The Shinty Round-up. | |
25 March 2009 Things are starting to get interesting in the various leagues following the games in week 3 of the shinty season on Saturday 21 March 2009. The game of the day in the Marine Harvest National Premier League was at the Eilan and it was honours even as the sides drew one each in front of a large, noisy crowd. Newtonmore played a tactic of cutting off the supply to Ronald Ross and for large periods of the match, it worked. However after 55 mins Ross collected a pass, his marker slipped and this gave him just enough time to crash a backhand shot into the net. Newtonmore refused to lie down and they got their reward 20 minutes later when Norman Campbell levelled the game with a great strike of his own. Kingussie’s James Hutchison was sent off by referee Graham Cameron 10 minutes from the end but that was the end of the scoring. Newtonmore’s Danny MacRae picked up an injury and Paul McArthur played well for the home side. Kingussie will be pleased with Ryan Borthwick’s performance. The Kings have now taken three points from three games but no one will be writing them off. More have taken three points out of four and they will feel that their title aspirations are on track. It’s game on for the title. It was a depleted However Fort did have James Clark and he scored a first half double. Mark Lawrie also struck during the first 45 minutes with Grant Irvine replying for Kyles. Thomas White got Kyles to within a goal in the second half but a Gordy MacKinnon strike ensured that the points went to the An Aird side. Inveraray had their first win of the season at home to Glenorchy. Neil Campbell gave them a great start with a goal after 6 minutes but MacPherson equalised for Glenorchy after 20 minutes. So when all the other sides were taking points off each other, Oban Camanachd have nipped in and followed up last weeks single goal win over Inveraray with another win - over Glenurquhart. Gregor MacCormack gave Glen a 15 minute lead but Ian MacMillan squared the game 5 minutes later. Neale Reid gave Glen the lead once again after 35 minutes but Oban levelled a minute after the break when Glen keeper Stuart MacKintosh put through his own net. It was Mark Rippon who won the game for Oban and sent Glen to the bottom of the table after what was their second defeat. So at the end of play, it’s Oban Camanachd who are surprised leaders as the teams now break for the first round of the MacTavish Cup. Skye Camanachd sit top of Marine Harvest North Division 1 after an impressive performance against Beauly in Portree. Norman MacLeod gave the Islanders the lead after 13 minutes and Somhairle MacDonald made it two just 3 minutes later. Sean Stewart pulled a goal back for Beauly after 30 minutes and it took two great saves from Skye keeper Jamie Gannon to preserve their lead until the break. Somhairle MacDonald capped a fantastic performance with Skye’s third goal after 67 minutes to seal Skye’s second win in two outings. Lovat got over the disappointment of last week’s derby defeat to Beauly when they thumped Kilmallie 5-2 at Strathglass made their first league appearance of the season and had a convincing 6-0 win at the Bught against Kinlochshiel made it three points out of four with a 3-1 win over Caberfeidh at Castle Leod. In Marine Harvest South Division 1, Inveraray sit top of the table with two wins out of two as they won 4-3 at Ballachulish. A Stewart Anderson double gave the visitors a half time lead. Scott Henderson pulled a goal back for the home side after 54 minutes but Andy Stewart restored Inveraray’s two goal lead on the hour mark. John Clark reduced the deficit six minutes later but Andy Stewart hit his second 15 minutes from the end. Martin Duncan pulled another goal back for Ballachulish but Inveraray held on to win. A first half double from Alex Miller gave Oban Celtic a 2-1 home win over Kilmory. Alex Cunningham pulled a goal back for the visitors with a 75 minute penalty. The match between Tayforth and Glasgow Mid Argyll was postponed. Glenurquhart continued on their winning ways in Marine Harvest North Division 2 with a fine 5-3 win over Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. This makes it three wins out of three for the side promoted to the league at the end of last season and they have demonstrated that they will be a threat to all the sides in the league. Kingussie beat Skye Camanachd 4-2 at the Dell, recovering from an early Keith MacKenzie strike for the visitors. A Craig Dawson double and a strike form Liam Drummond gave the Kings control. Angie MacDonald pulled a goal back for Skye but Rory Borthwick sealed the win. Skye were hampered through losing Danny Morrison to an ankle injury and Neil MacVicar with double fractures to the jaw – both in the first half. A Steven Cameron double gave Glengarry a 2-1 win over Newtonmore at Invergarry with Mark MacDonald replying for the visitors. Lovat ran riot with an 8-0 win over Caberfeidh at Balgate. James MacKenzie hit a hat-trick and both Martin Anderson and Steven Cameron hit doubles. Craig Maitland scored the other. Kyles Athletic go top of Marine Harvest League Division 2 with 2-1 win over Glenorchy – their second win in two games. Glasgow Mid Argyll won their first game of the season, beating Strachur 2-1 at Yoker. Ally Mirlees scored for the visitors just after half time but young Ryan Harrison equalised 10 minutes later. Ewan Forsyth scored the winner just 12 minutes from the end of the match. Goals from James Hamilton and Hamish Harrison gave Col Glen a two goal victory over Ballachulish. Taynuilt won a seven goal thriller by the odd goal at Aberdour. George Reid gave Taynuilt the lead after 27 minutes but Douglas Newson levelled 10 minutes later. Two goals in two minutes from David Campbell and Willie Gillies gave the visitors a 3-1 lead at the interval. Ally Hunt pulled a goal back after 65 minutes and Joe Duncan levelled the match 6 minutes from the end. However with just 3 minutes remaining, Willie Gillies hit his second and this proved to be the winning goal. In Marine Harvest North Division 3, Lochcarron made it two wins out of two with a 2-1 win over Beauly. A goal in each half from Kenny Murray and Peter MacKenzie confirmed their good start to the season. Strathglass have made the same start, and they won 5-2 at Kincraig. A double from Ian Grant for the home side was cancelled out with a strike from Rupert Williamson and doubles from Gordy Fraser and Alistair MacAdam. However it’s Lochbroom joined the sides on four points following their 2-0 home win over Lochaber picked up their first win of the season with a 3-0 victory at Boleskine. |