The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 7 June 2014 | |
08 June 2014 Kingussie and Inveraray are the last two teams to reach the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter finals and Fort William lifted the inaugural RBS MacTavish Plate following the shinty action on Saturday 7 June 2014.
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Second Round Lovat 1 Kingussie 2 Kingussie are through to the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter finals after they beat Lovat 2-1 at Balgate. Lovat marksman Greg Matheson missed out as he failed to recover from a leg knock picked up in the previous weekend’s 3-3 draw with Inveraray. Jamie Matheson had a back injury and Owen Ferguson was on holiday but there was a return from injury in midfield for Craig Mainland. Fraser Munro was still out for the Kings. Many speculated as to whether Ronald Ross would feature for Kingussie but he was not added to a squad which has competed well this season. Thomas Borthwick opened the scoring on 4 minutes. His shot bobbled on the surface and went under keeper Stuart MacDonalds feet to make it 1-0. Both keepers – Kingussie’s Craig Dawson and particularly Stuart MacDonald – made some good saves and Borthwick hit the post as Kingussie went into the half time break a goal to the good. Kingussie put the Lovat defence under pressure at the start of the second half and during one attack, referee John Angus Gillies penalised a Lovat defender for wild swinging inside the D and awarded Kingussie a penalty. However Thomas Borthwick did not connect the ball as he would have liked and Stuart MacDonald saved his effort quite comfortably. Stuart MacDonald made a tremendous reflex save from a Thomas Borthwick rocket shot on 60 minutes. Lovat struggled to create any clear chances and they seemed to miss Greg Matheson’s presence up front. Kingussie went 2-0 ahead on 66 minutes when Savio Genini took advantage of a mix up in Lovat defence to score. There was very late drama though as Lovat’s Kevin Bartlett pulled a goal back two minutes into stoppage time to make it 2-1. Then Lovat substitute Iain Nicolson came within a whisker of getting his side a replay at the Dell when he hit the side-netting with just seconds remaining. Kingussie deserved their victory over the piece and the result means that whilst both Newtonmore and Lovat will battle it out for the Orion Group Premiership, both sides are out of this year’s Camanachd Cup. Kingussie will now host Kyles Athletic in the quarter finals so another of the game’s more fancied sides will exit the tournament.
Inverness 1 Inveraray 6 Inveraray will face Glenurquhart in the Scottish Camanachd Cup quarter finals after they beat Inverness 6-1 at the Bught Park. Inverness were without the injured Adam MacMaster and Dougie Rankin. Somhairle MacDonald was not included. Inveraray defender Alan MacDonald served the second game of a two match ban for a points accumulation so youngster Fraser MacNicol took his place. There were places on the bench for the returning Douglas Dando and Grant Griffin after long spells out through injury. Garry MacPherson was still out whilst Euan McMurdo was working at the Macaulay Sixes so David MacPherson took over his role. Inverness were clearly up for the tie and they made the better start. And they got their reward through a well-taken Martin Davidson goal after just 4 minutes. Inveraray drew level just a couple of minutes later when David MacPherson scored to make it 1-1. Neil Campbell made it 2-1 on 10 minutes but there were no further goals during the first 45 minutes. Inveraray were on top in the second half and Peter McIntyre notched his first hat-trick for the club with three fine finishes on 48, 61 and 70 minutes. A late Chris Crawford goal made it 6-1 to complete a good day’s work for the side from the Winterton. With substitutes Douglas Dando and Grant Griffin both getting game time, David MacPherson starting and Garry MacPherson nearing a return to fitness, Inveraray’s squad is bolstered ahead of several important fixtures.
