The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 12 September 2015 | |
13 September 2015 Skye Camanachd will play top flight shinty next season for the first time since 2002 thanks to victory over Kilmallie to win the 2015 Marine Harvest National Division and Col Glen secured the Marine Harvest South Division 2 title following the shinty action on Saturday 12 September 2015.
Marine Harvest Premiership Glenurquhart 0 Newtonmore 4 League leaders Newtonmore stay out in front after they beat Glenurquhart 4-0 at Blairbeg. The match had been postponed a fortnight earlier as the home side were forced to re-turf part of their pitch following a Highland Games event. Newtonmore started with Steven MacDonald at full back and Norman Campbell at full forward. The rest of their team was along usual lines with Rory Kennedy at buckshee back and Cameron Binnie in midfield. Glenurquhart keeper Stuart MacKintosh was missing so David MacFadyen again deputised between the sticks. John Barr was back from injury and he started at buckshee back but there was no Eddie Tembo, Andrew Corrigan or Euan Lloyd whilst Iain MacLeod travelled with the second team. Glen MacKintosh gave Newtonmore the lead after 25 minutes when he produced a great finish from a tight angle. ‘More had included full back Norman Campbell in the more unusual position of full forward and he found space to make it 2-0 on 35 minutes. Glenurquhart had chances to reduce the deficit but their defence were finding it difficult to contend with the sheer physical strength of the Newtonmore forward line. Fraser MacKintosh got his name of the score-sheet when he thumped the ball into the roof of the net from a narrow angle to make it 3-0 on 70 minutes. Norman Campbell got his second goal of the game following a corner on 78 minutes to make it 4-0 and ensure that Glenurquhart would not repeat their RBS MacTavish Cup win over Newtonmore. Newtonmore remain a point ahead of second place Kyles Athletic and they have a game in hand.
Fort William 2 Kyles Athletic 5 Kyles Athletic stay second in the league after beating Fort William 5-2 in their 3pm throw up at An Aird. The match doubled-up as the inaugural contest for the Drew Ferguson Memorial Trophy, in memory of the former Fort William and Scotland U21 international. Fort William’s Steven Stewart was free of suspension but didn’t play so Scott Knox started in defence and Ewen Campbell was free to play after serving the final game of his ban in the Fort William second team’s match earlier in the day against the Beauly second team. Defender Jamie Cruickshank was sidelined after suffering a broken finger when playing for the North U21 against the South last weekend and Graham Campbell, Ryan Campbell and Calum Shepherd were all missing. Bryan Simpson started for the Fort despite playing the whole reserve game against Beauly and all four home substitutes – Seumas Gall, Padraig Gall, Mark Lawrie and Bobby MacMillan – all also featured in the earlier game. Kyles refused the chance of a free-Saturday ahead of this coming Saturday’s SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final meeting with Lovat. Full centre David Zavaroni and forward Dunkie Kerr both returned after missing the 1-0 win over Kinlochshiel in the team’s last outing three weeks earlier. However Andrew King was rested as he had a slight groin injury. King travelled with the squad and was their goal judge for the day. Ross Macrae started in defence. Kyles got off to a blistering start and Roddy MacDonald found space in the home defence to put his side ahead after 2 minutes with Grant Irvine added a second just 60 seconds later. Fort William had a chance to reduce the deficit on 9 minutes when referee Ron Kennedy awarded them a penalty after Callum Miller committed a foul inside the D/ However John Whyte saved well from Duncan Rodger’s spot-hit. However Fort William fought back and Gordie MacKinnon made it 2-1 on 13 minutes. MacKinnon collected possession some distance from goals he ran with the ball past Thomas Whyte. MacKinnon continued his run before checking back past Whyte again and he then sent a fierce drive, low into the net past John Whyte. An Alexander MacMillan shot from distance on 16 minutes crashed back off the Kyles crossbar with the Fort claiming the ball had crossed the line. Fort William levelled on 20 minutes. There was a tussle in the Kyles box and the ball was passed to Gordie MacKinnon and he had the composure to roll it past John Whyte from wide on the left to make it 2-2. Kyles got their noses back in front when Roddy MacDonald got his second on 28 minutes. The goal was similar to