Antrim Senior Hurling Championship 
Quarter-Final
St John’s 1-16 
Glenariffe Oisin’s 2-20
At Slemish Park

THE Antrim champions St John's exited the championship after a shock defeat to Glenariffe Oisin's in the quarter-final clash at Ballymena on Saturday evening.

The Intermediate champions, Glenariffe Oisin's, caused a huge upset when they pipped the 13-man Johnnies by seven points at the time of the final whistle.

Alex O’Boyle opened the scoring for Glenariffe Oisin’s from a 65 after just two minutes, but St John’s responded almost immediately when Shea Shannon converted a free.

Conor Johnston then edged the Johnnies in front with an excellent score from play before Glenariffe Oisin’s struck for the first goal of the game in the ninth minute.

O’Boyle floated over a dangerous free and Colla Ward got the decisive touch to flick the ball into the net and give Glenariffe Oisin’s an early advantage.

Shannon kept St John’s in touch from another free before O’Boyle and Johnston exchanged scores in a lively opening quarter.

Johnston was beginning to make his presence felt for the Johnnies and two superb scores from play in quick succession brought the sides level at 1-3 to 1-3.

O’Boyle responded from a 65 to put Glenariffe Oisin’s back in front, but Johnston was again on target for St John’s two minutes later.

The game then swung dramatically in Glenariffe Oisin’s favour in the 20th minute when Oisin Gillan produced one of the scores of the contest.

Gillan picked up possession, embarked on a brilliant solo run and finished emphatically to the net to put his side in a commanding position.

St John’s refused to buckle, however, with Seanie McIntosh landing an excellent point before Shannon responded from a free.

Johnston continued to carry a major threat and added another score from play, while Caolan Wilson followed up with a fine effort as the Johnnies steadily worked their way back into contention.

O’Boyle was proving equally influential at the opposite end, converting another free before putting three between the sides with another score.

The Glenariffe Oisin’s forward continued to punish any foul play and added yet another free in the 27th minute.

But St John’s delivered a major response when Conal Bohill found the net in the 28th minute, cutting the deficit and giving the Johnnies renewed belief.

Brogan O’Connor answered with a point for Glenariffe Oisin’s, but there was still time for St John’s to reduce the gap further.

Shannon converted a free in the final minute of the half to leave just a single point between the teams at the break, with St John’s leading 1-10 to 2-8.

The second half resumed in the same breathless fashion, with Donal Carson getting St John’s off the mark shortly after the restart.

O’Boyle restored Glenariffe Oisin’s advantage from a short free before Caolan Wilson levelled the game once again with an excellent score from play.

There was little to separate the sides as the exchanges continued at a frantic pace, but Glenariffe Oisin’s responded through Michael O’Boyle, who fired over from play to regain the lead.

Alex O’Boyle then added another free before Brogan O’Connor produced a terrific point from the wing to put three between the teams once again.

Oisin Gillan added another score for Glenariffe Oisin’s, but St John’s continued to come back at them.

Carson landed another point before Shannon converted a free, keeping the Johnnies within touching distance as the contest entered its final quarter.

O’Boyle replied from another free before Shannon again found the target from a placed ball.

With the game finely balanced, Seanie McIntosh stepped forward to restore a three-point Glenariffe Oisin’s advantage with a composed score.

The intensity increased further as both sides fought desperately for control, but the contest then took another turn when Glenariffe Oisin’s were reduced to 14 men following the dismissal of Oisin Donnelly.

Despite the setback, O’Boyle maintained his composure from placed balls and converted another free to keep the Glenariffe advantage intact.

St John’s responded with a superb score from Oliver Kearney, while Shannon continued to keep the scoreboard moving with another free.

O’Boyle was again on target in the 58th minute before Shannon answered once more for the Johnnies, ensuring the game remained alive right to the finish.

The O’Boyles then both contributed scores as Glenariffe Oisin’s continued to withstand the St John’s pressure.

The drama reached another level in the closing stages when Ciaran Johnston was shown a red card for an off the ball challenge and the Johnnies were left with 13-men.

Ultimately, it was a game defined by momentum swings, outstanding individual scores and relentless pressure from both sides. The O’Boyles provided a steady supply of scores for Glenariffe Oisin’s, while Johnston and Shannon were central to the St John’s response.

From Ward’s clever flick for the opening goal to Gillan’s superb solo finish, Bohill’s reply and the late disciplinary drama, this was a contest that had almost everything and kept supporters on edge throughout.

St John’s XV: D Nugent; L McCallin, C Johnston, C Morgan; S Wilson, P McCallin, E McGurk; C Hanna, A Bradley; O Donnelly, C Johnston 0-5, C Bohill 1-0; C Wilson 0-2, S Shannon 0-7 (6F), M Bradley

Subs: D Carson 0-2 on for M Bradley (12’) D McKeogh on for C Hanna (55’) R Donnelly on for C Morgan (HT)

Glenariffe Oisin’s XV: P McMullan; O Gillan, D Kearney, C Patterson; C McIntosh, C McIlwaine, N Magee; O Kearney 0-1, D Kearney; B O’Connor 0-2, M O’Boyle 0-2, S McIntosh 0-2; O Gillan 1-1, C Ward 1-0, A O’Boyle 0-12 (10F)

Subs: M O’Haughey on for C McIlwaine (57’), P McIlwaine on for B O’Connor (50’)