RBS MacTavish Plate Final Fort William 2 Skye Camanachd 1 (after extra-time) Fort William won the inaugural RBS MacTavish Plate Final when they beat Skye Camanachd 2-1 at Craigard, Invergarry. Marine Harvest National Division side Fort William had a first round win over Strathglass before being given a walk-over in the semi finals as Boleskine were unable to raise a team. Co-managers Victor Smith and Adam Robertson added Gary Innes to the squad which knocked Caberfeidh out of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup the previous Saturday. However Bryan Simpson was missing as he was on his stag weekend. Neil Robertson and Jack Fraser were also out through injury. Marine Harvest North Division 1 side Skye Camanachd beat Lochaber and Inverness on their way to the final. Manager John MacLeod had a full squad to choose from as he added Neil MacVicar and Kenny MacLeod to the pool which beat Bute in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup. A swift passing move on 33 minutes cut open the Skye defence and Gordie MacKinnon gave Jamie Gannon no chance with a fine strike. Skye substitute Jordan Murchison levelled with a shot high into the net on 77 minutes. Gordie MacKinnon got what proved to be the winner 5 minutes into extra time but the Fort had their keeper and captain Paul MacKay to thank for a couple of outstanding saves during the 90 minutes.
Orion Group Premiership Newtonmore 2 Lochaber 1 Newtonmore extended their lead the top of the Orion Group Premiership following their 2-1 win over bottom side Lochaber in their 3pm throw up at the Eilan. Newtonmore were still without a number of players including forward Danny MacRae. Lochaber were also short and their absentees included Barry MacDonald who sat this match out because of a points accumulation. Martin Johnstone was free to play but he will sit out the Spean Bridge’s side’s next two games for the same reason. A terrific strike from Liam Mullender, his first goal for the senior side, put Newtonmore ahead with 23 minutes played. However the home support was shocked when Donald MacRae equalised 5 minutes into the second half. Both goals were scored by players who normally play in defence. There was a more familiar look to the scoresheet on the hour mark when Glen MacKintosh scored the winner. The reigning champions are now three points clear of second place Lovat who have a game in hand.
Kyles Athletic 1 Glenurquhart 0 Kyles Athletic beat Glenurquhart 1-0 in their 3pm throw up at Tighnabruaich. Both teams were starting their second set of league fixtures and this was only Kyles second home league match in eight games. Keeper Kenny MacDonald returned for Kyles after recovering from an eye injury and forward Tomas Whyte was also back. Stuart Reid had shaken off a knock to take his place in the Glenurquhart line-up. David Zavaroni was free to play for Kyles but he will sit out their next match because of a points accumulation whilst Glen’s Andrew Corrigan also has a ban looming. The only goal of the game came after just 4 minutes when Roddy MacDonald scored to give Kyles what was only their second league win of the season. The heavy rain made it difficult for both sets of players as the game went on.
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup - Quarter Final Kyles Athletic 1 Lochside Rovers 1 (Kyles Athletic won 4-2 on penalties) Kyles Athletic continued their good start to the season when they beat Lochside Rovers in a penalty shoot-out in their noon throw up at Tighnabruaich. After two hours of shinty, goals from Roddy MacColl of Kyles Athletic and Lochside Rovers’ Daniel MacMillan saw the sides tied at a goal apiece. Referee Duncan Freshwater took the tie to a penalty shoot-out and Kyles ran out 4-2 winners.
Glenurquhart 3 Lovat 4 Lovat beat Glenurquhart 4-3 at Blairbeg. Ben Hosie put the home side ahead after 15 minutes but Thomas Fraser made it 1-1 just 4 minutes later. There was no further first half scoring but the second period was just 2 minutes old when Thomas Fraser got his second goal of the game. Fraser, who grabbed a hat-trick against Skye Camanachd in the last round, repeated the feat on 57 minutes when he made it 3-1. When referee Deek Cameron awarded the Glen a penalty on 78 minutes, Jack Hosie stepped up to convert. Youngster Scott MacKenzie made it 4-2 with what was to prove to be an important goal on 83 minutes and although Ben Hosie got his second goal a couple of minutes from time to make it 4-3, Lovat held on for the win.