MacDonald’s opener as he gathered a Grant Irvine pass and he scored from the edge of the D and the Tighnabruaich side carried the 3-2 lead into the break. Duncan Rodger went close to grabbing a Fort William equaliser on 57 minutes. Kyles wing centre Innes MacDonald limped off on 58 minutes to be replaced by Roberto Zavaroni who joined the forward line with Dunkie Kerr dropping back to wing centre. A Gordie MacKinnon shot from distance on the hour rattled the post with keeper Whyte beaten and Duncan Rodger should have done better with the rebound. Fort William Seamus Gaul came on for Alexander MacMillan on 73 minutes. With 10 minutes remaining, the impressive Padraig MacNeil replaced Ewen Campbell. Kyles finished strongly though and they scored two late goals to add gloss to the win. Robbie MacLeod lobbed a free-hit from left wing centre, diagonally over the Fort defence to Grant Irvine on 82 minutes, Irvine had stolen into space on the right of Kyles forward line and he allowed the ball to drop in front of him before turning and crashing a shot into the net from 20 yards out to make it 4-2. Dunkie Kerr burst forward to round off the 5-2 win with a goal 3 minutes from time when he punished the Fort William defence for failing to clear a cross from the left and he collected a pass from Roddy MacDonald before scoring. Best for Fort William were their defence who worked tirelessly against a lot of Kyles pressure and they competed well against the slick interchanges Between Roddy MacDonald and Grant Irvine. Gordie MacKinnon was their main man and he was very unlucky not to have scored more goals. Kyles were well served by Grant Irvine and Roddy MacDonald who ran effortlessly throughout the 90 minutes and their slick and defence splitting passes was very impressive. Robbie MacLeod who put in an amazing amount of work and he too knows how to pass the ball. Kyles remain a point behind league leaders Newtonmore although they have played a game more and their full attention will now turn to this coming weekend’s Scottish Final against Lovat.
Oban Camanachd 1 Kinlochshiel 1 Oban Camanachd picked up another vital point in their battle to beat the drop when they drew 1-1 with Kinlochshiel. With Mossfield under wraps ahead of next weekend’s 2015 SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final, the game was played at the Taynuilt Sports Field with a 12.30pm throw up. Oban Camanachd’s Andrew MacCuish was out after suffering a broken finger when playing for Lochside Rovers last weekend. Kinlochshiel were missing Donald Nixon through illness so John MacRae started at full centre. Duncan “Ach” MacRae was on holiday. Oban Camanachd chose to play with the wind at their backs in the first half and they started well with Scott Kennedy saving with his feet from Daniel Cameron after 10 minutes whilst at the other end, Gavin Stobbart stopped a 16 minute Keith MacRae shot with his feet before clearing. Mark MacDonald did well to close down Malcolm Clark and deny him a shooting chance as the Oban side responded. Oliver MacRae finished off a good move to fire ‘Shiel in front on 26 minutes. The goal came following some good play from wing centre Gordie MacDonald and he slipped a pass to Oliver MacRae at the edge of the D and MacRae struck the ball low and hard into the net to make it 1-0. Gavin Stobbart made a fine save from Jordan Fraser on 40 minutes and the Kirkton side had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break. Stobbart again thwarted Jordan Fraser and Keith MacRae early in the second half. Scott Kennedy was then called back into action as he stopped a Daniel Cameron drive. Shiel boss Colin Fraser gave promising youngster Jonny MacAskill a debut from the substitutes’ bench as he came on for Duncan “DA” MacRae and Colin MacDiarmid took over from Oliver MacRae who had picked up a booking which would trigger a suspension. And that’s the way it stayed until 3 minutes from time when Malcolm Clark scored his fifth goal in the last five league matches following a well-worked move. Daniel Cameron played the ball up the line to Aidan MacIntyre and he squared the ball to Daniel MacVicar on the D. MacVicar moved possession to the right hand side where Malcolm Clark was in space and he crashed the ball into the top corner of the net to make it 1-1 to the delight of the home support. Oban Camanachd are now two points ahead of bottom side Inveraray and they have three games in hand. Iain Hay’s side have their sights set on eighth place Kingussie who they trail by four points but they have four games in hand. Kinlochshiel draw level on points with sixth place Lovat.
