The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 15 May 2010. | |
18 May 2010 The Balliemore Cup quarter final took centre stage on Saturday 15 May 2010.
Two of the Balliemore Cup quarter finals did not go ahead at the weekend as both Beauly and Lochcarron had requested a free Saturday to cheer on Ross County in the Scottish Cup Final against Dundee Utd. The ties between Kinlochshiel and Beauly and Lochaber and Lochcarron will now take place on Saturday 5 June 2010. The two ties which did ahead were both meetings between teams from Marine Harvest North Division 1 and Marine Harvest South Division 1 and the North came out on top in both duals.
Skye Camanachd were convincing 9-1 winners over Marine Harvest South Division 1 side Taynuilt in their Balliemore Cup quarter final tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye Camanachd first team manager Aonghas MacDonald made 3 changes to the starting line up from last week’s Macaulay Cup defeat to Lovat. John Moir returned to the defence following injury for his first game of the season. Iain Morrison made his first team debut at wing forward and AB Connor came off the bench to start in defence. Kerr Gibb was unavailable as he had a university exam and a hamstring injury ruled out Somhairle MacDonald. Dougie Rankin dropped out of the squad as did last week’s substitute Norman MacLeod. Andrew Banks and Martin Bruce were promoted from the second team and they started on the bench with veteran Willie MacRae. Taynuilt manager Dave Thompson had problems of his own to contend with. Midfielder Gary Cameron was out with a fractured skull. Influential captain Willie Gillies was also missing as were full back George Reid and fellow defender James MacLaren. Skye took the lead within a couple of minutes of the throw up. Iain Morrison played in a deep ball from the left which was misjudged by the visiting defence and Allan MacKinnon ghosted in at the back post to tuck the ball into the bottom corner of the net. With 12 minutes played, referee Innes Wood awarded Skye a foul 30 yards from goal for bad language from a visiting defender. Kenny Campbell shot goalwards from the free hit but his shot was saved by keeper Stewart. Skye claimed for a “kick” but Iain Morrison ignored the pleas and nipped in to slot a bobbling ball into the net to make it 2-0. Skye should have gone 3-0 up after 19 minutes. Allan MacKinnon played in a cross from the right which was dummied by Iain Nicolson. The ball fell to Iain Morrison who couldn’t get a shot on target. The loose ball fell for Nicolson but his shot went wide. Allan MacLeod sent a great clearance from defence on 30 minutes which played in Jamie MacDonald on the Skye left. MacDonald played the ball forward to Iain Nicolson but his shot was well served by Stewart. Just 3 minutes later a ball over the top from central midfield deceived the visiting defence but Stewart saved well again with his feet from Nicolson. A Steven Morrison goal-hit on 36 minutes found Jamie MacDonald on the left. MacDonald played the ball forward to Iain Morrison on the wing and he crossed for Iain Nicolson but again Stewart made a good stop. Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald made a positional switch after 41 minutes, swapping full centre Kenny Campbell with buckshee forward Kenny Campbell. The move paid immediate dividends when Campbell surged forward and took on the Taynuilt defence. He beat a couple of defenders before his path was blocked. However he reacted first to pick up the loose ball on the right and he smashed an unstoppable shot off the far post into the net. Campbell added his second a minute later when he dribbled round the keeper and rolled the ball into the back of the net. Campbell completed a 4 minute hat-trick just before the break to leave the Islanders 5-0 ahead. Aonghas MacDonald made a couple of changes at the start of the second half. Allan MacLeod and Shockie MacLennan were withdrawn and 18 year old Andrew Banks and 16 year old Martin Bruce came on to make their first team debuts in defence. Skye full back Steven Morrison was pushed forward to take up the full centre role. Skye continued on the offensive and an intelligent reverse pass from Iain Morrison set up Allan MacKinnon but his shot rebounded from Stewart’s left hand post. Skye went 6-0 up on 55 minutes when Iain Nicolson was rewarded with a goal for his endeavour when he fired a 20 yard drive high into the net. Jamie Gannon was forced into action on 62 minutes when he made a tidy stop. A minute later Skye scored their seventh and it was Iain Morrison who lifted the ball past keeper Stewart to net his second. Taynuilt were probably enjoying their best period of the game and when full centre Willie Neilson burst forward after 65 minutes and he blasted a shot high past Jamie Gannon to make it 7-1. Skye introduced 1990 Camanachd Cup winner Willie MacRae in place of Iain Nicolson after 81 minutes and he was on the scoresheet 5 minutes later, even if he knew little about it. Kenny Campbell sent 25 yard shot on target which deflected off MacRae’s chest and flew past keeper Stewart to make it 8-1. Iain Morrison can be very pleased with his contribution as he completed the scoring and his own debut hat-trick when he made it 9-1 after 88 minutes. Skye will now face either Kinlochshiel or Beauly in the Balliemore Cup semi finals
Kilmallie are through to the semi finals after a 3-1 win over Glenorchy at Dalmally. The home side has been in impressive form in the league this season where they have a 100% record from their 5 games played. Kilmallie provided formidable opponents though, even without the suspended John Stewart and Michael Rodger. Duncan Smith scored for the home side but Fraser Massie and a Liam MacDonald double ensured victory for the visitors. Peter Carmichael became the third Kilmallie player to be sent off in as many matches as he was given his marching orders by referee Charles Young.
