The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 2 March 2013 - UPDATED! | |
04 March 2013 The new shinty season started with a bang on Saturday 2 March 2013 as clubs across the country do battle for qualifying places for the new league structure which is set to be introduced from the start of the 2014 shinty season.
Orion Group Premiership Newtonmore 3 Glenurquhart 2 Orion Group Premiership champions Newtonmore began their quest for four titles in a row with a 3-2 win over Glenurquhart at the Eilan. Paul John MacKintosh has taken over from Norman MacArthur as ‘More manager and he will have to do without the services of forward Evan Menzies this season as he has moved abroad for a year. The new boss also suffered a blow with the news that Drew MacDonald has suffered a broken hand. However MacKintosh has a very powerful squad at his disposal with this year’s captain Jamie Robinson fit after missing a chunk of last season through injury. Scottish international Steven MacDonald is likely to feature in attack this year which just adds to the Eilan men’s fire-power. Glenurquhart co-managers Fraser MacKenzie and Drew McNeil will be out to build on last terms Artemis Macaulay Cup success and they have been nursing back Neale Reid who suffered a broken arm playing for the Scotland U21s in Ireland at the end of last season. However Ewan Brady has re-joined the club from Glengarry. James MacPherson’s work commitments could mean that he is not available every week and he missed this one. Defender Ally MacKintosh was a late call-off through illness and with Andrew Corrigan working, the Glen were without half of their regular defence. The sides met in a friendly at the same venue last week which ‘More won 3-0 but that had little bearing on this one, especially as Glenurquhart fielded an experimental line-up that day. The champions found it difficult to shake off a determined Glen side. Fraser MacKintosh scored the only goal of the first half on 31 minutes to give ’More the advantage at the break. MacKintosh added another 11 minutes from time. Lewis MacLennan reduced the deficit on 81 minutes only for John MacKenzie to make it 3-1 a couple of minutes later. Glenurquhart fought back once again as Ewan Brady made it 3-2 just two minutes from time but ‘More held on to take the points.
Kyles Athletic 3 Oban Camanachd 1 First half goals from Dunkie Kerr, Roddy MacDonald and Ewen Campbell gave Kyles Athletic a 3-0 interval lead against newly promoted Oban Camanachd at Tighnabruaich. Kyles Athletic gave a debut to Roberto Zavaroni who joined the club from Bute and he came on as a second half substitute as did defender Sandy MacVicar made his return from a serious hand injury during the pre-season. A further boost for Norman MacDonald and James Perlich is that playmaker Grant Irvine, who missed most of last season through injury, is nearing a competitive return. It could hardly be a tougher start for Gussie Campbell’s Oban Camanachd side in what is their return to shinty’s top flight. Campbell has been boosted by Lewis Cameron’s return to shinty after a spell playing football. David MacInnes is also back in the squad although attacker Aidan McIntyre is not likely to be available this season. Dunkie Kerr opened Kyles’ account on 8 minutes with shinty’s top division’s first goal of the season. Roddy MacDonald made it 2-0 on 39 minutes whilst Ewen Campbell all but sealed the points when he made it 3-0 just 4 minutes before the break. Kyles continued to have more of the game in the second half without adding to their tally and Scott MacMillan’s consolation strike for the Oban side 7 minutes from time made the final score 3-1.
Lochaber 0 Lovat 0 Lochaber started their Orion Group Premiership campaign with a goalless draw against Lovat at Spean Bridge. Lochaber boss Michael Delaney was without James MacRae and Donald MacRae who was working off-shore. Youngster Duncan MacKinnon will miss the early part of the season with a collarbone injury. Lovat boss Allan MacRae probably pulled off the signing coup of the pre-season by securing the services of Kevin Bartlett from Caberfeidh and the Scotland international made his debut. However MacRae will be without forward Euan Ferguson for at least the early part of the season because of work commitments. Defender Callum Cruden recovered from an ankle injury picked up in the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup win over Skye last weekend. Lovat were forced to make an early change when forward Jamie Matheson suffered a nasty knee injury as he ran for the ball. He was forced to leave the field after just 3 minutes and could, unfortunately, be out of action for some time. The first half was a tousy but fairly even affair with the home side looking the more likely to score whilst also being dealt a raft of yellow cards by referee Colin MacDonald. It was Lovat’s turn to accumulate some bookings in the second period with Lochaber having the better of the half. The home side had the chance to clinch both points from the penalty spot on 72 minutes but Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald, who had earlier made a brilliant save to deny Lochaber, stretched low to his left to save Shaun Nicolson’s low strike with his caman. It was a terrific save from the keeper who, along with young defender Michael MacKenzie, were probably Lovat’s best players. Lochaber’s buckshee back Neil MacDonald turned in a superb performance and was the best player on the park. Lochaber can take a lot from their opening game since their return to the top flight.