Kingussie 4 Inveraray 1 Kingussie came out on top with a 4-1 win over Inveraray in their crucial meeting at the Dell. This was Kingussie’s first fixture since they lost out to Kyles Athletic by the odd goal in five, five weeks earlier. Kingussie were along usual lines whilst Inveraray’s Ruairidh Graham missed out because of a one-match suspension for passing the disciplinary points threshold. There was no Fraser MacNichol and John Kennedy, Chris Crawford and Grant Griffin remained out. There were call-ups for youngsters Allan Cameron and Robert Wood with Scott MacLachlan remaining in goal in place of the retired Graham MacPherson and Fraser Watt in attack. The first half on a perfect Dell pitch ended goalless although Kingussie passed up several chances to go in front. However Ryan Borthwick made no mistake when he put the home side ahead a minute after the restart following a good move. Kingussie could have gone further ahead before Fraser Watt punished them with an equalising goal on the hour mark. Kingussie got themselves back in front when a good strike from Louis Munro was saved by Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan but the ball spun into the net to make it 2-1 with 72 minutes played. Savio Genini finished well on his back-hand a couple of minutes later to give the Kings a 3-1 cushion. Kingussie relaxed and played some nice shinty in the closing stages and Ryan Borthwick got his second just 6 minutes from time when he rounded keeper MacLachlan before tapping the ball into the net to make it 4-1. Kingussie have now extended their advantage over second bottom Oban Camanachd to four points but they have played four games more.
Marine Harvest National Division Kilmallie 2 Skye Camanachd 4 Skye Camanachd will play top flight shinty for the first time since 2002 after they twice came from behind to beat Marine Harvest National Division title challengers Kilmallie 4-2 at the Canal Parks. Kilmallie manager Mark MacPherson was without Stephen MacAllister so Iain Robertson started at full centre. Skye boss John MacLeod made two changes to the squad which beat Glasgow Mid Argyll in the league a fortnight earlier. Danny Morrison and Kenny Campbell both returned to the starting line-up in place of Chris Rose and David MacInnes. Both Skye and Kilmallie went into the match with two league matches remaining. Skye topped the table, holding a two point advantage over second place Kilmallie and they knew a win would give them the title. However any other outcome would mean the title destination wouldn’t be settled until the last game of the season. The home side led 2-1 at the break after a fairly even first half. Liam MacDonald found space and he put Kilmallie ahead after 22 minutes but Will Cowie levelled just 3 minutes later following a Jordan Murchison free-hit after Shockie MacLennan had been fouled around 15 yards from goal. Cowie controlled the ball at the back post it and although his first attempt was blocked, he managed to swivel and drive the ball on his back-hand across the goal into the far away bottom corner of the net. John Stewart restored Kilmallie’s advantage with a really good finish on 33 minutes and that’s the way it stayed until the break. Skye came out fighting in the second half and Iain Nicolson put them back on level terms just 3 minutes after the restart. The move started in the centre of the park when some good play from Gilleasbuig MacDonald won possession and he played the ball down the line to Shockie MacLennan who in turn switched the play to the other side of the park. Iain Nicolson beat his man to the high ball and from around 20 yards out. Nicolson turned his opponent as the ball dropped and he sent a lovely drive into the bottom left hand corner of the net to make it 2-2. Skye, for whom midfielder Allan MacKinnon was terrific throughout, had keeper Iain MacLeod to thank for a superb double-save as the outcome remained in the balance. Skye took the lead for the first time in the match on 72 minutes. Jordan Murchison ran onto a rebound off keeper Shane Gillies and he cracked a shot from a tight angle on the right. The ball hit the keeper on the shoulder before dropping on the goal-line. There was a huge melee and Shockie MacLennan managed to force the ball home although the keeper may have got the final touch. Kilmallie fought hard but Skye’s fitness helped them finish strongly and Jordan Murchison, who has been a prolific scorer for the side all season, sent a terrific low drive into the corner of the net to make it 4-2 with just seconds remaining. The goal came from a free-hit on the left hand side of the park. Murchison peeled away to the back post where Will Cowie spotted him in space and played the free-hit towards him. Murchison turned his man and hit a back-hand shot into the far away bottom corner of the net from around the penalty spot. There wasn’t much time before referee Lachie Wood, who controlled the match well throughout, blew the final whistle, much to the delight of the large travelling Skye support. Skye Camanachd will be presented with the Marine Harvest North Division trophy following their final league match of the season against Beauly at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 26 September 2015. Kilmallie will be tough opponents for whoever eventually occupies the Marine Harvest Premiership play-off spot. However with just one league match remaining, they will have to contend with the difficulties associated with the play-off game not taking place until the end of November.
