: A O’Boyle 0-6 (3fs, 2’65s); O O’Connor 0-3 (1f); O Kearney 0-3; M O’Boyle 0-2 (1’65); O Gillan 0-2; D Kearney 0-1
REFEREE: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)
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