Inveraray 1 Fort William 0 Inveraray beat Fort William 1-0 at the Winterton. The home side have been on the search for a new manager since John Smylie stepped down at the end of last season. They will start the 2013 shinty season with senior players Garry MacPherson and Graham MacPherson sharing an interim player/manager role. Inveraray have lost experienced players Ruaridh Graham, Scott Robertson and Russell MacKinlay, who all intimated that they would retire at the end of last season. Victor Smith and Addie Robertson have taken over from Peter McIntyre at Fort William but they will have to do without some familiar faces as Bryan Simpson, Alex Duncan and Duncan Rodger have said they will not play this season whilst John MacDonald has returned to Ballachulish. Young midfielder Arran MacPhee is nearing a return from a broken collarbone and we should see more appearances from Gary Innes this season although he missed this one. Daniel Stewart was also missing which left the visitors short up front. Chris Bamber has been in good form pre-season for the Fort but Steven Stewart sat this one out as he serves a one match ban for a points’ accumulation. The match was settled by a 63 minute strike from home player / co-manager Garry MacPherson which proved to be the only goal of the game.
Kinlochshiel 2 Kingussie 4 The final top division fixture saw Kinlochshiel go down 4-2 to Kingussie at Kirkton. Home boss Johnston Gill will have to do without the services of keeper Graham Kennedy for the early part of the season as he is building a house so Scott Kennedy continues to deputise in goal. Defender Calum MacLean will also be unavailable for the first part of the season but Gill has been able to add to the squad with the signing of Inverness stalwart Davie Glass. However Glass travelled with the ‘Shiel second team for their meeting with Kingussie at the Dell. Promising youngsters Jordan Fraser and Donald Nixon are likely to see more first team action. Russell Jones and Davie Anderson have been named Kingussie co-managers and they have Thomas Borthwick back after a spell abroad. Defender Iain Borthwick has retired after suffering a series of injuries and Ronald Ross will miss the early part of the season. Russell Menzies took over in goal from Andrew Borthwick for the Kingussie pre-season programme but it was Craig Dawson who started between the posts for this one. Kinlochshiel had the better of the first half but all they had to show for it was a Duncan “Ach” MacRae goal on the stroke of half time. Louis Munro made it 1-1 on the hour mark but Finlay MacRae put ‘Shiel back in front just 5 minutes later. Lee Bain made it 2-2 on 70 minutes and the Kings went in front for the first time in the game just 3 minutes later thanks to a Paul Gow strike. Lee Bain sealed the 4-2 win with a 79 minute effort. Kingussie’s Thomas Borthwick missed a penalty and Fraser Munro struck the bar in what was a very satisfactory first outing for Kingussie co-managers Russell Jones and Davie Anderson.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Skye Camanachd 6 Inverness 1 Click on the following link to read the match report in full Skye Camanachd 6 Inverness 1
Kilmallie 4 Beauly 1 The clash between Kilmallie and Beauly at the Canal Parks lived up to its North Division 1 match of the day billing. Duncan Kelly has taken over as first team manager at Kilmallie who dropped out of shinty’s top flight at the end of last season. Kelly takes plenty experience to the role having previously managed Lochaber and the Scotland senior side. However he will have to do without Liam MacDonald for the first couple of weeks of the season as he sustained a broken hand pre-season. John Stewart is also missing through injury whilst Euan Stoddart has moved abroad. However the Blues have had good numbers at training and will difficult opponents for all teams in the division. Beauly co-managers Stephen MacLean and Iain Morrison set themselves a tough pre-season programme against top division opposition in Glenurquhart, Kingussie and Fort William and they are also serious title contenders. We can expect to see more first team action for Martin Davidson, Conor Ross and Sean Stewart who all played in the Strathdearn Cup winning second team last season. In the end, Kilmallie came away with both points from their weekend encounter thanks to a 4-1 victory. Michael Rodger put the home side ahead on 10 minutes and Mark Graham made it 2-0 just 7 minutes later. Marc MacLachlan countered for Beauly on the half hour mark only for Grant MacKenzie to restore Kilmallie’s two goal advantage 10 minutes from the interval. Michael Rodger scored the only goal of the second half from the penalty spot on 70 minutes to give Kilmallie a winning start.
