The Saturday Shinty Snapshot – Saturday 7 September 2013 | |
08 September 2013 Newtonmore clinched their fourth successive Orion Group Premiership title, Glasgow Mid Argyll won the Marine Harvest South Division 1 trophy and the Newtonmore second team are Marine Harvest North Division 3 champions for the third year in a row following the shinty action on Saturday 7 September 2013.
Orion Group Premiership Kinlochshiel 1 Newtonmore 3 Newtonmore won their fourth consecutive Orion Group Premiership title following their 3-1 triumph over Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. Kinlochshiel had not played a game on the previous two Saturdays and manager Johnston Gill was still without injured forwards Gordie MacDonald and Fraser MacVicar as well as midfielder Graham Morrison and utility player Davie Glass. Duncan “Ach” MacRae returned after missing the 2-1 defeat to Lovat in the team’s last outing and John MacRae was also back after serving a one game suspension for a points accumulation. The ‘Shiel boss made several positional changes with Finlay MacRae dropping back to full back to mark Danny MacRae. There was a also a defensive role for Oliver MacRae whilst brothers Keith MacRae and John MacRae bolstered the midfield. Scott MacLean started in attack. Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh opted for a fixture ahead of next week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final whilst opponents Kyles Athletic took the chance to have a free Saturday. Part of manager MacKintosh’s thinking was that several of his players, including Cameron Binnie, Steven MacDonald and Fraser MacKintosh, did not play in the win over Fort William last weekend and he wanted them to get a game ahead of shinty’s big day. They all started as did captain Jamie Robinson who was back from a two match suspension. However injury continued to rule out Rory Kennedy and Chris Sellar but Drew MacDonald was fit enough to take up a place on the bench after taking a blow to the knee against Fort William last weekend. Danny MacRae put Newtonmore ahead after just 7 minutes when he turned a Blair MacKintosh corner from the right into the roof of the net. The balance of the game swung following a double point-blank save from Newtonmore keeper Michael Ritchie after 14 minutes and the ball was cleared to Steven MacDonald who found Fraser MacKintosh just inside the ‘Shiel half. MacKintosh surged forward towards the opposing goal before releasing the ball to Glen MacKintosh and he gave Scott Kennedy no chance with a clinical strike which made it 2-0. Kinlochshiel pulled a goal back a couple of minutes later when Duncan “Ach” MacRae shot low through a ruck of players to make it 2-1. Fraser MacKintosh restored Newtonmore’s two goal advantage 3 minutes from the break. Newtonmore continued to press from the start of the second half and a couple of smart Scott Kennedy saves stopped the visitors from increasing their lead. John Don MacKenzie replaced the injured Oliver MacRae for ‘Shiel whilst Newtonmore withdrew Danny MacRae and Jamie Robinson, who picked up a heel injury early in the game. Drew MacDonald and Michael Russell came on in their place. Kinlochshiel went for it in the closing stages. They pushed Keith Macrae and then Finlay MacRae into their attack. In a remarkable closing 10 minute period, Keith MacRae and then Finlay MacRae (twice) hit the Newtonmore post. However you always had the feeling that Newtonmore could have upped their performance a gear had it been required as their thoughts started to turn to next week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final. Referee Deek Cameron’s final whistle confirmed Paul John MacKintosh’s first title triumph as manager. It was ‘More’s fourth successive title and they clinched it with fourteen wins from fifteen games – their only blip was a 2-2 draw with second place Lovat on the second Saturday of the shinty season. However there was to be no trophy presentation or title celebration. That will wait for another day as Paul John MacKintosh demands that next weekend’s “Scottish” meeting with Kyles Athletic receives the club’s full attention.
Oban Camanachd 0 Fort William 1 Fort William are hanging in there in the top division’s second zone following their 1-0 over Oban Camanachd at Mossfield. As well as missing Gary Innes, Fort William were without Gordie MacDonald who was running in the annual Ben Nevis race. The only goal of the game came after 7 minutes when Bryan Simpson scored. Fort William are still in the second relegation spot. They are a point behind Kyles Athletic but the Tighnabruaich men have three matches in hand. Fort William’s remaining matches are at home to champions Newtonmore and away to second place Lovat.
