The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 11 September 2010. | |
16 September 2010 The Strathdearn Cup Final and the race for the Scottish Hydro Premier Division title and Marine Harvest North Division 1 were the main events on Saturday 11 September 2010. Glenurquhart gained some revenge for their Aberdein Considine Cup Final defeat when they beat Lovat 2-1 in the Strathdearn Cup Final at Braeview Park, Beauly. U17 forward Kelvin MacKenzie put Glenurquhart ahead on 35 minutes and the Glen took this lead into the break. MacKenzie added his and Glenurquhart’s second on the hour mark with a shot from distance before dropping back into a midfield role. Greg Matheson pulled a goal back for Lovat 5 minutes later with another long range effort but Glenurquhart held on to take the cup to Drumnadrochit. The battle for the Scottish Hydro Premier Division title looks like it will go down to the wire as Newtonmore secured an impressive 4-0 win over Inveraray at the Winterton. Only ‘More’s title rivals Fort William had beaten Inveraray on their home patch this season, making this result all the more impressive. Danny MacRae got his side off to a whirlwind start with goals in the first and second minutes. Glen MacKintosh made it 3-0 on 10 minutes and MacRae ended the game as a contest when he completed his hat-trick with just 20 minutes played. Inveraray’s cause wasn’t helped when full back Scott Robertson was sent off by referee Graham Cameron 5 minutes into the second period. Newtonmore’s goal difference is such that a draw against Fort William at An Aird at the beginning of October will probably be enough to give them the title even should Fort William beat Kingussie in their final game. Fort William were also on their travels as they visited Mossfield to play relegation threatened Oban Camanachd. The Fort included speedy forward Bryan Simpson after injury and he looks to have given himself a great chance of appearing in next weekend’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final with a goal and a good performance. An Iain MacMillan strike looked to have given Oban and interval lead in this 5pm throw up but Bryan Simpson levelled on the stroke of half time. Gary Innes put the visitors ahead on 58 minutes and he made it 3-1 just 10 minutes from time. Fort William’s former Oban Camanachd player Liam MacIntyre was booked and later substituted by John MacLeod who also found his way into referee David Mitchell’s book. Fort William’s Adam Robertson was the third player to have his name taken. There was also a crucial match at Blairbeg where Glenurquhart played Bute. Glenurquhart knew that a home win would confirm their top flight spot next season and the Glen players and officials had been working to get their pitch ready for shinty action again after the recent Highland Games. This match threw up at the earlier time of 1pm to allow the Glenurquhart players, officials and supporters to watch their junior side in the Strathdearn Cup Final at near-by Beauly. Eddie Tembo scored the only goal of the first half after 31 minutes and Calum Miller added a second just 2 minutes into the second period. Robert Walker pulled a goal back a couple of minutes later but an unfortunate own goal from Bute’s Scottish international Iain MacDonald just 9 minutes from time gave the home side a 3-1 win. This game was extremely tight and the Glen had returning keeper Stuart MacKintosh to thank for several good saves including two brilliant penalty stops. The result means that Glenurquhart have secured their top division status but Bute must battle it out with Oban Camanachd to see who joins Glasgow Mid Argyll in Marine Harvest South Division 1 next season. Kingussie’s defeat to Newtonmore last weekend looks to have put paid to the champions’ title chances and their focus has now turned to next weekend’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final. Before then, they ran out convincing 6-1 winners over Lovat at Balgate. Former Strathglass player Lee Bain was missing for Kingussie as he was working. However Ronald Ross returned to the side now that the threat of suspension ahead of next weekend’s final had passed. This match also threw up at the earlier time of 1pm to allow the Lovat players, officials and supporters to watch their junior side in the Strathdearn Cup Final at near-by Beauly. The match was goalless for the opening half hour, mainly thanks to some terrific goal keeping from Lovat’s Stuart MacDonald. However James Hutchison gave Kingussie the lead on 32 minutes and a Ronald Ross double on 40 and 44 minutes put the Kings 3-0 up at the break. Lovat’s Euan Ferguson pulled a goal back a minute into the second half but Thomas Borthwick made it 4-1 on 55 minutes. Hutchison added his second 5 minutes from the end whilst Ross completed his hat-trick on the stroke of full time. What will be of more concern to Kingussie manager Stevie Borthwick is 3 injuries picked up during the game. Experienced defender Ally MacLeod left Balgate with a hamstring problem whilst Paul Gow sustained a rib injury and full centre Ricky Grant received an ankle knock. Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders Lochaber ran out 8-1 winners at home to bottom side Strathglass. The sides met at Cannich last weekend with Michael Delaney’s side running out 2-1 winners thanks to a Shaun Nicolson double but this was a more emphatic victory. Nicolson was on fire again in this match, scoring 5 times. U17 forward Stuart Callison, veteran Angus Morrison and Scott Patterson scored their others. Robert Geddes actually opened the scoring for Strathglass after he was set up by Garry Reid. Lochaber’s young wing back Danny Delaney made a substitute appearance after an absence with hamstring problems in both legs. The win means that Lochaber retain their single point lead over Kilmallie at the top of the table. The result also means that Strathglass will finish bottom of the table. However it is not yet clear if the bottom side will face relegation. Marine Harvest North Division 2 is likely to be won by either Glengarry or Glenurquhart and neither side has confirmed a wish to be promoted. Even if one of the sides did make the step up, the Camanachd Association may opt to remain with a 9 team Marine Harvest North Division 1 as a north club will not relegated from the Scottish Hydro Premier Division this season. Kilmallie remain in second place following their 6-2 win over Beauly at Canal Parks. The sides met at Braeview Park last week with Scottish international John Stewart bagging a hat-trick in his side’s 5-1 victory. Stewart has been in a rich vein of form of late scoring 4 hat-tricks in his last 5 outings. taking his total for the season to 31 goals. He bagged a double in this one, putting Kilmallie ahead after just 2 minutes. Ross Lavin made it 2-0 on 6 minutes but a Conor Ross strike on 41 minutes reduced the home side’s advantage at the break. Fraser Massie restored Kilmallie’s 2 goal advantage when he made it 3-1 just 10 minutes in to the second half. However Beauly fought back again and David MacLean reduced the deficit with a 75 minute effort. However late goals from Michael Rodger on 79 minutes and Peter MacIntyre 2 minutes from time ensured Kilmallie ran out 6-2 winners. Skye Camanachd and Caberfeidh drew for the second time this season when they met at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. To read a full report on the match, click on the following link Skye Camanachd 1 Caberfeidh 1 The west coast derby between Kinlochshiel and Lochcarron was postponed as the heavy rain deemed the Kirkton pitch unplayable. There was one match in Marine Harvest South Division 1 as fourth place Taynuilt were 2-0 winners at third place Kilmory in both sides final league games of the season. There was little between the sides and Kilmory, who started with the wind at their backs, started well but Taynuilt full back James MacLaren snuffed out the threat of home danger-man Stephen Gilmore. Taynuilt came back into the game in the later stages of the half and Kilmory keeper McFadyen had to be at his best to kep the match scoreless. With half time looming, Taynuilt's Stuart Scott broke the deadlock with a crisp drive from the edge of the D. Taynuilt dominated the second period and only more good goal-keeping from McFadyen prevented the visitor adding more to their tally than Willie Neilson's 75 minute shot. In Marine Harvest North Division 2, Kilmallie meet Kingussie at Canal Parks with the knowledge that they needed a victory to escape relegation. Kilmallie took advantage of the 12 noon throw up ahead of their first team game and played first team keeper Kevin Toye in goal. Donald Lamont also started in attack. Mark Graham gave Kilmallie a 1-0 lead and the same player added a second 10 minutes later. Kingussie youngster Savio Genini pulled a goal back on 23 minutes but a Ross Manson goal on 31 minutes and a Donald Lamont strike on 38 minutes put their side 4-1 up at the break. Late second half goals from youngster Martin Munro on 85 minutes and Manson – his second of the game – a couple of minutes later, put the gloss on a 6-1 victory. Beauly now return to Marine Harvest North Division 3 following their promotion last season. Lochaber have taken the Marine Harvest North Division 3 title race to a play-off with a 4-0 over Boleskine at Spean Bridge. Kenny Forsyth opened the scoring on 7 minutes and added another 2 minutes later. Forsyth completed his hat-trick on 49 minutes and Alan Knox made it 4-0 just 5 minutes later. Alan Ross scored 4 as third place Caberfeidh beat fourth place Lochbroom 7-1 at Castle Leod. Ruairidh McCready, Scott MacPhail and Jordi Gorski got the others whilst Steven Bellshaw scored a consolation goal for Lochbroom. Billy Wotherspoon warmed up for the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final by refereeing this one. |