The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 23 April 2011 - UPDATED. | |
25 April 2011 The Co-operative MacTavish Cup and Glasgow Celtic Society Cup semi finalists are known following the games on Saturday 23 April 2011. Co-operative MacTavish Cup - Quarter Finals Sides from the Scottish Hydro Premier Division took on teams from Marine Harvest North Division 1 in all four Co-operative MacTavish Cup quarter final ties. Johnston Gill’s Kinlochshiel squad headed for the Dell with confidence for their meeting with holders Kingussie. Kinlochshiel have previously run shinty’s top sides close in cup encounters and anyone who has seen them in action this season will not be surprised that they made Kingussie fight every inch of the way for their 2-1 victory. This game marked the return to the field of play of Kingussie’s Ronald Ross who hadn’t played since the shinty / hurling international against Ireland in November 2010. Shiel were without Calum MacLean but they had Fraser MacVicar who returned from injury the previous weekend. Iain Borthwick managed a return from injury for Kingussie but he never saw the game out. Paul Gow was also an absentee after picking up a knock in the defeat to Fort William last week. In the end it was Ronald Ross which helped the holders into the last four of the competition. He squared the tie on 22 minutes after Finlay MacRae had given Shiel a 3 minute lead. James Hutcheson put the home side 2-1 up on 70 minutes but MacRae scored his second goal 5 minutes later when he made it 2-2 from the penalty spot. With no further scoring, the match went into extra time. With only 60 seconds remaining, and penalties looming, up popped Ross to net the winning goal. Ross confessed to be “absolutely shattered” after two hours of shinty but he and his team-mates have the satisfaction of a semi final against Kilmallie to look forward to. Shiel put in an energetic performance and displayed plenty skill. Their sights will now be set on playing in this company every week. There was another close tie at the Canal Parks for the derby between Kilmallie and Lochaber. The sides had a titanic battle in Marine Harvest North Division 1 in 2010 before Kilmallie eventually edged out their rivals to take the title and promotion to shinty’s top division. Fraser Massie put Kilmallie ahead after 33 minutes and Liam MacDonald added a second after 74 minutes. Ben Delaney continued his good scoring run and pulled a goal back for Lochaber a couple of minutes from time but Kilmallie held on to meet Kingussie in the semi finals in what will be a repeat of last year’s final. Beauly gave a good account of themselves against Newtonmore at Braeview Park before eventually going down 5-0. The home side were without teenage striker Jack MacDonald who has an injured arm. Newtonmore’s Paul MacArthur served the second game of a two match ban following his sending off in the Badenoch derby against Kingussie. Newtonmore’s Glen MacKintosh scored the only goal of the first half on just 8 minutes before second half doubles from Danny MacRae after 48 and 60 minutes and John MacKenzie after 74 and 83 minutes ensured ‘More grabbed a semi final meeting with Fort William. Fort William and Caberfeidh meet at An Aird. The tie was delayed for around an hour because of a road traffic accident on the A82 which left some players and referee Charles Young stuck in traffic. Cabers’ Martin MacDonald had a broken thumb. The doubt over the start time did not help either team’s preparation and the visitors gave a good account of themselves and kept the tie at 0-0 with just 23 minutes remaining before a James Clark netted. Gary Innes added a second on 70 minutes after being set up by Gordie MacKinnon before bagging his second to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot just 3 minutes from time. Fort William meet Newtonmore in the semi finals. Glasgow Celtic Society Cup - Quarter Finals The 2011 Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final will be held at the Winterton. The final has only been held outside Glasgow twice before in over a century and organisers have confirmed that the switch has been made because of financial reason. The competition has not had a sponsor for five years and it is hoped a bigger crowd will turn out for this year’s final. The Glasgow Celtic Society Cup continues to be played to amended rules with a bigger penalty area and direct free-hits. The competition has had rolling substitutes and this was of course carried forward into all competitions this season by the Camanachd Association on a pilot basis. Glasgow Celtic Society Cup holders Inveraray have an excellent recent record in this competition