The countdown continues ahead of the Artemis MacAulay Cup Final between Inveraray and Kinlochshiel at Mossfield on Saturday 3 September 2016.
Kinlochshiel have defeated three North Marine Harvest Premiership sides to reach this year’s final.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – First Round
Saturday 30 April 2016
Kinlochshiel 7 Fort William 1
Kinlochshiel recovered from going a goal down to beat Fort William 7-1 in their 3pm throw up at Kirkton.
‘Shiel boss Colin Fraser had a full squad to choose from and Finlay MacRae started at full centre, supported by Donald Nixon and Jordan Fraser on the wings, with Duncan “DA” MacRae at full forward.
Victor Smith took full charge of Fort William as co-manager Adam Robertson was called up as a late substitute driver to take a group of Fort youngsters, including both his daughter and Victor’s daughters, to a gymnastics event in Irvine. The Fort were also along familiar lines with Calum Shepherd and Steven Stewart supporting full centre Niall MacPhee in midfield.
There was an early booking for Fort William forward Graham Campbell after he didn’t heed a warning from referee John Angus Gillies for speaking out of turn.
Cal Brown found Bryan Simpson with a free-hit 18 yards from goal but Simpson’s shot went past keeper Scott Kennedy’s right post.
Kinlochshiel, hitting down the hill, also went close from a set-piece, with Keith MacRae sending the ball past Paul MacKay’s left post.
Fort William took the lead on 18 minutes when Daniel Stewart sprinted onto a ball on the left and he shot low, across keeper Kennedy, into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0.
Fort William had their tails up and Scott Kennedy did well to come off his line to sweep away a dangerous ball into the D seconds later.
Daniel Stewart went close to making it 2-0 from the same spot as his earlier goal and Cal Brown should have done better from the edge of the D after being set up by Graham Campbell.
‘Shiel fought back and Keith MacRae ghosted in at the back post on 25 minutes to send a ball from the left into the net but the effort was harshly ruled out for offside.
Paul MacKay confidently batted away a long Donald Nixon ball from midfield as the home side continued to press.
‘Shiel levelled from a set-piece on 28 minutes when Oliver MacRae slipped the ball to Duncan “DA” MacRae, who had just missed a chance from inside the D, and he sent a great waist-high drive into the net to make it 1-1.
Paul MacKay made a fine flying save from John MacRae a couple of minutes later.
However he could do nothing to prevent Duncan “DA” MacRae bulleting home a loose ball on 31 minutes to put ‘Shiel in front.
Jordan Fraser played in Keith MacRae on 42 minutes but his shot rose over the bar.
Play switched quickly to the other end of the field and Niall MacPhee played a long ball forward into the ‘Shiel D but there were no takers and Scott Kennedy watched carefully as the ball went past his right post.
The home side notched a crucial third goal a minute before the break when they worked a ball from the left inside the D. Fort keeper Paul MacKay looked as if he would clear the danger but John MacRae nipped in to force the ball home for what was a well-worked goal.
Both Finlay MacRae and Keith MacRae, after good play on the wing from his brother John MacRae, had chances early in the second half and the Fort then replaced defender David Wright with Sean Cameron.
Kinlochshiel went 4-1 up on 56 minutes when Finlay MacRae ran across goal with the ball and his shot was saved with his legs by Paul MacKay but the rebound fell nicely for John MacRae who got his second goal of the game.
Fort William attacked from the restart but Scott Kennedy saved a Bryan Simpson drive with his feet.
Then Daniel Stewart shot through a ruck of players but keeper Kennedy diverted the ball with his feet at the expense of a corner.
By this time, ‘Shiel had taken Gordie MacDonald on at wing centre with Jordan Fraser moving to wing forward and Oliver MacRae coming off.
Ally Nixon then came on for Finlay MacRae as the tie moved into the final quarter.
Kinlochshiel added a fifth goal from a set-piece on 68 minutes as Jordan Fraser ran from left to right to get onto the ball and he netted with a good strike.
Scott Kennedy saved a Graham Campbell shot with his caman, above his head, a couple of minutes later.
The ‘Shiel forward line now consisted of substitutes Ally Nixon and Calum MacLean as well as Jordan Fraser and Duncan “DA” MacRae and it was MacRae who completed his hat-trick on 74 minutes when the Fort defence failed to clear their lines and MacRae cracked the ball into the net from inside the D.
There seemed little danger when Duncan “DA” MacRae collected an Ally Nixon pass wide on the ‘Shiel right on 78 minutes, after Conor Cormack had cleared out of defence, and MacRae sent a glorious drive high into the net for his fourth goal of the afternoon which made it 7-1.
Fort William made a double switch with Calum Shepherd and Daniel Stewart coming off in favour of Lewis Morrison and Alexander MacMillan.
Kinlochshiel had the better of the closing stages without adding to their count and they now await an away day against the winners of the tie between Glenurquhart and Skye Camanachd in the Artemis MacAulay Cup quarter-finals on Saturday 11 June 2016.