Beauly and Glasgow Mid Argyll shared the points following a 2-2 draw at Braeview Park. Beauly’s resources were stretched as they missed players through injury and unavailability. GMA’s Ewen Murray was included as he was free of his one-game ban but Mark Bain was forced to sit this one out as his booking against Skye Camanachd a couple of weeks earlier took him through the disciplinary points threshold. The Glasgow side were also boosted by Finlay MacMillan’s return from a spell abroad whilst Iain Luke and Ryan Harrison were also back after missing the Skye game. The first half ended goalless but the visitors went in front a minute after the restart. There was a scramble inside the Beauly D and the ball broke to Innes MacMillan who hit a shot low into the net to make it 1-0. Conor Cormack drew Beauly level on 58 minutes with a low hard driven shot into the bottom corner of the net. Jack MacDonald put the home side in front on 73 minutes with a half-volley, also into the bottom corner of the net. However GMA were not to be denied although their equalising goal came in unusual circumstances with just 9 minutes remaining. Calum McLay went to control a long ball over the top. However as McLay chested the ball down at the edge of the D, it kicked off the wet ground and ended up in the bottom corner of the net.
Caberfeidh 11 Ballachulish 0 Caberfeidh won their penultimate league fixture, beating Ballachulish 11-0 at Castle Leod. Caberfeidh started with Blair Morrison in attack and it was a move that would pay dividends as the afternoon wore on. Balla’s David Campbell was suspended and his season is over after he was given an addition two-match ban for passing the 40 disciplinary points threshold. Team-mate Scott MacDonald was also banned and his suspension will also drift into next season. Blair Morrison put Cabers into a first minute lead and his brother Craig Morrison made it 2-0 on 21 minutes. Ally MacLennan added a third on 38 minutes with player / manager Lee Nicol on 42 minutes and a second Blair Morrison goal a couple of minutes later, made it 5-0 at the break. There was little respite for the over-worked Balla’ defence and Blair Morrison completed his hat-trick a minute into the second half. Craig Morrison got his second on 48 minutes to make it 7-0. Blair Morrison scored his fourth goal of the game on 57 minutes and Craig Morrison completed his hat-trick on 62 minutes to make it 9-0. A second for Lee Nicol just 3 minutes later took Cabers’ tally into double figures. Colin MacLennan completed the scoring when he made it 11-0 on 72 minutes. The win lifts Caberfeidh into third place in the table, ahead of Beauly and Glasgow Mid Argyll on goal difference with the three sides each having just one game to play.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Fort William 3 Beauly 1 The Fort William second team stay top of the table after they beat the Beauly seconds 3-1 in their noon meeting at An Aird. Fort William stared with Bryan Simpson in their side. Duncan Rodger, who came on as a substitute midway through the half, put Fort William ahead after 32 minutes. Youngster Padraig McNeil added a second on 40 minutes. Craig Rankin gave Beauly hope with a 56 minute goal. However Fort William restored their two-goal cushion courtesy of Duncan Rodger’s second goal of the match on 71 minutes. Had it not been for young Beauly keeper Lee Dunbar, the winning margin could have been greater. One black spot for the Fort was a nasty wrist injury suffered by Jay MacLeod which will likely keep him out of action for the rest of the season.
Newtonmore 8 Glenurquhart 0 The Newtonmore second team are still very much in the title race as they beat an under-strength Glenurquhart second team 8-0 at the Eilan. ‘More took a grip of the midfield area early on the match and young forwards Iain Robinson and Calum Stewart were in terrific form. Iain Robinson gave the home side a 10 minute lead and Calum Stewart made it 2-0 just 3 minutes later. Stewart went on to take his first half tally to four goals with strikes on 16, 24 and 26 minutes. Iain Robinson got his second on 37 minutes to make it 6-0 at the break. Iain Robinson completed his hat-trick just 4 minutes into the second half to make it 6-0. Calum Stewart got his fifth of the afternoon on 52 minutes to make it 8-0. Newtonmore remain four points behind Fort William but they have two games in hand.