having not lost a tie since 2005. Despite the absence of Garry MacPherson, they continued that run at Jubilee Park when Neil Campbell gave them a first minute lead against Ballachulish. Ewan MacMurdo gave the visitors a 2-0 interval advantage when he shot home after 26 minutes. Neil Campbell continued his good form when he added his second on 56 minutes but the home side did pull a goal back on 65 minutes through Grant MacKenzie. Ewan MacMurdo added his second on 78 minutes whilst Neil Campbell completed his hat-trick 5 minutes from time to clinch a semi final spot. It’s Kyles Athletic next for Inveraray. Glasgow Mid Argyll were always going to be up against it when they took on the south’s in-form team, Kyles Athletic, at Yoker. GMA youngster Finlay MacMillan received a boost when he was named in the Scotland U17 squad for the summer tour of Ireland but he and his team-mates had a difficult afternoon as Kyles racked up nine goals without reply. Roddy MacDonald was the day’s top scorer with seven goals whilst fellow forwards Grant Irvine and Dunkie Kerr got the others. Kyles meet Inveraray in the last four. The only all-Scottish Hydro Premier Division tie saw Oban Camanachd and Glenorchy meet at Mossfield. The sides met at the same venue in league action last weekend when an Aidan MacIntyre hat-trick helped Oban to a 5-0 win. The home side’s favourites tag was justified as they once again ran out 5-0 winners. Daniel MacIntyre scored the only goal of the first half after 17 minutes and he made it 2-0 a couple of minutes into the second half. Scott MacMillan made it 3-0 from the penalty spot on 65 minutes before Daniel MacIntyre completed his hat-trick on 83 minutes. A Daniel Cameron strike on the full time whistle capped a 5-0 win for Oban Camanachd who will play Taynuilt in the last four. There is one all-Marine Harvest South Division 1 tie as Kilmory travelled to play Taynuilt. The home side had made the better start to the league this season and they followed this up with a 3-1 cup victory. A Willie Neilson penalty put Taynuilt ahead on 20 minutes but Alastair Cunningham netted on 35 minutes to ensure the sides went into the break all square. Taynuilt went on to win 3-1 with second half goals from Neil Gillies on 56 minutes and Stuart Scott a couple of minutes from time. Kilmory had John Strachan sent off by referee Innes Wood. Taynuilt will play Oban Camanachd in the semi finals. Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup – First Round The SCOTS and Lovat caught up on their Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup first round tie. The SCOTS had home advantage but as they have no fixed base, they agreed to play this one at Lovat’s Balgate pitch. Lovat may have made a poor start to the season but they were boosted by last weekend’s league win over reigning champions Glenurquhart. The Balgate men also have a superb cup pedigree, reaching the last four finals from the last two years. Lovat’s Ryan Fraser scored the only goal of the first half on 34 minutes but a second half Steven Cameron double on 66 and 82 minutes, either side of a Michael MacKenzie effort on 71 minutes, gave Lovat a 4-0 win. Strathdearn Cup – First Round The 12 noon throw up between Marine Harvest North Division 2 local rivals Lochaber and Kilmallie at Spean Bridge saw the sides meet for a second successive weekend. A Conor Sweeney double helped Lochaber to a 4-1 win when the sides met at the same venue in the league but a Mark Graham hat-trick helped Kilmallie avenge last weekend’s defeat as Kilmallie ran out 5-2 winners. Ryan Stewart and Brian MacKay were Kilmallie’s other scorers whilst Pat Toal and Conor Sweeney were on target for Lochaber. Marine Harvest North Division 3 side Strathglass were unable to raise a team for the visit of Marine Harvest North Division 2 team Fort William to Cannich so the visitors go through to the next round. Scottish Hydro Premier Division There was one rearranged match in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division as Glenurquhart and Lovat met in league action for the second successive Saturday. This meeting was at Blairbeg after a David Smart strike helped Glenurquhart to a 3-1 win at Balgate last week. Full centre Euan Ferguson was missing for Lovat as was longer term injury absentee Drew Howie. Glenurquhart were without John Barr. A Lovat win would lift them out of the relegation zone above Kilmallie and Inveraray but a favourable Glenurquhart result would move them into second place in the table. Greg Matheson put Lovat ahead after 18 minutes but the home side responded immediately with Neale Reid making it 1-1 a couple of minutes later. Greg Matheson restored