The Shinty Round Up. | |
24 October 2009 The battles to win league titles and fend off the threats of relegation continued on Saturday 24 October 2009. Kingussie have gone top of the Scottish Hydro Premier League although they have dropped what could prove to be a crucial point in a 2-2 draw with Oban Camanachd at Mossfield. Newtonmore know how difficult a trip to Mossfield can be having already dropped a point there earlier this season and the Kings also found the men from Oban to be a tough nut to crack. Once again the Kings had Ronald Ross to thank as the game’s leading scorer waded in with a double – the first of which was a penalty. However Craig MacMillan gave the home side a 1-0 interval lead but a Ross double looked to have won the points for the league’s reigning champions. However Johnathan Will scored for Oban Camanachd just 5 minutes from time to ensure a share of the points. League leaders Newtonmore were boosted through the week by the news that international forward David Cheyne has delayed a planned trip abroad and will now be available for the rest of the shinty season. However ‘More lost top spot in the league because their match against Inveraray at Winterton was postponed with the pitch was deemed unplayable. The Eilan side is now level on points at the top of the table with ‘More trailing on goal difference by just a single goal. Newtonmore do of course have a game in hand over their rivals and they can now afford to lose the Badenoch derby but could still win the league on goal difference. With the shinty / hurling international taking place next weekend, the next outing for the Badenoch giants will be their meeting at the Dell on Saturday 7 November 2009. Lochaber are close to relegation safety following their 4-2 win over Glenorchy. Lochaber were without the suspended Ian Love for the trip to Dalmally and they found themselves 2-0 down with only 30 minutes remaining thanks to goals from Grant MacPherson and Stuart Scott. However the The clash between Kyles Athletic and In Marine Harvest North Division 1, Lovat placed one hand on the league trophy with a 5-1 win over Kinlochshiel and Beauly met at Kirkton and both sides completed their league programme in the same way as they started back in March 2009, with a 1-1 draw. Shiel had the better of the first half but they failed to convert their advantage into goals. They eventually took the lead after 80 minutes through Finlay MacRae, who had been pushed forward into the attack. However just 5 minutes later a melee near the Shiel goal saw the home side having a man sent off. Beauly’s teenage striker Jack MacDonald levelled from the resultant free-hit. The match of the day in Marine Harvest South Division 1 was the clash between Kilmory and Glasgow Mid Argyll and it lived up to its billing. The match started earlier than scheduled in an attempt to beat the worsening weather forecast which was just as well as the conditions in the second half were very poor. Kilmory were without suspended full back Fergus Walker and they suffered a further blow after 35 minutes when half back Billy Irving was sent off by referee Dunkie Kerr following a clash with a Mid Argyll forward. The first half finished goalless and neither side could make the breakthrough in the second period either meaning a share of the points after a goalless draw. The point for Glasgow Mid Argyll means that they finish in second place in the table. The league has been won by Oban Camanachd second team Lochside Rovers which means that second place Glasgow Mid Argyll will likely be offered promotion to the Scottish Hydro Premier Division. Kilmory will rue their poor start to the season when team raising difficulties at the start of their campaign meant they lost their opening 3 matches. They have since won 7 consecutive league games before today but this draw means that they have just fallen short of a place in shinty’s elite. The match between Inveraray and Tayforth at Winterton did not go ahead as Tayforth could not raise a team. The points were awarded to the home side. Glenurquhart were presented with the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title following their 3-0 win over Glengarry at Invergarry. Glenurquhart lost a cup match at Invergarry earlier in the season and the sides drew 1-1 when they met at Blairbeg it the league. However it was third time lucky for the Glen who have completed a remarkable league campaign following promotion from Marine Harvest North Division 3 last season. Ewan Brady gave them the lead after 26 minutes and Calum Fraser made it 2-0 a couple of minutes before the break. Young Kelvin MacKenzie made it 3-0 after 65 minutes to clinch a famous win. Kinlochshiel and Lovat meet at Kirkton. The first half in this 12 noon throw up was goalless and despite the best efforts of both sides, the match finished 0-0. It was second versus third as Kingussie and The match between Skye Camanachd and Newtonmore at the Eilan did not go ahead as ‘More are having some repair work carried out on their pitch. The whole Marine Harvest South Division 2 weekend fixture list was wiped out. Champions Taynuilt maintained their 100% record as home side Col Glen were unable to raise a team. The points were awarded to Taynuilt. The match between Kyles Athletic and Glasgow Mid Argyll was called off as the pitch at Tighnabruaich was unplayable. The clash between the bottom 2 sides – Ballachulish and Glenorchy - at The only match scheduled in Marine Harvest North Division 3 saw Lochcarron travel to Farr to play Boleskine. This was the first meeting between the sides in the league this season and both teams agreed to play this fixture as a double header. This decision benefited Lochcarron who clinched 4 points as goals from Sean McCuish, Iain Cameron and a Kieran Murray penalty gave them a 3-2 win. |