The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 8 March 2014 | |
09 March 2014 The wet weather again hampered the fixture list on the second weekend of the new shinty season with only eight of the scheduled twenty six matches going ahead on Saturday 8 March 2014.
Orion Group Premiership Newtonmore 5 Kyles Athletic 1 Newtonmore confirmed that they are the team to beat in shinty’s top division with a 5-1 win over Kyles Athletic at the Eilan. It has been a tough start to the season for Kyles. Last weekend they travelled north to Balgate before going down 2-1 to 2013 Orion Group Premiership runners up Lovat. This weekend they were due to host reigning champions Newtonmore at Tighnabruaich. However an unplayable field saw the fixture reversed to the Eilan. Newtonmore gave Evan Menzies a run with their second team last weekend however his future is with the senior side and his return from a period abroad adds further fire-power to what is an already potent attack. Kenny MacDonald returned in goals for Kyles after missing the Lovat game through work commitments. Newtonmore went in front on 11 minutes thanks to an Evan Menzies goal. Danny MacRae made it 2-0 on 19 minutes and when Glen MacKintosh added a third on 27 minutes, Kyles looked consigned to a second successive league defeat. However the Tighnabruaich side, with Donald Irvine pushed into the middle of the park, came much more into the contest in the second half, asking several questions of the home side. However it was ‘More who extended their advantage when Evan Menzies’ second goal caught out Kenny MacDonald on 72 minutes. Danny MacRae got his second on 81 minutes to make it 5-0. Kyles continued to fight their corner until the end and Robbie MacLeod scored with practically the last hit of the game to make it 5-1. This is a great start to Newtonmore’s quest for five successive titles and Kyles showed in the second half that there will be more to come from them in the weeks ahead.
Kingussie 1 Lovat 3 Lovat’s great start to the season continued as they beat Kingussie 3-1 at the Dell to top the Orion Group Premiership. The home side were without the suspended Louis Munro and John Gibson who pulled his hamstring just ahead of the game. Newly appointed Scotland Head Coach Ronald Ross was also on the sidelines. Greg Matheson will have caught Ross’ eye as he netted the opening goal on 6 minutes. Ryan Ferguson made it 2-0 on 17 minutes and Graeme MacMillan added a third on 26 minutes as Lovat turned on the style with a brilliant first half performance. Former Skye Camanachd player Iain Nicolson came on in place of Lewis Tawse for Lovat at half time. The home side came out all guns blazing in the second half and Lee Bain pulled a goal back just 3 minutes after the restart. But there was to be no come-back as Lovat fought hard to hold on to their lead. Lovat’s Lorne MacKay received his marching orders from referee Billy Wotherspoon on 82 minutes. MacKay had earlier been booked for something he said and he collected a second yellow card after hitting out at James MacLean.
Kinlochshiel P Inveraray P The match between Kinlochshiel and Inveraray was postponed as Kirkton failed a Saturday morning pitch inspection and switching the game to the Winterton was not an option either.
Lochaber P Glenurquhart P The match between Lochaber and Glenurquhart at Spean Bridge was postponed to allow the Lochaber players to attend the funeral of former player and former second team coach Robert Whyte.
Marine Harvest National Division Beauly 1 Kilmallie 5 Kilmallie were deadly in front of goal as they beat Beauly 5-1 at Braeview Park. With the Canal Parks ruled unplayable on Friday, the fixture was reversed. Beauly added Ryan Tillman, Martin Davidson and Calum Morrison to the squad which beat Glasgow Mid Argyll a week earlier and they started with a strong wind at their backs. Kilmallie were without the services of the injured John Stewart whilst 16 year old Shane Gillies has replaced Kevin Toye in goal. The home side started well but they came up against a resolute Kilmallie back line. Kilmallie took the lead on 21 minutes when Michael Rodger cut in from the left and crashed the ball into the roof of the net to score a brilliant individual goal. Kilmallie doubled their advantage just a couple of minutes later. The damage was again done down the Kilmallie left and this time Mark Graham slotted and angled drive past Kyle MacDonald to make it 2-0. Beauly fought back and just before the break, Kilmallie keeper Shane Gillies saved well under the bar from former Uist Camanachd player Ewen Campbell. Shane Gillies was in the thick of the action again, early in the second half when he saved from Jack MacDonald. Kilmallie extended their lead on 63 minutes when Martin Munro got on the end of a knock-down to slam the ball home. The home side eventually pulled a goal back on 72 minutes when David MacLean, who scored twice against GMA last week, broke down the left and scored from a tight angle. Any hopes the home support had of a late fightback were thwarted a couple of minutes later when a Kilmallie free-hit found full centre and captain Liam MacDonald in space and he shot home to make it 4-1. With just 4 minutes remaining, home keeper Kyle MacDonald misjudged a Mark Graham effort from distance and the goal sealed a 5-1 win. Kilmallie manager Duncan Kelly was more than pleased with his team’s all-round performance and they deserved their victory.