Lovat’s lead on the stroke of half time and the teenage hit-man added two more on 80 and 84 minutes to take his and Lovat’s tally to four goals and gave his side a 4-1 victory. Marine Harvest North Division 1 Skye Camanachd went down 4-1 in the west coast derby against Lochcarron at Battery Park. Click on the following link to read a full match report Lochcarron 4 Skye Camanachd 1 There was another local derby at the Bught Park where Strathglass made the short journey to play Inverness. Young Connor Golabek put Inverness ahead in the opening minute but veteran Robert Geddes restored parity just 60 seconds later. However the home side went into the break 3-1 ahead thanks to strikes from former Lovat player Jamie Matheson on 28 minutes and David Higham on 37 minutes. Les Fraser pulled a goal back for Strathglass on 63 minutes and the outcome remained in doubt until 5 minutes from time when Jamie Matheson added his second to make it 4-2 and give his side two valuable points. Marine Harvest South Division 1 First played second as league leaders Bute beat Lochside Rovers 4-1 in Rothesay. Bute maintained their 100% record thanks to doubles from Stuart Strathie on 30 and 40 minutes and Robert Walker on 60 and 70 minutes. David Devine grabbed Lochside’s only counter on 35 minutes. Kyles Athletic beat Aberdour 4-2 at Tighnabruaich. Roddy MacColl put the home side in front on 20 minutes and Innes MacDonald made it 2-0 just 5 minutes later. Ross Nicol pulled a goal back for Aberdour on the half hour mark and he made it 2-2 just 5 minutes later. Roddy MacColl added his second on 50 minutes to put Kyles in front again and a Colin MacDonald effort 5 minutes from time gave the home side both points from a 4-2 win. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Glengarry returned to the top of the table on goal difference following their 4-0 win over reigning champions Glenurquhart at Invergarry. Steven Cameron put the home side ahead on the half hour mark whilst a Ewan Brady strike a couple of minutes before the break gave them a 2-0 interval lead. Brady added his second on 76 minutes whilst Cameron also got a second 8 minutes from time to seal a 4-0 win. Newtonmore slip to second place on goal difference following their 4-3 win over Skye Camanachd in a thrilling match at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Click on the following link to read a full match report Skye Camanachd 3 Newtonmore 4 Kevin Thain scored five times as Kingussie beat Kinlochshiel 7-4 in their 12 noon throw up at the Dell. This match preceded the cup clash between the senior sides and it provided goals galore. Brian Moban and Martin Dallas were also on target for the Kings. Steven Isles, a Ross Fraser double and a Duncan MacRae effort counted for ‘Shiel. Marine Harvest South Division 2 League leaders Strachur beat Inveraray 2-1 at the Winterton with the help of a Steven Bulloch effort and an own goal. Chris Crawford replied for Inveraray. Fourth place Bute beat Aberdour 9-0 in their noon throw up on Rothesay. Neil MacKirdy scored twice, Stuart Stirling, bagged three and Alastair Carmichael got four goals for the home side. Sixth place Glasgow Mid Argyll beat second place Tayforth 5-3 at Yoker. Donald Colville scored twice for the home side whilst Ewan Forsyth went one better with a hat-trick. Stuart Ferrier scored twice for the visitors whilst Calum Barton got the other. The match between third place Col Glen and second bottom side Ballachulish was postponed because of a bereavement. Marine Harvest North Division 3 League leaders Aberdeen maintained their 100% record with a 6-0 win over Inverness at the Bught Park. Rory Campbell scored four times whilst former Skye Camanachd player Kenny MacLeod grabbed a brace as the Students continue to lead the way. Second place Boleskine and sixth place Lochbroom drew 4-4 at Farr. Iain Grant, Michael Pirie twice and Raymond Robertson were on target for the home side whilst Sandy Urquhart and Trevor Innes each scored twice for Lochbroom. Second bottom Ardnamurchan went down 3-1 at home to third place Caberfeidh. Kirk Taylor scored twice for Cabers whilst Graeme MacGregor got the other. Sean Laskey replied for the home side. A goal from Martin MacFadyen on 12 minutes gave Beauly a 1-0 lead in their noon throw up against Lochcarron at Braeview Park. However Gregor Cushnie replied for the visitors on 26 minutes to ensure the sides went into the break on level terms. Cushnie was to make a scoring substitute appearance for the Lochcarron first team later in the afternoon. Calum Forbes restored Beauly’s lead on 53 minutes whilst a Calum Morrison netted his fourth goal of the season to give Beauly a 3-1 win |