Artemis MacAulay Cup - Quarter Final
Saturday 25 June 2016
Skye Camanachd 3 Kinlochshiel 4
Kinlochshiel reached the Artemis MacAulay Cup semi-finals with a 4-3 win over Skye Camanachd in their 3pm throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye Camanachd boss John MacLeod made four changes to his squad. Keeper Jamie Gannon returned after missing the previous weekend’s Camanachd Cup second round replay win over Glasgow Mid Argyll and he took over from Iain MacLeod in goal. Chris Rose, who started in defence, and Iain Nicolson came into the squad in place of John Gillies, who was on a school trip to Malta, and Allan MacLeod. Shockie MacLennan remained out injured. Kenny Campbell was included in the original squad but he failed a Friday afternoon fitness test on a knock sustained in the GMA game. Ally “Spod” MacLeod returned to the senior squad in his place and he started on the bench.
Kinlochshiel boss Colin Fraser had a full squad to choose but he did opt to start with John Don MacKenzie at wing centre with Gordie MacDonald on the bench.
Skye started well but it was ‘Shiel who went in front on 10 minutes when John MacRae forced the ball home from close range.
James Pringle drew Skye level on 18 minutes with a smart shot across the keeper from the Skye left.
John MacRae netted his second from a corner on 28 minutes to put ‘Shiel back in front and this goal came against the run of play and seemed to knock Skye.
The visitors took advantage and a superb half-volley from Jordan Fraser flew into the top corner of the net made it 3-1 on 37 minutes and it stayed that way until the break.
Skye’s James Pringle made it 3-2 with an opportunist finish from inside the D on 52 minutes but a firm Oliver MacRae drive made it 4-2 on 59 minutes.
When ‘Shiel defender Mark MacDonald turned a cross from the left into his own net, under pressure from Jordan Murchison, it made it 4-3 with 66 minutes played.
It took a great Scott Kennedy save at the death to deny Danny Morrison - who had hit the post in the first half - to keep the visitors in front and they meet Lovat in the semi-finals.
This was a really entertaining game for the supporters and both keepers – Jamie Gannon for Skye and Kinlochshiel’s Scott Kennedy – made good saves. It was end-to-end with plenty of goalmouth action on a fine playing surface.
Artemis MacAulay Cup – Semi Finals
Saturday 23 July 2016
Kinlochshiel 3 Lovat 0
Kinlochshiel are through to their first senior final after they beat Lovat 3-0 at Braeview Park.
There was a large crowd at this excellent venue for this much anticipated semi-final tie.
The early play took place in the ‘Shiel forward line but, after 5 minutes, it was at the other end of park where there were two superb displays of skilful stick work. First, Lovat’s Kevin Bartlett connected with a ball in the air to steer a shot goalwards only for keeper Scott Kennedy to produce a fantastic reflex save with his club to stop Bartlett’s effort entering the net.
A minute later, a first-time Greg Matheson shot from the edge of the D went just wide of the post.
Kinlochshiel made the breakthrough on 8 minutes. Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald had to quickly adjust his feet to keep out a slightly deflected shot on goal but the alert Keith MacRae ran in to tap the rebound into the net to make it 1-0.
Kevin Bartlett created another chance for himself on 13 minutes but Scott Kennedy managed to stretch his right foot to save.
A trademark ‘Shiel free-hit from wide on the left on 17 minutes saw full forward John MacRae sprint across the pitch from the left touchline to get onto the ball. However Lovat full back Daniel Grieve was alert, tracking MacRae’s run, and he did enough to prevent a clean strike at goal.
John MacRae wasn’t to be denied on 41 minutes though. There was a scramble at the edge of the D following a ‘Shiel corner. The ball spun up in the air and MacRae knocked it into the net to make it 2-0 and the west coast side were worthy of their two goal interval lead.
Calum MacAulay came on for Lewis Tawse at the break with Tawse departing to head on holiday.
Lovat made another switch as Drew Howie came on for Graeme MacMillan on 62 minutes. Howie went to full back, Daniel Grieve to buckshee back and Danny Kelly was pushed into the forward. Kevin Bartlett was now playing about the centre line area.
With 15 minutes remaining, a Donald Nixon rocket shot from distance produced a good save from Stuart MacDonald as ball would have dipped just under the crossbar.
Keith MacRae finally put the result beyond doubt on 77 minutes when he collected the ball 15 yards out before drilling a low shot which went under the diving Michael MacKenzie, leaving Stuart MacDonald seeing the ball late, and it went into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Lovat made a final change as Euan Ferguson came on for frustrated Lorne MacKay.
Some excellent work from Duncan “DA” MacRae – on as a replacement for Jordan Fraser - at edge of D on 85 minutes saw him shake off his marker, creating enough space to send a fierce shot goalwards but he was denied by another spectacular Stuart MacDonald save with the ball heading for roof of the net.
Kinlochshiel deserved the win and they could have added more than one goal to their tally in the second half. Lovat, especially when Kevin Bartlett was in centre line, did not possess their usual goal threat.
Best for Lovat were Stuart MacDonald, Daniel Grieve and Mark Kelly with Ryan Ferguson battling well in centre line.
‘Shiel had no weaknesses with Finlay MacRae turning in a man of the match performance and his brother Keith MacRae not far behind.
Innes Wood was the match referee.
Event Details
The 2016 Artemis MacAulay Cup between Inveraray and Kinlochshiel throws up at 2pm.
Admission is £7 with £4 concessions (includes a match programme).
If you can’t make it to Mossfield, the match will be broadcast LIVE on BBC2 Scotland from 1.45pm.