Kingussie 3 Inveraray 2 Kingussie survived a late fright to beat Inveraray 3-2 in their noon throw up at the Dell. A Euan McMurdo strike late in the game gave Inveraray a 3-2 win when the sides met at the Winterton last weekend. Inveraray were several players short for their early journey north. Chris Crawford and Andrew McMurdo have been recent injury absentees whilst keeper Graham MacPherson, full back Allan MacDonald, Nicolas Crawford and Neil Campbell were also missing because of a wedding. Inveraray gave a first team debut to 14 year old Scott MacLachlan in goal. Kingussie were also short from their recognised line-up with Ronald Ross and Ryan Borthwick notable absentees. Lee Bain gave Kingussie the lead after 19 minutes and he added a second 5 minutes after the break. Young Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan, who played for the South U14 against the North U14 last year, was excellent throughout and he made some fine saves, including one from a Thomas Borthwick penalty. Kingussie gave a second half debut to their U14 captain Callum Grant. This threw up the rare scenario of two fourteen year old players – MacLachlan and Grant – being on the field at the same time during an Orion Group Premiership match. A late fight-back from Inveraray saw them draw level with goals from Lewis MacNicol on 81 minutes and a strike from player / co-manager Garry MacPherson a minute from time. These goals may have stunned Kingussie but the team fought back and Lee Bain got his second goal of the afternoon in the final minute to give the home side a 3-2 victory. Inveraray remain third with a two point advantage over fifth place Kingussie. Both sides have one match remaining.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass 0 Beauly 3 Second top Beauly beat second bottom Strathglass 3-0 at Cannich in their 6pm throw up on Friday 6 September 2013. The match was brought forward 24 hours to allow the Strathglass players and officials to attend the Women’s Cup Finals Day the following day where Strathglass Ladies were to face the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team in the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup Final. This was the fifth time that the sides had met this season and Beauly made an explosive start to the game. David MacLean put Beauly ahead after just 2 minutes and he added a second on 7 minutes. Ross Forbes made it 3-0 on 10 minutes as Beauly took control of the game. There was no further scoring and this match completed the Marine Harvest North Division 1 league programme.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Bute 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 3 Glasgow Mid Argyll were crowned Marine Harvest South Division 1 champions – the team’s first senior silverware in over 30 years - following their 3-2 win over Bute in their 3pm throw up at the Meadows. It was going to take a Bute win by a massive margin to deny GMA the trophy but George Hay’s side will be more than pleased to have recorded home and away league victories over their nearest rivals. The Glasgow side were without injured top scorer Craig Anderson. Gordon MacMillan put the home side ahead after 20 minutes but Andy Mathie drew GMA level 5 minutes later. The Islanders went back in front on 51 minutes through James Craig. However Craig was to blot his copy-book when he was sent off by referee Innes Wood following a clash with Ewan Murray. GMA capitalised on their one match advantage when Euan Forsyth made it 2-2 on 70 minutes. The winning goal came 10 minutes from time and it was GMA captain Angus MacIntosh who was on target. GMA captain Angus McIntosh was presented with the Marine Harvest South Division 1 trophy by Camanachd Association Chieftain Jock Turner and the title celebrations started before the ferry crossing back to the mainland.
