The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 13 October 2018 | |
14 October 2018 Kinlochshiel go second in the Marine Harvest Premiership, the Marine Harvest South Division 1 title race goes down to the wire and the Inveraray seconds lifted the Mod Cup following the shinty action on Saturday 13 October 2018. Marine Harvest Premiership Kinlochshiel 7 Caberfeidh 2 Kinlochshiel climb to second place in the table after they beat Caberfeidh 7-1 at a very wet Kirkton. Kinlochshiel keeper Scott Kennedy was still sidelined with a back problem so Graham Kennedy continued to deputise in goal despite being a late arrival with Ali Nixon, who was carrying a hamstring injury, primed to step in between the sticks if called upon. Paul MacRae started at full back with Finlay MacRae at full centre. Caberfeidh’s Ally MacLennan remained out with a foot injury whilst manager Jodi Gorski was also minus Colin MacLennan, Gavin Mclachlan as well as Graham MacGregor and his son Conor MacGregor. Boss Gorski was Cabers’ only substitute but he resisted the temptation to come off the bench. Craig Morrison and Kevin Bartlett both started in the visiting defence with Blair Morrison at buckshee forward. Cabers, playing up the slope in the first half, made a bright start and when the ball was played forward to Iain McCall, who usually features in goals for the Caberfeidh seconds, around 20 yards out but he couldn’t get a shot on target from a central position. Play quickly switched to the other end and when Duncan Matheson’s corner from the right fell for Jordan Fraser at the back post, he slammed the ball into the side netting. ‘Shiel went back on the offensive and Scott MacLean played in Duncan Matheson but Cabers keeper Ewan Pilcher got behind the ball before scrambling it away for a corner. Keeper Pilcher saved again; this time from Jordan Fraser following the resultant corner. The pattern of play continued toward the away goal and Kinlochshiel took the lead following a set-piece on 6 minutes. Jordan Fraser fired goalwards and Ewan Pilcher went for the ball with his hand but couldn’t clear the danger and John MacRae forced the ball home from close range. Ewan Pilcher then did well to save with his hand, keeping out a stinging shot from Finlay MacRae just 3 minutes later. The hosts doubled their lead on 15 minutes. Scott MacLean drifted in a corner from the left. Donald Nixon saw his initial low shot saved but he ran forward to ram the rebound over the line to make it 2-0. Ewan Pilcher made a solid save with his feet to deny Duncan Matheson following another Scott MacLean corner. Kinlochshiel went for the kill and Jordan Fraser and John MacRae combined on the left to set up a chance for Scott MacLean and he steered the ball low into the net, despite falling to the ground under a challenge, making it 3-0 with 22 minutes on the clock. A rare Cabers attack saw Jamie Matheson tug the ball wide of the keeper’s right post following a corner on the right. ‘Shiel’s Finlay MacRae then saw Ewan Pilcher save with his feet and although Scott MacLean played the rebound into the danger-area from wide on the right, the ball was cleared by the Cabers defence. Kinlochshiel added a fourth on the half hour mark when a shot from John MacRae on the right found the net. Moments later, Finlay MacRae cut in from the right and Ewan Pilcher did well to first parry the ball before then getting it away to safety. John MacRae always looked dangerous and he completed his hat-trick with 10 first half minutes remaining. MacRae hit a vicious shot across the keeper from the ‘Shiel left, beating Pilcher on his left side to make it 5-0. ‘Shiel’s Scott MacLean was forced off shortly afterwards after being caught in the face with the club following a tussle with Kevin Bartlett. Andrew MacKenzie came on in midfield with Duncan “WD” MacRae pushed forward into attack. A dangerous Iain McCall ball from the left had ‘Shiel keeper Graham Kennedy racing from his line to clear at the expense of a corner and the home side went into the break with a 5-0 cushion. Caberfeidh’s Blair Morrison struck a shot over the bar on his back-hand early in the second half. Caberfeidh pulled a goal back on 56 minutes. Iain McCall sent a low cross into the danger area from wide on the right and Jamie Matheson took a great first touch to control the ball before shooting low into the net to make it 5-1. However any respite was short-lived as Kinlochshiel scored again a minute later. Conor Cormack showed a smart presence of mind as he sent a quick free-hit from the left of midfield over the top of the Cabers defence and Duncan Matheson broke free to go one-on-one with the keeper and he gleefully guided the ball home. Straight after the goal, Graham Kennedy stepped off his line to first chest down and then clear a high ball forward from Blair Morrison. Caberfeidh came within a whisker of scoring a second when a lofted Ryan MacKay ball from the left came off the face of the ‘Shiel crossbar and deflected wide. Iain McCall, who was having a fine game, fizzed the loose ball in on goal from wide of the right but Graham Kennedy saved