Glenorchy P Caberfeidh P An unplayable field at Dalmally led to the postponement of the game between Glenorchy and Caberfeidh.
Fort William P Glasgow Mid Argyll P The meeting between Glasgow Mid Argyll and Fort William was originally scheduled for Yoker but an unplayable pitch saw the fixture reversed to An Aird. However An Aird failed a Saturday morning pitch inspection so the match was postponed.
Oban Camanachd P Bute P There was disappointment for Oban Camanachd and Bute with their match postponed on Saturday morning as Mossfield was unplayable.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Kingussie 1 Newtonmore 8 Five goals from Calum Stewart helped Newtonmore to an emphatic 8-1 Reserve Badenoch derby win over Kingussie. Following the rescheduling of the Newtonmore first team’s meeting with Kyles Athletic to the Eilan, the second team clash Kingussie and Newtonmore was moved to Dunbarry. Both teams had opening day wins: Kingussie beat the Glenurquhart second team 4-1 whilst Newtonmore were 6-1 victors against the Inverness first team. Kingussie included Ally MacLeod and Michael Clark in a strong centre line whilst Newtonmore had Cameron McNiven back from suspension and he started on the bench. Newtonmore won the toss and played with the wind at their backs in the first half. They went in front on 8 minutes when Calum Stewart opened his account, shooting low into the net. Chris Sellar made it 2-0 on 11 minutes and ‘More captain Conor Jones fired home a long range effort on 17 minutes to make it three. Kingussie veteran Michael Clark pulled a goal back with a deft finish on 19 minutes after a Kevin Thain attempt from a free hit had been deflected onto the crossbar. However Newtonmore were relentless and Chris Sellar got his second goal of the game on the half hour mark and John MacKenzie made it 5-1 a couple of minutes later. Newtonmore pulled Calum Stewart back to wing centre as they prepared to hit against the elements in the second half. However the same pattern of play continued. John MacKenzie put a blistering drive past Russell Menzies for his second which made it 6-1 on 51 minutes and Calum Stewart got his second just 4 minutes later to make it 7-1. Calum Stewart the rounded off the scoring when he made completed his hat-trick to make it 8-1 on 85 minutes. Newtonmore become early Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders and their next outing is a trip to Cannich to play title hopefuls Strathglass.
Glenurquhart 5 Beauly 0 With the Beauly first team match against Kilmallie rescheduled to Braeview Park, the Greens second team meeting with Glenurquhart was moved to Blairbeg. Glenurquhart added Euan Lloyd and Stuart Reid to the squad which lost to Kingussie on the opening day of the season whilst Calum Smith made his first appearance of the season at full centre. Beauly, with Iain Morrison taking the squad, went into the game without Martin Davidson, Ryan Tillman and Calum Morrison, who were all called up by the first team but MacKay Murray was included. Glenurquhart stamped their authority on the game from the start and Raymond Robertson struck on 4 minutes when he slotted a Jack Hosie cut-back into the roof of the net to open the scoring. Robertson got his and his sides’ second on 10 minutes when he finished off good inter-play between Jack Hosie and Euan Lloyd. Raymond Robertson turned provider when he found Jack Hosie on 18 minutes and he beat Beauly keeper Josh Grant from close range to make it 3-0. Beauly came back into the game but it was Glenurquhart who added gloss to the scoreline with two late Jack Hosie goals. The young forward capitalised on a defensive slip on 76 to make it 4-0 and just 5 minutes from time, Hosie completed his hat-trick and seal a 5-0 victory.
