A reduced shinty programme took place on Saturday 6 August 2011 as several clubs opted to take their free Saturday to allow their players, officials and supporters to attend the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival and various Highland Games.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division
Kingussie 0 Fort William 0
Fort William stay top of the Scottish Hydro Premier Division following a goalless draw with Kingussie at the Dell. However they missed the chance to extend their lead over Kyles Athletic. Neither team was near what could be considered a full strength line-up. The Kings had manager Stevie Borthwick back from holiday and he fielded ace marksman Ronald Ross in defence. Peter McIntyre’s men are nearing the end of their season and after this trip to the Dell, they face journeys to Newtonmore, Kyles Athletic and Oban Camanachd. In the end defences were on top and the sides were forced to share the points following a goalless draw. Both keepers made excellent saves with Andrew Borthwick in top form early in the game and Paul MacKay proving his worth in the closing stages. Fort William’s Alex Duncan was sent off by referee Graham Cameron for two bookable offences.
Kyles Athletic 3 Oban Camanachd 3
A last minute Gareth Evans goal earned Oban Camanachd a priceless point against Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich. Roddy MacDonald put Kyles ahead on the half hour mark but a Matt Rippon goal on the stroke of half time made it one each at the break. Matt Rippon notched his second on 59 minutes however when Grant Irvine scored twice on 75 and 83 minutes, Kyles looked to have clinched the points. Oban Camanachd had other ideas though and Gareth Evans’ last gasp strike effort made it 3-3. Newtonmore may not have been in action at the weekend but the result means they now only trail Kyles by two points with each team having six games remaining. Oban Camanachd now go a point ahead of Inveraray and Lovat in their quest to avoid the second relegation spot. However they also face a difficult run-in as they also have to take on Kyles at Mossfield and their other home matches are against Glenurquhart and Fort William. They have away games against Newtonmore and Kilmallie as well as a crucial trip to Balgate to play Lovat on Saturday 13 August 2011 which can be considered a “four pointer”.
Glenurquhart 3 Inveraray 0
Glenurquhart go fourth and increase Inveraray’s relegation fears with a 3-0 win at Blairbeg. The sides drew 3-3 at the Winterton recently and they both have differing targets. The Glen’s form has been up and down this season but they are fighting for fourth place in the league whilst Inveraray have a relegation battle on their hands as well as a Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final tie against Newtonmore at Spean Bridge next weekend. Liam Girvan gave the Glen an opening minute lead and the home side benefited from an own goal on 42 minutes. Paul MacKintosh made it 3-0 on 74 minutes. The win confirms Glenurquhart’s place in shinty’s top flight next season although they are well within their rights to aim much higher than that at this stage in the season.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Kinlochshiel 4 Lochcarron 1
League leaders Kinlochshiel’s maintained their 100% record with a 4-1 win over near neighbours Lochcarron at Kirkton. Kinlochshiel boss Johnston Gill was without forward Gordie MacDonald who had a knee injury. David Falconer had an ankle knock and he started on the bench. Lochcarron boss Andrew MacKenzie was without experienced duo Allan MacKenzie and Gregor Cushnie but Ross Matheson and Kieran Murray made welcome returns. Lochcarron were dealt a blow in the warm up when full centre Peter MacKenzie suffered a recurrence of a back problem and was unable to start. Calum Finlayson took up the full centre slot. 13 year old Nick Dalgety came off the bench to start in attack. The home side went in front after just 6 minutes. Keith MacRae made enough space to collect a cross from the left and he swept the ball low into the net. ‘Shiel enjoyed most of the first half pressure and Keith MacRae scored his second on 37 minutes. There seemed little danger when he collected a ball on the left but he set a rasping shot which went into the roof of the net off keeper Lochcarron keeper Kenny Ross to give his side a 2-0 lead at the break. Finlay MacRae tucked the ball home from inside the D to make it 3-0 just 6 minutes into the second half and ‘Shiel looked in control. However Lochcarron pulled a goal back through Nick Dalgety, who played his first full game for the Battery Park side, on 75 minutes and it would have made for an exciting end to the game if they could have added a second goal at that stage in the game. However it was ‘Shiel who sealed the points through Fraser MacVicar on 82 minutes and he deserved a goal for his all-round good play. ‘Shiel have only conceded 6 goals from their 10 league matches so far this season and their strong back-line gives the side a great foundation. Keith MacRae was highlighted earlier in the week by Scotland Head Coach Drew McNeil as a player who was in his thoughts for the forthcoming international series against Ireland. His performance will surely earn him a favourable report when Scotland assistant manager and Lochcarron keeper Kenny Ross reports back. Indeed Ross made some great saves during the game and saved his side from a bigger defeat. Mark Sproule was also excellent in defence for the visitors. The ‘Shiel win puts the title in sight and promotion to shinty’s top flight could be secured in the forthcoming away games against Strathglass and Skye Camanachd.
Lochaber R Inverness R
Lochaber and Inverness were scheduled to meet again this weekend but both sides have agreed to rearrange the game for Tuesday 9 August 2011 at Glengarry’s Craigard pitch as Spean Bridge is being prepared for next weekend’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi finals. Only a first half Lachlan Campbell strike separated Inverness and Lochaber in the meeting at the Bught Park, Inverness last weekend.