Kingussie 2 Beauly 3 Beauly overcame Kingussie 3-2 in a five goal thriller at the Dell. Both teams had a mixture of youth and experience. Kingussie started Greg MacRae and Kevin Thain but Michael Clark was on the bench. First team manager Roger Cormack started in defence for Beauly in place of the injured MacKay Murray who was given a place on the bench. Kingussie started well and they went in front on 8 minutes when Kevin Thain collected a Chris Hollysong ball before eventually getting the better of marker Roger Cormack to score. Beauly suffered a blow when Dougie Blaine had to go off through injury after falling awkwardly so MacKay Murray came on earlier than he would have expected. When referee Ron Kennedy penalised home keeper Russell Menzies for stopping the ball with his foot off the ground, Ross Forbes stepped up to convert from the spot to make it 1-1 with 23 minutes played. Beauly were now enjoying more than their share of the match but it was Kingussie who went back in front on 55 minutes when Kevin Thain got his second goal of the game. Beauly drew level once more on the hour mark when Neil Brindle drove the ball through a group of players from just outside the D to make it 2-2. It was everything to play for in the final half hour and Beauly player / manager Stephen MacLean came on for the closing minutes and he put his side in front for the first time in the tie with just 4 minutes remaining. MacLean’s initial shot deflected off a Kingussie defender’s caman and spun high in the air towards goal. Russell Menzies almost kept the ball out but it crept over the line to make it 3-2. Beauly saw out the final stages to reach the semi finals.
Marine Harvest National Division Bute 0 Oban Camanachd 3 Bute’s woes continued as they went down 3-0 to table toppers Oban Camanachd in their 3pm throw up at the Meadows. The Islanders were without Brian Liddell as he served a one match following his red card against Skye Camanachd last weekend. The visitors enjoyed most of the first half but they were unable to find a way past an inspired Kevin Queen in the Bute goal until 5 minutes before the break when youngster Connor Howe scored following a corner. The Meadows pitch, which had already hosted a morning match, started to be effected by the heavy rain which hit the west of the country in the afternoon. Oban Camanachd adapted better to the conditions and they went 2-0 ahead on 71 minutes thanks to Connor Howe’s second strike of the game. However the home defence were more than aggrieved, claiming the ball had not crossed the line. Their protests were in vain as referee Robert Baxter allowed the goal to stand. Scott MacMillan sealed the win when his 25 yard effort flew high into the net to make it 3-0. With conditions worsening, referee Baxter ended the match several minutes earlier with the agreement of both camps. Oban Camanachd now go three points clear at the top of the table.
Glenorchy 1 Caberfeidh 2 Caberfeidh picked up another two points with a hard fought 2-1 win over Glenorchy at Mark Park. Caberfeidh made a change in goal with Ewan Pilcher replacing Donald Mellis. Liam Symonds put Cabers ahead after 36 minutes with the only goal of the first half. Andrew Smith drew the sides level again with a goal 4 minutes into the second half. Neil Rose restored Caberfeidh’s lead on 72 minutes when he made it 2-1. The game ended on a sour note with referee David Stafford forced to issue six red cards following two separate incidents. First, just after the visitors had scored their winner, an altercation between a player from each side them both sent off whilst a Cabers had another player receive a second yellow card for speaking out of turn to the goal judge. There was more drama as Glenorchy had a late goal disallowed for offside. A second spat on 90 minutes resulted in three more red cards – two home and one away. The players who will have a spell on the sidelines are Duncan Smith, Fulton Ronald and Kieran Gallagher from Glenorchy and Caberfeidh’s Liam Simmonds, Jack Pilcher and Blair Morrison.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Newtonmore 3 Strathglass 1 The Newtonmore reserve side leap-frog Strathglass into second place in the table following their 3-1 win over the Cannich side in their noon throw up at the Eilan. There was an early exchange of goals with Iain Robinson giving Newtonmore a 7 minute lead and Ewan Harper levelling just a couple of minutes later. However a David Fraser double on 18 and 64 minutes gave the ‘More colts an impressive 3-1 victory.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Kilmory 3 Ballachulish 4 Kilmory and Ballachulish served up seven goals at MacRae Park with Balla eventually running out 4-3 winners. Both sides had players free of suspension as Kilmory’s Alex Cunningham had served his ban and John MacDonald was free of suspension for Ballachulish. Ewan MacNeil put Kilmory ahead on 15 minutes but Balla’ built up a 4-1 half time lead, scoring four goals without reply. Grant MacKenzie on 20 minutes, Michael Slezas on the half hour make, David Grant a couple of minutes later and Lorne Brown on 40 minutes got the goals. Douglas Jenkins made it 4-2 a couple of minutes after the restart. A Craig Taylor goal a couple of minutes from time reduced Ballachulish’s lead to a single goal but they stayed 4-3 in front to take the points.