The match of the day in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division was undoubtedly the meeting between Badenoch rivals Kingussie and Newtonmore at the Dell. Both sides have had injury problems in recent weeks. Kingussie keeper Andrew Borthwick played with a knee injury but influential defender Ally MacLeod wasn’t risked because of a leg injury. Ian Borthwick did return but only as a sub for the last 20 minutes. The home side started with youngsters Craig Dawson and Greig MacRae in defence. Newtonmore were without captain and forward Danny MacRae but Norman Campbell returned from holiday. The sides met in the MacTavish Cup a couple of weeks ago when it took extra time and 4 Ronald Ross goals to separate them and how Newtonmore must be sick of the sight of shinty’s record goalscorer as he scored the decisive goals in this clash too. Ross got Kingussie off to a great start when he shot past Michael Ritchie after just 9 minutes. However just 7 minutes later the match was all square as David Cheyne fired past Borthwick. Just when it looked as if the sides were heading for the interval on level terms, Ronald Ross made space to send a thunderbolt shot into the net, giving Ritchie no chance. There was no further scoring in the second half although ‘More had much of the pressure so Kingussie took the points and Newtonmore lost top spot in the league. It’s astonishing how many times in recent years the Kingussie goalscorers against Newtonmore have been either Ronald Ross or Kevin Thain. Thain is now plying his trade for the Kingussie second team and there is not a single Newtonmore supporter who will be disappointed when Ronald Ross steps down from top flight shinty.
Fort William went top of the table for the first time this season when they beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 14-0 at Yoker. This is a record score in Premier Division shinty and whilst Garry Innes didn’t manage to equal Ronald Ross’ record 10 goal haul in a single match, he came very close indeed, finding the back of the net 9 times. Indeed he had another effort controversially ruled out by referee Billy Wotherspoon. Gary Innes gave Fort William on 28 minutes and Mid Argyll didn’t help their cause by having Angus MacIntosh sent off a couple of minutes later. Gordy MacKinnon made it 2-0 on 32 minutes and Innes completed a first half hat-trick with goals on 35 and 43 minutes to give the visitors a 4-0 half time lead. Mid Argyll collapsed in the second half. Fort William pushed defender Duncan Rodger forward and he made it 5-0 on 50 minutes. Gary Innes then went nap. He scored another 3 goals on 58, 64 and 68 minutes to make it 8-0. Duncan Rodger then added his second on 73 minutes. Fort William were now relentless and they scored 5 goals in just 7 minutes. Innes again on 78 and 80 minutes made it 11-0. MacKinnon got his second on 81 minutes, Innes again a minute later and MacKinnon completed his hat-trick on 84 minutes to make it an incredible 14-0 thrashing and a day to remember for Gary Innes.
The clash between Bute and Inveraray at the Meadows was always going to be a close affair so it should be no surprise that the points were eventually shared. Robert Walker put the home side ahead on 20 minutes but goals from Gary MacPherson on the half hour mark and Grant Griffin a couple of minutes before the break put Inveraray ahead. However Roberto Zavaroni followed up last week’s hat-trick with the equaliser on 76 minutes.
Glenurquhart lost out by the odd goal in 3 to Kyles Athletic at Blairbeg. The Glen were without Calum Miller and Lewis MacLennan and they seem to be going through a barren spell in front of goal at present. Grant Irvine put the visitors ahead after just 2 minutes but U14 starlet Ewan Brady ensured the sides went into the break all square when he scored right on half time. Kyles’ Colin MacColl scored the winner 5 minutes into the second half.
There was a potential relegation battle at Balgate where Lovat and Oban Camanachd met. Both sides had 5 points from their opening 7 games going into this match and only Glasgow Mid Argyll sat below them in the league. After a goalless first half, strikes from Owen Ferguson after 56 minutes and James MacPherson 6 minutes from the end gave Lovat what could prove to be 2 priceless points at the end of the season.