Kinlochshiel 1 Kingussie 9 There was another high-scoring encounter at Kirkton where the Kingussie second team beat their Kinlochshiel counter-parts 9-1. Kingussie were deadly in front of goal and Chris Holleysong put them ahead after 8 minutes. Ruaridh Anderson made it 2-0 on 15 minutes. Kevin Thain added a third on 35 minutes and although Neil Fraser pulled a goal back on 40 minutes, Kevin Thain ended the match as a contest with strikes on 43, 46 and 48 minutes to take his personal count to four goals and give his side a 6-1 lead. A couple of Kingussie youngsters then took centre stage as Roddy Young made it 7-1 on 70 minutes with Dylan Borthwick getting an eighth on 77 minutes. ‘Shiel’s misery was complete when Chris Holleysong, who had started the scoring spree, also ended it with his second goal of the game 5 minutes from time. Kingussie draw level on points with second place Newtonmore but they have played four games more than their Badenoch rivals.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Inveraray 0 Bute 4 The top match in Marine Harvest South Division 1 was the clash between the Inveraray second team and Bute at the Winterton. Inveraray went into the game in second place in the table whilst Bute were two places below. Inveraray’s Ross Montgomery started a two-game ban following his red card in the Bullough Cup semi-final defeat to Tayforth a fortnight earlier. In the end it was Bute who got back on their winning ways with a 4-0 victory. James Craig gave Ted McDonald’s side the lead with the only goal of the first half on 41 minutes. Neil McKirdy made it 2-0 10 minutes into the second half. James Craig got his second on 65 minutes and Gordon MacMillan completed the 4-0 triumph on 73 minutes. Bute stay in fourth place but they only trail leaders Lochside Rovers by two points and they have a game in hand.
Oban Celtic 0 Kilmory 2 Oban Celtic beat Kilmory 2-0 at Ganavan. Kilmory’s Bruce Johnston started a two-match suspension following his sending off against Aberdour a fortnight earlier. Kilmory were also minus Alex Cunningham as his booking in the same game against Aberdour took him through the disciplinary points threshold. Lee Askew was once again key for the Oban side, netting both their goals on 8 and 60 minutes. Third place Oban Celtic are only a point behind Lochside Rovers and Inveraray.
Kyles Athletic 6 Glenorchy 1 The Kyles Athletic second team beat Glenorchy 6-1 in their clash at Tighnabruaich. Glenorchy were without the suspended Dylan Cooke. Matthew MacColl gave Kyles the lead on 14 minutes however a John MacNulty goal a minute before the interval ensured the sides would go into the break on level terms. Kyles were too strong in the second half though and the second half was just a couple of minutes old when Scott MacDonald put them back in front. Sandy MacKenzie made it 3-1 on 55 minutes and MacKenzie got his second and Kyles fourth on the hour mark. Brandon Wilson made it 5-1 a couple of minutes later and Matthew MacColl got his second goal of the game on 64 minutes to make it 6-1. The win lifts Kyles up to sixth place in the league.
Taynuilt 1 Aberdour 2 Aberdour took the points thanks to a 2-1 win over Taynuilt in their 3pm throw up at the Taynuilt Sports Field. Aberdour’s John Martin Philips started two games on the sidelines following his sending off against Kilmory a couple of weeks earlier. The visitors had to win the hard way though as Willie Neilson gave Taynuilt a 6 minute lead. Angus Thorburn levelled on 25 minutes. The winning goal came on 65 minutes with Aberdour’s Alister Shaw supplying the finish. The two points mean Aberdour climb to fifth place in the table.