Strachur 2 Taynuilt 4 Taynuilt secured the final place in the 2014 Artemis Macaulay Cup with a 4-2 win over Strachur at Strachurmore. Strachur keeper Ewen MacDonald served the second game of a two match ban. Stuart Gillies was suspended for Taynuilt and he also saw out a two match ban. Alan Duffy put the visitors two up with goals on 11 and 19 minutes. However an Angus Campbell strike on 40 minutes reduced the deficit at the break. Marc Beaton made it 3-1 on 68 minutes and although Duncan MacNicol reduced the deficit once more on 75 minutes, Taynuilt’s David Turnbull made it 4-2 with a goal a minute from time.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Glengarry 0 Newtonmore 6 It was a double league success for Newtonmore as their second team won the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title for the third consecutive season following their 6-0 win over Glengarry at Craigard. The home side were without Scott MacDonald who served the second match of a four game suspension. Daniel MacLennan was available for the home side although he is suspended for ’Garry’s last match of the season – away to Beauly at the end of the month - and their first game of next term because of a points accumulation. Neil Stewart continued to be sidelined for Newtonmore. U17 forward Sam Richardson got Newtonmore off to the best possible start with a goal in the opening minute. Calum Stewart made it 2-0 on 10 minutes and Conor Jones made it 3-0 just 5 minutes later. Sam Richardson got his second and Newtonmore’s fourth on 22 minutes to end the game as a contest. Craig MacLeod made it 5-0 on 37 minutes and Conor Jones got his second on 40 minutes to make it 6-0. There were no goals in the second half although Newtonmore knew they had done the job they had set out to do. Newtonmore captain David Fraser was presented with the Martin Harvest North Division 2 trophy by Steve Bracken from Marine Harvest.
Lovat 3 Beauly 3 Lovat and Beauly shared the points after a keenly contested local derby at Balgate. When referee Archie Ritchie penalised Ryan MacKay for an infringement inside the D and awarded Lovat a 6 minute penalty, Fraser Gallacher stepped up to beat Kyle MacDonald. Beauly got themselves ahead when James Cameron turned a Martin Davidson pass into the net on 11 minutes and then Ryan MacKay and David Groat combined to set up Martin Davidson to score a couple of minutes before half time. James Cameron then got his second goal of the game 3 minutes into the second half, following a great solo run, to make it 3-1. A close-range Fraser Gallacher goal made it 3-2 on 67 minutes but Lovat’s chances were dealt a blow when referee Archie Ritchie sent off Allan MacPherson for a foul on David Groat who was through on goal. However Lovat never gave up and former Skye Camanachd player Ian Nicolson pounced in the final minute to make it 3-3. The point cements Lovat’s second place finish in the league with a game remaining. Newly promoted Beauly are a point behind fourth place Glenurquhart with two games to go.
Skye Camanachd P Kinlochshiel P The match between Skye Camanachd and Kinlochshiel at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree was postponed as Kinlochshiel were unable to raise a team. The game has been rescheduled for Saturday 28 September 2013.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Bute 2 Ballachulish 4 Ballachulish reduced Kyles Athletic’s lead at the top of the table to four points following their 4-2 win over Bute in their noon throw up at the Meadows. David Campbell was in the Balla’ line up but he will be suspended for their next two matches - away to Aberdour and at home to Inveraray - because of a points accumulation. However he should be back for any potential league title play-off against Kyles Athletic. Lorne Brown hit a double on 30 and 40 minutes to put Balla’ two up at the break. Thomas MacMillan pulled a goal back for Bute on 54 minutes to give the Islanders hope. However Lorne Brown on 61 minutes and Duncan MacDonald on 72 minutes made it 4-1 and although Neil McKirdy netted for Bute a couple of minutes later, Balla’ saw out the rest of the game. Ballachulish now need to win their final two matches to force a title play-off against Kyles Athletic.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Kilmallie 5 Strathspey Camanachd 2 Kilmallie and Strathspey Camanachd completed the Marine Harvest North Division 3 programme with the home side winning 5-2 at the Canal Parks. Kilmallie included Liam MacDonald and he put them ahead after just 2 minutes. Robbie MacFadyen was back in the Kilmallie side after a serious head injury and he hit a brace on 11 and 40 minutes to give Kilmallie a 3-0 half time lead. Ewan Mowat made it 4-0 on 53 minutes and Kilmallie were in control with the visitors ruing some missed chances. However Strathspey pulled a goal back on 78 minutes when young Kilmallie keeper Shane Gillies turned a Lawrence Belleni corner into his own net as he tried to clear the danger. Andrew Hay then made it 4-2 on 82 minutes but Arran Sandison sealed a 5-2 Kilmallie win a couple of minutes from time. |