Taynuilt 5 Aberdour 5 Taynuilt moved off the bottom of the table on goal difference after they shared ten goals with second top Aberdour at the Playing Field. Early goals from Jack Kelly on 6 minutes and Kevin McKell just two minutes later gave Aberdour the advantage. When Angus Thorburn made it 3-0 on 18 minutes, the visitors looked good for the points. Fraser MacMillan pulled a goal back for Taynuilt on 32 minutes to make it 3-1 at the break. Fraser MacMillan got his second on 54 minutes to make it 3-2 only for Angus Thorburn to get another on 70 minutes which restored Aberdour’s two goal advantage. David Campbell made it 4-3 on 75 minutes but again Taynuilt hit back with Jack Kelly getting his second on 80 minutes to make it 5-3. However Willie Gilles a minute later and Stuart Scott 5 minutes from time completed a fine come-back and ensured a share of the points following a 5-5 draw.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Aberdeen University 6 Lochcarron 2 Five goals in the last 20 minutes saw Aberdeen University record a second successive league win as they beat Lochcarron 6-2 at Balgownie. The home side included former Fort William player Alex Duncan in their line-up. Lochcarron were missing several regulars including top scorer Gregor Cushnie. Fraser Stewart put Lochcarron ahead after 13 minutes but the Students player / manager Jamie Beaton levelled on 25 minutes. A Kenny Oxton own goal on 38 minutes put Lochcarron back in front and that’s the way it stayed until 20 minutes from time. David Fraser equalised for the Aberdeen side on 70 minutes. Kieran Murray put the Students in front for the first time in the match 5 minutes later. Alex Duncan made it 4-2 with just 10 minutes remaining and Jamie Beaton’s second goal on 84 minutes and Mark Fraser a couple of minutes from time made it 6-2. Aberdeen University move up to fifth place in the table, leap-frogging Skye Camanachd who they host next weekend.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Aberdour 0 Tayforth 8 Tayforth had a comfortable win over Aberdour for the second successive Saturday; this time in the league and at Silver Sands. Somhairle Fraser was their top marksman with four goals whilst Brendan Duggan and Calum Barton each bagged a brace. Tayforth are three points clear at the top of the league although second place Inveraray have a game in hand.
Bute 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 5 Glasgow Mid Argyll remain fourth after they beat Bute 5-2 in their noon meeting at the Meadows. Neil Beaton put GMA ahead on 27 minutes. Two goals just before half time gave the Glasgow side a grip of the game. Neil Beaton got his second to make it 2-0 on 41 minutes and Jack Berg added their third a couple of minutes later. Ruairidh Soane pulled a goal back for the Islanders 5 minutes into the second half only for Lewis Miller to restore the away side’s three goal cushion just a couple of minutes later. Stewart Stirling made it 4-2 on 75 minutes but a Kyle Arnott effort on 86 minutes gave GMA a 5-2 win.
Ballachulish 3 Glenorchy 2 Ballachulish go fifth after they edged out Glenorchy by the odd goal in five at Jubilee Park. Lewis Bryson and two from Scott MacDonald counted for ‘Ball whilst Martin MacKillop and Duncan Buchanan were on target for Glenorchy.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Kilmallie 11 Inverness 1 Kilmallie were too strong for Inverness, running out 11-1 winners at the Canal Parks. Donnie MacRae, Craig MacIsaac twice, a Bryan MacKay hat-trick, doubles from Martin Munro and Iain MacIntyre and a Ewan Mowat strike counted for Kilmallie. Former Glengarry player Kevin Hunter scored his first goal for Inverness. One down-side for Kilmallie was a suspected broken thumb for Connor MacIsaac but the win lifts them in to second spot in the table. |