Strathglass 1 Caberfeidh 2 Caberfeidh returned from Cannich with both points following a 2-1 win over Strathglass. Callum Duff and Innes Simpson have taken over from Robert Geddes in the Strathglass hot-seat. Scott Douglas returned to the club from Inverness whilst Beauly U17 keeper Josh Grant has also joined and he will provide competition for the experienced Stevie MacLauchlan. However Strathglass were rocked when defender Donald Fraser suffered a serious hamstring injury during a pre-season game against Glenurquhart and he could be absent for several weeks. Mark MacLeod will also miss the early part of the season after picking up a knee injury. Caberfeidh suffered a blow ahead of the start of the season with the news that Scottish international Kevin Bartlett has joined Orion Group Premiership side Lovat. They have also lost defender Ewen Murray who is now based in the South. Cabers will also be without Stuart Kryzanowski and Gary MacLennan who have indicated that they will not be playing shinty this term. Influential defender Brian MacDonald is struggling with injury problems and Donald MacDonald is based in the South so it could be a transitional year for the Castle Leod men. After a scoreless first half, it was Stuart MacLennan’s newly put together Caberfeidh side which took the lead through a strike from Ruairidh MacLennan on the hour mark. Arran Ross made it 2-0 15 minutes from time and although Robbie Stokes struck 7 minutes from time, it was not enough for Strathglass as Caberfeidh went on to take the points.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Taynuilt 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll were unable to break down Taynuilt so they returned home with a share of the points following a 0-0 draw. The home side were without Michael MacQueen who has joined Lochside Rovers. Mid Argyll enjoyed a morale-boosting trip to Ireland last week and they have made some interesting new additions to their squad. Ewen Murray has joined from Caberfeidh with Ben Dalgety switching from Lochcarron. The Glasgow side have also signed John Fraser from Boleskine but he broke his wrist in a pre-season friendly against Inveraray and so will be missing for the opening weeks of the season.
Glenorchy 5 Aberdour 1 Glenorchy beat Aberdour 5-1 at Mart Park. Glenorchy finished third in Marine Harvest South Division 1 last season and they will also be targeting a third place finish this term so that they qualify for the new national second tier league in 2014. Aberdour may have again finished bottom of the table last season but the club is on sound footing with a youth set-up which many clubs would be proud of. Kieran MacKay gave Glenorchy an early lead with a 3 minute strike and James Livingstone scored twice on 11 and 84 minutes with John Sartain doing like-wise on 35 and 80 minutes to seal a 5-1 victory. Former Lochcarron player Darren Coyle was on target for Aberdour.
Lochside Rovers 2 Kilmory 1 An early Diarmid MacMillan double on 10 and 15 minutes was enough to give Lochside Rovers a 2-1 win over Kilmory in Oban. The visitors were without Bruce Johnston because of a suspension carried forward from the end of last season. Duncan MacBrayne netted for Kilmory 3 minutes from time but Lochside Rovers, who has Ewan MacCorquodale red carded by referee Daniel MacRae, held on to take the points.