There was one rearranged match in Marine Harvest North Division 1 as Kinlochshiel and Lochaber met at Kirkton. The home side had been in good form of late after losing their opening 3 league games with the MacRae brothers Keith, Finlay and John all featuring amongst their goal scorers. Shiel were missing defender John Don MacKenzie thanks to a training injury and fellow defender Zander Grant with an ankle knock. David Falconer came in to make his first team debut at wing back and his performance impressed managers Keith Loades and Johnston Gill. Lochaber had former manager Michael Delaney in charge following the resignation last week of former boss Ally Ferguson and his assistant Jason Latto. These two well matched sides fought out a very competitive match which provided great entertainment for the west coast crowd. Lochaber shocked the home support by racing into an early 2 goal lead. Keith Neville scored them both – the first a penalty awarded by referee Deek Cameron on 8 minutes and the second was a 22 minute strike which beat Shiel keeper Graham Kennedy. Shiel got themselves back into the game on 28 minutes when John MacRae weaved his way through the visiting defence and slotted the ball past keeper Jake Keenan. Finlay MacRae leveled the match on 35 minutes with a contender for goal of the season. MacRae collected the ball on the half way line and beat everyone in front of him before him before dispatching the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-2. The second half served up more of the same and the visitors regained the lead on the hour mark when an Andrew MacDonald shot was deflected past keeper Kennedy. However Shiel were level just 2 minutes later when Finlay MacRae netted his second to make it 3-3. Lochaber were given a great chance to snatch the points when they were awarded their second penalty of the game after 86 minutes. However keeper Kennedy saved the spot hit to keep the match level. This boosted Shiel and Keith MacRae scored what proved to be the winner just 2 minutes from time. This really was a fantastic game of shinty and had it not been from a couple of point-blank saves from Lochaber keeper Keenan, and one miraculous stop when he tipped a Finlay MacRae rocket shot over the bar, the winning margin could have been greater. The victory means that Kinlochshiel leap-frog Caberfeidh to go top of the table.
There was just one fixture in Marine Harvest South Division 1 as Ballachulish and Oban Celtic met at Jubilee Park. Oban Celtic recovered from a couple of difficult weekends, losing 19 goals in 2 meetings with Inveraray, to record a 4-1 victory. David Duffy put them ahead on 36 minutes and an Alan Miller strike on 41 minutes gave them a 2-0 half time lead. Alan Duffy made it 3-1 just 4 minutes into the second half. Gary Young pulled a goal back for the home side on 55 minutes but any chance of a comeback was squashed on 84 minutes when Ballachulish had Davie MacPhee sent off. Kenny Wotherspoon made it 4-1 just 2 minutes from time.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 leaders Glenurquhart went down 5-1 to an experienced Kingussie side at the Dell. This match has a 12 noon throw up ahead of the Badenoch derby and the Kings second string showed the senior side the way. Kevin Thain scored a hat-trick and Michael Clark and Rory Borthwick scored the others. Ruairidh Cameron netted a consolation for the visitors.
Glengarry’s good start to the season continues as they made the short journey to Canal Parks to play Kilmallie. They returned home with both points thanks to a Steven Cameron strike.
Fort William went top of the league with a 3-2 win over fourth place Lovat at An Aird. Lovat were 2-1 winners when the sides met in March thanks to strikes from Martin Anderson and Owen Ferguson and they took the lead in this one after 30 minutes through Jamie Matheson. Ricky Fraser made it 1-1 on 34 minutes but young Michael Mackenzie gave the visitors an interval lead with a goal on 41 minutes. Lovat held this lead until 15 minutes from the end when referee John Sloggie awarded the home side a penalty. Ryan Campbell took the opportunity to level the scores by firing the ball into the net. With just 8 minutes Fort William’s Daniel Stewart continued his good scoring run by scoring the winner.