Lovat 1 Inverness 6 A powerful first half performance was enough to give Inverness a 6-1 win over the Lovat second team at Balgate. Inverness gave a debut to former Strathglass and Beauly player Innes Simpson and he played the first half. The visitors started with a strong wind at their backs in the first half and they stormed into a 4-0 lead after just 17 minutes. Charlie MacDonald put Inverness in front after just 2 minutes and Liam Girvan added a second a couple of minutes later with his first goal since his return from Glenurquhart. Former Skye Camanachd player Dougie Rankin made it 3-0 on 10 minutes and Liam Girvan got his second after 17 minutes. Charlie MacDonald completed his hat-trick with late first half strikes on 42 and 44 minutes to give Inverness an unassailable 6-0 first half advantage. The young Lovat side had the elements in their favour in the second half and they came more into the game. However all they had to show for their efforts was a Rory Campbell penalty conversion after referee Archie Ritchie posted to the spot. Lovat’s 13 year old substitute Cameron MacMillan went within a whisker of scoring with a shot that came back off the inside of the post. Inverness midfielder Craig Nicolson required stitches to a head cut after the game.
Strathglass P Skye Camanachd P The match between Strathglass and Skye Camanachd was switched to Cannich on Friday afternoon, with Pairc nan Laoch deemed unplayable. However Cannich failed a Saturday morning pitch inspection so the game was postponed.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Aberdour P Taynuilt P The meeting between Aberdour and Taynuilt was postponed as Silver Sands was unplayable.
Kilmory P Kyles Athletic P MacRae Park was ruled unplayable so the game between Kilmory and Kyles Athletic was postponed.
Lochside Rovers P Ballachulish P An unplayable field in Oban led to a Friday postponement for the clash between Lochside Rovers and Ballachulish.
Strachur P Oban Celtic P The meeting between Strachur and Oban Celtic was postponed on Friday as the field as Strachurmore was not playable.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Boleskine 1 Kinlochshiel 6 Kinlochshiel beat Boleskine 6-1 at Farr. The venue was switched earlier in the week as ‘Shiel’s Kirkton pitch was unplayable. With Kinlochshiel’s first team game postponed, second team manager took the chance to field Paul MacRae and Donald Nixon with Jordan Fraser taking a place on the bench. Duncan “DA” MacRae, doubles from Neil Fraser and Aedan MacRae and an Alasdair Nixon strike all counted for the visitors with Lewis Smith on target for Boleskine. This is only the second match played in this division during the opening two weeks of the shinty season.
Aberdeen University P Glengarry P The meeting between Aberdeen University and Glengarry was a late call-off with the pitch at Balgownie deemed unplayable by Aberdeen Sports Village after passing an earlier pitch inspection.
Fort William P Lochaber P The derby clash between Fort William and Lochaber was postponed to allow the players to attend the funeral of former Lochaber, Kilmallie and Glengarry player Robert Whyte.
Lochcarron P Skye Camanachd P The west coast derby between Lochcarron and Skye Camanachd was postponed when Battery Park failed a Friday evening pitch inspection.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Tayforth 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 A Steve Thomson goal was enough to give Tayforth the points and a 1-0 win against Glasgow Mid Argyll at Musselburgh. The game was played in difficult, windy conditions.
Aberdour P Inveraray P An unplayable field at the Winterton meant the match between Aberdour and Inveraray was switched to Silver Sands with a noon throw up. However Silver Sands was also unable to host the game so the match was postponed.
Bute P Col Glen P The game between Bute and Col Glen was postponed on Friday as the Meadows remained unplayable.
Ballachulish P Glenorchy P The match between shinty’s new reserve sides, Ballachulish and Glenorchy, was postponed on Friday as Jubilee Park was deemed unplayable.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Caberfeidh W/O v Kilmallie Caberfeidh were awarded the points when Kilmallie were unable to field a team for their trip to Castle Leod.
Strathspey Camanachd P Lewis Camanachd P The 1pm throw up between Strathspey Camanachd and Lewis Camanachd at Grantown Grammar School had to be postponed. The visitors were unable to travel as the inclement weather meant the Saturday morning ferry sailing from Stornoway was cancelled. This match was to have been filmed for the Camanachd Association YouTube site.
(This round up will be updated as more information becomes available) |