Oban Celtic 2 Strachur 0 Oban Celtic beat Strachur 2-0 in Oban thanks to goals from Davie Ferguson on 40 minutes and Alan MacInnes on the stroke of full time. The home side are without Gavin Stobbart who has returned to Oban Camanachd. Strachur finished just one place and two points behind Oban Celtic in the league last season.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Glenurquhart 0 Newtonmore 5 Reigning champions Newtonmore made a winning start to the season with a 5-0 triumph over Glenurquhart at Blairbeg. Iain MacLeod’s Glen side will continue to be a strong mixture of youth and experience this season with both these sides starting as early title favourites. Newtonmore were without defender Brett Munro who has moved abroad and Conor Jones was suspended. Managers Cammy MacDonald and Glen Tonkin are likely to give more game time to North U14 forward Sam Richardson and another impressive youngster, Craig Ritchie this term. Martin Hall has been another valuable addition to their squad after making a scoring, pre-season return to shinty after a spell away from the game. Mark MacDonald got More’s opener on 8 minutes with Calum Stewart making it 2-0 just 4 minutes later. Sam Richardson gave the visitors a 4-0 interval lead with a double on 20 and 35 minutes. Calum Stewart got his second 5 minutes into the second half to give the champions a solid start to the season.
Kingussie 3 Kinlochshiel 3 Kingussie and Kinlochshiel shared the points with a 3-3 draw at the Dell. There are changes to Michael Falconer’s Kingussie side as several of the club’s promising youngsters such as Rory MacKeachan, Bob MacGregor, Jake MacPherson and Savio Genini have been promoted to the first team squad. ‘Shiel were without the services of Steven Isles who has moved abroad and regular full back Scott Kennedy who was between the posts for the first team. However they included new signing from Inverness, Davie Glass. A Rory Borthwick double and a Michael Clark effort counted for the home side whilst an Aedan MacRae brace and one from Scott MacLean earned the visitors a share of the points.
Lovat 6 Skye Camanachd 0 Click on the following link to read the match report in full Lovat 6 Skye Camanachd 0
Fort William 1 Beauly 2 Fort William went down 2-1 against Beauly to An Aird. Fort William will turn to their youth system this season as some regulars move up to the first team. Beauly were promoted after winning North Division 3 and the Strathdearn Cup last season. Similarly, several of their 2012 team are likely to feature in the first team this term. Jordan Keil was on target after just 5 minutes to give Beauly the lead. Youngster Alexander Cameron went one goal better than his dad Astie Cameron ever managed when he levelled for the Fort after 65 minutes. However Beauly were not to be denied and William Ferguson gave them both points with a goal 10 minutes from time.
Glengarry 2 Aberdeen University 0 Glengarry welcomed Aberdeen University to Craigard. Glengarry are without Ewan Brady this season as he has returned to Glenurquhart. Aberdeen University fielded a changed side with keeper Terry Stebbings and former Skye Camanachd duo Kenny MacLeod and Kieron Roberts no longer in their ranks. Steven Cameron made an instant impression on his return from injury with an opening minute goal. Arran Clark added a second 9 minutes from time.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Tayforth 0 Kyles Athletic 7 A David Martin hat-trick helped Kyles Athletic to a 7-0 win at Tayforth. Chris Moss, youngster Scott MacDonald, the more experienced Roddy MacColl and another colt Max Carr completed the scoring for Kyles. The victory make Kyles Athletic the early league leaders.
Ballachulish 5 Bute 0 Duncan MacDonald grabbed a hat-trick as Ballachulish beat Bute 5-0 at Jubilee Park. Ballachulish have completed impressive pre-season preparations with former Lovat player Craig Munro as their new manager. They have been boosted by the return of former Fort William player John MacDonald who is back with his home club and Scott Henderson returns after spending last season with Fort William. David Campbell is also back at the club after a spell with Newtonmore but injury will rule him out of the opening games. David Kilpatrick’s Bute side started as under-dogs and they had several debutants in their squad. Duncan MacDonald got the opener on 8 minutes and he added a second on 16 minutes. Former Glenorchy player Lorne Brown made it 3-0 on 41 minutes and Scott Henderson’s strike a couple of minutes into the second half gave Ballachulish a four goal cushion. Duncan MacDonald completed his hat-trick on 50 minutes to make it 5-0.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 Inveraray 6 Inveraray returned from Yoker with both points following a 6-0 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll. GMA finished bottom of the table last season with Inveraray two places and seven points better off. The visitors were boosted by Russell MacKinlay’s presence and he grabbed a hat-trick with Scott Robertson getting a double and Ross Anderson bagging the other.