The match between Newtonmore and Skye Camanachd at the Eilan has a 1pm throw up. Newtonmore were convincing winners when the sides met in Portree earlier in the season when the ‘More’s David Wilde ran riot with 5 goals. However this time the Skye Camanachd second team enjoyed their first league win of the season with a 5-2 victory. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie MacVicar made 6 changes to the squad which beat Lewis. Ian Morrison, Martin Bruce, Andrew Banks and Willie MacRae were all on first team duty and Ross Graham, Angie MacDonald and Ally MacLeod were unavailable. Neil MacVicar and Danny Morrison, who are both one game away from being cup tied for the Aberdein Considine Sutherland and Strathdearn Cups, were recalled. Darryl MacIntosh, recently transferred from Lewis Camanachd, made his debut in midfield and Michael Nicolson taking over in goal. Calum Gibb and Scott MacLeod, members of last years U17 London Shield winning team, were among the substitutes. Skye, who started with 7 teenagers in their line up and 3 on the bench, opened brightly without putting Newtonmore keeper Dougie Gray under any real pressure. The opening goal arrived on 22 minutes following a foul on Davie MacVicar by Newtonmore full back Brian Cheyne. MacVicar took the free hit and lofted the ball into the area. The ball was cleared by the ‘More defence but only as far as MacVicar who played it in to Danny Morrison. Morrison controlled the ball before sending a thunderous back hand drive into the roof of the net. As has so often happened to Skye this season, the lead was short lived and Newtonmore were level within a minute. Ackie MacRae played in David Wilde who turned his marker to fire low into the left hand corner of the Skye net. The proved to be only a temporary set back as Skye were soon on the offensive again with Dougie Gray saving well from an Ally MacDonald shot. With Skye starting to exert a grip in midfield a second goal arrived on 29 minutes. This time Jordan Murchison and Davie MacVicar combined to set up Danny Morrison who finished in style with a blistering effort from the edge of the D. Ally MacDonald and Danny Morrison both went close to extending the Skye lead before half time while Skye keeper Michael Nicolson saved well from Paul MacKintosh. Skye had the better of the first half but only had a one goal advantage to show for their efforts. Skye started the second period with a slight wind advantage and they capitalised on this by continuing to threaten the Newtonmore goal. Skye player / manager Davie MacVicar was forced to leave the field with a hamstring strain and was replaced by 15 year old Calum Gibb. Ally MacDonald moved to full forward with Gibb taking over at wing forward. The substitution didn’t disrupt Skye’s control of the game and they went 3-1 up in the 52 minute. This time Neil MacVicar found Danny Morrison who drifted off his man and sent another scorching drive past Gray in the Newtonmore goal. Newtonmore continued to probe for openings but couldn’t find a way past Michael Nicolson who saved well from Wilde and Chris Sellar mid way through the half. With around 25 minutes to go Skye went 4-1 up when MacIntosh went charging up the right wing and played a superb diagonal ball to Ally MacDonald who fired a lovely back hand drive across goal and into the far corner of the net from a tight angle. When Chris Sellar scored with 15 minutes remaining, it looked like being a nervous finish for Skye. However the Islanders wrapped up the game 2 minutes from time when the impressive MacIntosh went on a charge up the right wing before firing a blistering 35 yard drive that took a wicked deflection off full back Brian Cheyne, leaving Newtonmore keeper Gray stranded. With a comfortable 3 goal cushion, manager MacVicar had time to introduce substitutes Scott MacLeod and Daniel Morrison for Jordan Murchison and Ally MacDonald. This was an impressive and confident Skye team performance where there were no failures. However hat-trick hero Danny Morrison deserves a special mention as he looked particularly sharp in front of goal.
The Kinlochshiel v Beauly clash was off because of the Scottish Cup Final and it will be played on Wednesday 19 May 2010.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 leaders Kyles Athletic played second place Col Glen at Tighnabruaich. Kyles were 8-0 winners when the sides met in March with Roddy McColl scoring 4 goals. He was back on target in this game, scoring the opening goal in a 3-0 win. Mathew MacColl and Angus Finlayson scored the others.
Third place Aberdour trailed leaders Kyles Athletic by 5 points before the weekend games but they had 3 games in hand. However their title chances took a blow when they went down 6-2 to Glasgow Mid Argyll in their 12 noon throw up at Yoker. Ross Nicol and Doug Newsom scored for the visitors but 4 goals from Donald Colville and strikes from Craig Anderson and Gary Luke gave Mid Argyll the points. There noon meeting between bottom side Bute and fifth place Tayforth was postponed as it was ruled that the Meadows could not take 2 games and the first team game took priority.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 leaders Lochaber continue to march on and they returned from Cannich with both points following a 5-1 win over second bottom Strathglass. Alan Knox maintained his good scoring run when he gave the visitors the lead on 22 minutes. Pat Toal doubled their advantage with a 32 minute strike. Knox completed his hat-trick within 4 minutes of the restart with goals on 47 and 49 minutes. Ian Raynard pulled a goal back for Strathglass on 67 minutes but Knox added his fourth a couple of minutes from the end to complete a fantastic personal contribution to his team’s 5-1 victory.
Second place Aberdeen University headed for the Highland capital to play Inverness. The Students were 6-1 winners when the sides met on the opening day of the season when former Skye Camanachd player Kenny MacLeod scored a hat-trick. They scored another 6 this time too and it was MacLeod who opened the scoring after just 4 minutes. Inverness battled hard for the next 35 minutes but 3 quick goals before the break ended the match as a contest. Craig Cameron made it 2-0 on 38 minutes and Donald Lamont added another a minute later. Steven MacKenzie scored 3 minutes from the break to put the visitors 4-0 up. Willie Hunter made it 4-0 on 70 minutes and Cameron added his second just before the final whistle for a 6-0 win.
The matches between Boleskine and Lochcarron and Caberfeidh and Ardnamurchan were called off as both Lochcarron and Cabers asked for free weekends so their players could attend the Scottish Cup Final between Ross County and Dundee Utd. |