Skye Camanachd R Caberfeidh R
The match between Skye Camanachd and Caberfeidh will be rescheduled for a later date.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Bute 3 Kyles Athletic 0
Bute beat Kyles Athletic 3-0 on Rothesay to go top of the table with ten wins out of ten. This was one of Bute’s two games in hand over previous leaders Glasgow Mid Argyll and they were in no mood to slip up. Roberto Zavaroni scored the only goal of the first half on the half hour mark. Robert Walker scored twice in the second period on 65 minutes and again 10 minutes later to seal a 3-0 win. Bute and Glasgow Mid Argyll still have to meet home and away this season and these clashes will go a long way to determining the title destination.
Lochside Rovers 4 Oban Celtic 2
Lochside Rovers came out on top in the Oban reserve derby with a 4-2 win over Oban Celtic at Ganavan. A Malcolm Clark double helped Lochside to a 2-2 draw when the sides met earlier in the season but they came out on top in this one. David Devine put the home side ahead after 6 minutes. Lee Askew made it 1-1 on 19 minutes but a Daniel MacKinnon strike a couple of minutes before the break restored Lochside’s advantage. Lochside benefited from an own goal on 59 minutes to go 3-1 ahead but referee Deek Cameron gave the visitors the chance to pull back a goal when he awarded them a penalty on 68 minutes and Kenny Wotherspoon made no mistake from the spot. Lochside had the final say and Daniel MacKinnon added his second on 84 minutes to restore their two goal advantage and seal a 4-2 win.
Kilmory 0 Ballachulish 2
A goal in each half from Grant MacKenzie and Scott Henderson gave fourth place Ballachulish and 2-0 win at second bottom Kilmory. A Donald Wilson strike 20 minutes from time gave Ballachulish the points when the sides met at Jubilee Park earlier in the season. Grant MacPherson got the home side off to a great start in this one with a goal on 3 minutes. Scott Henderson’s strike came 15 minutes from time.
Taynuilt 2 Aberdour 1
Taynuilt started as favourites at home to Aberdour. However the sides drew 3-3 in Fife just a couple of weeks ago. David Campbell scored twice to give Taynuilt a 2-1 win whilst David Rodgers replied for the visitors.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Kinlochshiel 0 Fort William 1
Fort William took the points by the narrowest of margins in their 12 noon throw up against Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. This was a tight encounter which could have gone either way. The winning goal came 20 minutes from time when Michael Sleazes crashed a Jack Fraser corner from the left into the roof of the Shiel net. The home side had Colin MacDiarmid red carded by referee Graeme MacMillan for two bookable offences. The win keeps Fort William as the main challengers to league leaders Newtonmore whilst Kinlochshiel are only a point off the bottom of the table.
Kilmallie 1 Glengarry 2
Glengarry returned from the Canal Parks with both points following a 2-1 win over Kilmallie. The home side were without Alexander MacIsaac as the youngster had three stitches inserted into a leg gash after last week’s loss to Glenurquhart. Kilmallie had no first team fixture which would have come as a relief as a couple of their second team players were called into the first team squad last week to replace missing players. Steven Cameron and Stephen Brady scored the ‘Garry goals. Graham Mitchell scored for Kilmallie.
Lovat 9 Glenurquhart 0
Lovat and Glenurquhart met in league action on Wednesday 3 August 2011 when Greg Matheson stole the show scoring six times as the home side ran out 9-0 winners at Balgate. Click on the following link to read the match report in full Lovat 9 Glenurquhart 0
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Tayforth 3 Ballachulish 1
Tayforth leap-frogged Strachur to go top of the table on goal difference with a 3-1 win over Ballachulish in Perth. A Jamie MacDonald hat-trick helped Tayforth to a 4-0 win when the sides met at Jubilee Park in June and he was a key player in this game too, scoring twice for Tayforth whilst Iain Campbell got the other. Malcolm Grant replied for Ballachulish.
Inveraray v Bute W/O
Inveraray were unable to raise a team for their reserve derby against Bute at Tighnabruaich so the points go to the visitors.
Marine Harvest North Division 3
Lewis Camanachd 2 Inverness 6
Lewis Camanachd rounded off their home fixture programme with a 6-2 defeat to a strong Inverness side at Shawbost. This was the Islanders final home fixture in their fledgling season and they will have been encouraged by the willingness showed by other sides in the league to travel to Lewis. Donald Lamont was back for Lewis Camanachd but they were without Scott Murray and Daniel Gallagher. The Inverness team selection was aided by the fact that their first team match against Lochaber was rearranged. Connor Golabeck put the visitors ahead on 5 minutes but Calum Stamper made it 1-1 just a couple of minutes later. Golabeck put Inverness in front again on 20 minutes but Lewis fought back for a second time to level through Ewen Gilmour 5 minutes later. Connor Golabeck completed a first half hat-trick when he put the visitors 3-2 ahead 5 minutes before the break. Inverness showed their strength in the second half and Golabeck got his fourth on 50 minutes. Further goals from Allan Greenhouse on the hour mark and player-manager Allan MacLeod a couple of minutes later completed a 6-2 Inverness win.
Lochcarron R Caberfeidh R
Lochcarron and Caberfeidh have agreed to rearrange their game at Battery Park for Wednesday 10 August 2011.