Aberdour 1 Col Glen 3 Tayforth had home advantage against Kyles Athletic in Fife. Both sides had big home wins when the clubs met last season. Aberdour celebrate their 40th year this season with several events planned throughout the year. A Stuart MacKellar hat-trick gave Col Glen a 3-1 in this one with John MacLellan replying for Aberdour.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Lochcarron 1 Lochbroom 4 There was a derby match at Battery Park where Lochcarron went down 4-1 to Lochbroom. Lochcarron have dropped to one club this season as they rebuild for the future. They will be managed by veteran Gregor Cushnie and club President Kenny Murray. Former Kinlochshiel player Neil Fraser is Lochbroom’s danger-man and he has been on target already this pre-season. He showed his worth by putting the visitors ahead on 13 minutes. Lorn Hughes made it 2-0 on 28 minutes and Lochbroom took this lead into the break. John Morrison made it 3-0 on 75 minutes and although Iain MacKenzie pulled a goal back 5 minutes later, Neil Fraser got his second on 85 points to confirm Lochbroom’s win.
Strathspey 1 Lochaber 3 A Pat Toal double helped Lochaber to a 3-1 win over Strathspey at Freuchie Park. Strathspey had a morale-boosting pre-season 3-3 draw with Kingussie. The Lochaber reserves are managed this year by former Spean Bridge first team boss and former Scotland Head Coach Ally Ferguson. Ferguson also looks after the club’s U17 side so expect several of the club’s promising youngsters to feature for the reserves this season. Keith Neville got Lochaber’s other goal whilst JJ Gray was on target for Strathspey.
Caberfeidh 1 Kilmallie 5 Peter McIntyre and Brian MacKay got doubles as Kilmallie beat Caberfeidh 5-1 at Castle Leod. Cabers won’t be able to call on the services of veteran Archie Ritchie this season as he has joined the ranks of Camanachd Association referees. The sides met on the opening day of last season when a Nick Lavin double gave Kilmallie a 2-0 win and they also won 4-1 at Castle Leod later in the year. The first half looked set to end all-square until Peter McIntyre slotted the ball home on 41 minutes to give Kilmallie the lead. Brian MacKay made it 2-0 a couple of minutes into the second half whilst Peter McIntyre added his second and Kilmallie’s third on 55 minutes. Trevor Innes pulled a goal back for the home side 2 minutes later but Brian MacKay’s second on 69 minutes and Donnie Campbell’s strike 8 minutes from time gave Kilmallie a 5-1 win.
Boleskine 5 Lewis Camanachd 0 A Ewen Fraser brace helped Boleskine to a 5-0 win over Lewis Camanachd in their 1pm throw up at Farr. Boleskine full back Graham Black was suspended after receiving a red card against Beauly towards the end of last season. Iain Sinclair took over as Lewis manager from Paul Duke who has been named as the Islanders club captain. Lewis had full back Daniel Gallagher back following an ankle injury sustained in a pre-season meeting with Lochbroom. Ewen Fraser put Boleskine ahead after 8 minutes and Raymond Robertson added a second on 15 minutes. Craig Pirrie’s 27 minutes strike gave the home side a 3-0 lead at the break and Ewen Fraser’s second on 62 minutes and Lewis Smith’s 69 minute strike clinched a 5-0 victory.
Inverness 8 Strathglass 0 The Inverness and Strathglass second teams battled it out at the Bught Park with the home side cruising to an 8-0 win. These sides finished in the bottom two places in the division last year and Strathglass will continue to give youth a chance this season. With Allan MacLeod stepping up to take charge of the Inverness second team, recently appointed second team assistant manager Kenny Loades now finds himself in the manager’s seat. Craig Girvan is available again for Inverness after a spell playing basketball and the club gave debuts to around half a dozen youth players during the pre-season. Work commitments meant James Cameron was unable to travel with the Inverness first team to play Skye but he appeared for the reserves and scored five times. George MacInnes bagged a double whilst Reece Munro got the other. |