Above – Alex O’Boyle who scored 2-12 in Oisins win over St Enda’s at Hightown

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Naomh Eanna 2-13 Glenariffe 3-17

Newly promoted Glenariffe Oisins secured a massive lifeline in their fight for Antrim Hurling League Division 1 survival on Sunday, engineering a stunning second-half comeback to defeat St Enda’s at Hightown on a final scoreline of 3-17 to 2-13. Despite coming close in a couple of their other games this was only their second win of the league campaign, and though the season has a long way to go it is important for the Oisins to get points on the board. The game itself was a tight, tit-for-tat encounter in the first half, but after the break they turned things around to turn it into a commanding seven-point victory. The comeback was spearheaded by a virtuoso scoring display from Alex O’Boyle, who finished the afternoon with a staggering personal tally of 2-12.

It was St Enda’s who burst out of the traps early on. After Glenariffe hit two early wides, the home side punished them. Cormac Jennings opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and just sixty seconds later, Killian Jennings rattled the back of the net to give St Enda’s a dream 1-1 to 0-0 start. Glenariffe looked to their talisman to keep them in touch, with Alex O’Boyle converting two frees either side of a Manus Mullan point. By the 15th minute, St Enda’s held a four-point cushion. However, the Oisins eventually found their rhythm from open play. A quick-fire trio of points between the 18th and 20th minutes from Alex O’Boyle, Oliver Kearney, and Aaron Cosgrove dramatically narrowed the gap. Despite a strong finish to the half from St Enda’s—with Dara Maguire, Killian Jennings, and Manus Mullan all raising white flags—Alex O’Boyle’s dead-ball accuracy ensured the visitors were breathing down their necks at the interval, trailing slightly at 1-07 to 0-09.

The opening quarter of the second half was a tense, point-for-point shootout. St Enda’s kept their noses in front, largely through the frees of Luke O’Connor, while Glenariffe responded through Orrin O’Connor, Calum McIlwaine, and the relentless Alex O’Boyle. By the 15th minute, a score from open play by Cormac McCann had St Enda’s marginally ahead at 1-13 to 0-13, but the game was about to be flipped on its head. In the 18th minute, a Glenariffe free dropped short, and Oliver Kearney was on hand to force the ball to the net, giving the Oisins the lead for the first time in the match.

That crucial goal opened the floodgates. Oliver Kearney added a point, followed swiftly by one from Michael O’Boyle. From there, Alex O’Boyle completely took over the contest. In the 23rd minute, he found the net from play, pushing the visitors into a commanding lead. Just four minutes later, he struck for his second goal of the afternoon, effectively ending the contest as Glenariffe surged into a 3-16 to 1-13 advantage.

To their credit, St Enda’s kept fighting until the final whistle. Cormac McCann grabbed a consolation goal in the 28th minute, but the damage had already been done during Glenariffe’s devastating ten-minute scoring burst. Fittingly, Alex O’Boyle had the final say, tapping over a late free in the 35th minute to cap off a brilliant individual and team performance. For St Enda’s, it was a frustrating afternoon where an early lead evaporated under intense second-half pressure. For Glenariffe Oisins, this was an important victory. Grabbing their second win of the season away from home is a big boost for the club in the league campaign.

For the victorious Glenariffe Oisins, Alex O’Boyle led the scoring with an incredible 2-12, including nine frees. He was supported by Oliver Kearney who tallied 1-02, while Aaron Cosgrove, Orrin O’Connor, Calum McIlwaine, and Michael O’Boyle all contributed 0-01 each.

On the St Enda’s side, Killian Jennings and Cormac McCann both found the net to finish with 1-01 apiece. Luke O’Connor was their top point scorer with 0-05, including four frees. Cormac Jennings and Manus Mullan added 0-02 each, while Christopher Roberts chipped in with a point from a ’45 and Dara Maguire scored 0-01 from play.