Lochside Rovers P Strachur P The noon meeting between Lochside Rovers and Strachur at Ganavan was postponed as Strachur were unable to raise a team. Strachur have been docked two points and the match will be rescheduled.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Skye Camanachd 4 Glengarry 1 The Skye Camanachd second team are close to winning the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title after they beat nearest challengers Glengarry 4-1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle included Kenny MacLeod who was back from injury whilst Ryan Morrison took over from the unavailable Jamie Gannon in goal. Glengarry manager Ewen Cameron was boosted by Daniel MacLennan’s inclusion in the starting line-up. Skye pressed from the start and it was no surprise when John Gillies fired them ahead after 26 minutes. The home side should have added to their lead before the break and they were made to pay when Daniel MacLennan levelled a couple of minutes into the second half. Skye boss Davie Pringle went for the more direct approach at the interval, introducing Angie MacDonald at full forward and MacDonald put Skye back in front on 49 minutes. Indeed MacDonald went on to complete a second half hat-trick with strikes on 56 and 62 minutes to make it 4-1. Skye had keeper Ryan Morrison to thank for a couple of excellent saves which prevented ‘Garry getting back in the game and the Islanders need just one more point from their two remaining league games to win the league and promotion to Marine Harvest North Division 1. The Skye Camanachd second team now just need a point from their final two matches – away to the Inverness seconds and at home to Boleskine - to be sure of the Marine North Division 2 league title and promotion to Marine Harvest North Division 1.
Inverness 2 Boleskine 2 The Inverness second team and Boleskine shared the points following a 2-2 draw at the Bught Park. Davie Duncan was banned for the home side after passing through the disciplinary points threshold. Boleskine stalwart Lewis Smith put the visitors ahead after 22 minutes. Dougie Rankin drew Inverness level on 38 minutes and that’s the way it stayed until late in the game. Former Kinlochshiel player Stuart MacRae put the home side back in front with what looked to be the winner on 79 minutes. However Boleskine fought back and Matthew Ross earned Boleskine a point with a goal 4 minutes from time. The result means Boleskine have recorded five wins, a draw and a walk-over in their last seven matches and they draw level on points with fifth place Aberdeen University.
Lochaber 6 Lewis Camanachd 0 The Lochaber second team defeated Lewis Camanachd 6-0 at Spean Bridge. All the Lochaber goals came from the Delaney and MacDonald clans. Danny Delaney bagged a brace for the home side whilst` brothers Findlay MacDonald with a double, and a rare Brennan MacDonald goal plus a strike from youngster Ben MacDonald. Lochaber jump to fourth place in the league.
Strathspey Camanachd 0 Kilmallie 1 Strathspey Camanachd and the Kilmallie second team at Grantown Grammar School. Strathspey’s Mark MacDonald was sidelined as he served a one-match ban for breaking through the disciplinary points threshold. The contest was settled on 63 minutes when Kilmallie’s Jamie Maceachen scored the only goal of the game. Kilmallie draw level on points with seventh place Lewis and they have two games in hand.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Bute 1 Col Glen 9 Col Glen won the Marine Harvest South Division 2 title when they beat the Bute second team 9-1 at the Meadows. The visitors, who had never won a league title in their 95 year existence, knew that they just needed just a point to secure the title and they went in front courtesy of a Hamish Harrison goal after just 4 minutes. Connor Kennedy made it 2-0 a minute later and a Steven MacKellar brace on 12 and 14 minutes doubled the visitors’ advantage. Ben Clark pulled a goal back for the Islanders on 29 minutes to make it 4-1. However the first half scoring wasn’t over yet as Connor Kennedy got his second on 40 minutes and Steven MacKellar completed his hat-trick on 43 minutes to make it 6-1 at the break. A James Dunn own goal on 63 minutes made it 7-1 and Hamish Harrison got his second goal of the game after 66 minutes to make it 8-1. Connor Kennedy completed his hat-trick on 83 minutes to make it 9-1 and Col Glen secured their first trophy success since the won the Bullough Cup in 1983. Camanachd Association Chieftain Jock Turner presented the league trophy to the Glendaruel side.
Tayforth W/O v Glenorchy Tayforth were given a walk-over and the customary 5-0 win when the Glenorchy second team were unable to raise a team for their trip to Musselburgh.
Ballachulish P Aberdour P The match between The Ballachulish and Aberdour second teams at Jubilee Park was postponed because of a bereavement.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless stated differently) (These reports will be updated as more information becomes available) |