with his feet before quickly flicking the ball away for a corner. ‘Shiel went back on the attack and when the ball broke to an unmarked Jordan Fraser, keeper Pilcher saved with the rebound coming out to Duncan Matheson. He turned the ball back in to John MacRae but his low shot rolled just outside the keeper’s left post. A nice Caberfeidh move saw Iain McCall find Blair Morrison from the Cabers right. Morrison’s powerful drive looked sure to find the net but Graham Kennedy made an outstanding reflex save with his stick and the visitors had to settle for a corner on the left. From the corner, Kennedy made an even better stop to again deny Morrison who had darted in from the right of the D. This time the goalie parried Morrison’s bulleted, shoulder-high shot with his club to his right, some-how turning the ball over the top for another corner. ‘Shiel’s seventh goal came on 69 minutes when a nice flick infield from John MacRae found Duncan Matheson and he just managed to steer the ball goalwards under pressure from three Caberfeidh defenders, suffering a knock in the process. With the ball rolling slowly towards the goal, Jordan Fraser was on hand to knock the ball over the line from close range. Matheson limped off, although he did return later, with another youngster, Martin MacRae coming on. The hosts almost scored again with 15 minutes remaining when Jordan Fraser played a short one-two with Andrew MacKenzie from a corner on the left. Fraser’s blistering shot took a slight deflection off Kevin Bartlett’s caman which made Ewan Pilcher’s stunning saved to his left all the better. Ryan MacKay had a good game and, with 10 minutes remaining, he marked the occasion with his first senior Caberfeidh goal. MacKay did well in the heavy conditions as he jinked in from the right side before tucking the ball low past Kennedy and turning in delight following what was a fine individual goal. Ahead of the restart, and with the pitch cutting up badly in both goal areas, referee Brian MacKay spoke to both managers - Johnston Gill and Jodi Gorski - about the worsening conditions, before playing out the remainder of the game. Cabers finished the game strongly with Ryan MacKay coming close to getting a second and Graham Kennedy again displaying his shot stopping skills in goal. Kinlochshiel’s John MacRae suffered a hand injury in the game and was later confirmed to have an open fracture on one of his fingers which requires an operation and rules him out of this Saturday’s Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling international against Ireland. The result leaves 2017 champions ‘Shiel in second spot in the league although they will drop down a place if Kyles Athletic are able to take a point from their final match at home to Glenurquhart. Caberfeidh picked up their points earlier in the season and whilst complacency may have set in over the second half of the term, when at full strength, they are probably only a couple of players away from being a very good side.
Kyles Athletic P Glenurquhart P Kyles Athletic’s push for another second placed finish will have to wait as their meeting with Glenurquhart at Tighnabruaich was postponed. The game was called off on Friday evening as the pitch was waterlogged which may have been a relief for the Glen who were missing a number of players and looked to be travelling with three of their ladies players included in their squad. The game has been rescheduled for Saturday 27 October 2018.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Lochside Rovers 2 Kyles Athletic 1 Lochside Rovers showed they have no intentions of giving up their title without a fight when they toppled league leaders Kyles Athletic reserves 2-1 at Mossfield The match went ahead following a Saturday morning pitch inspection with the Mossfield pitch in terrific condition given the elements. Lochside were able to include youngsters Daniel MacCuish and Daniel Sloss and they started in attack with Ross Campbell and Lewis Buchanan. Gavin Stobbart returned in goal but Niall MacFarlane, Lennon Campbell and Gary McKerracher were all unavailable. Kyles brought a good sized support and they travelled boosted by the inclusion of Sandy MacKenzie and Scott MacDonald although both started on the bench. There was a physical start to the match and Christopher Blair was spoken to by referee Des McNulty for a robust challenge which caught Daniel Sloss on the knee. Lochside took the lead thanks to a sublime individual goal on 13 minutes. Daniel Sloss picked the ball out 22 yards from goal and he turned before running in on goal, riding three challenges, and calmly slipping the ball past advancing keeper Douglas Nicolson to make it 1-0. Lochside spurned some chances before doubling their lead just 5 minutes before the break and this was a well-worked goal. Craig Easton found Iain MacMillan on the wing and he sent the ball into the corner where Daniel Sloss was first to it. Sloss picked out Daniel MacCuish and he took a touch before thumping a waist-high shot into the net. Kyles immediately brought both Sandy MacKenzie and Scott MacDonald off the bench. Whilst Lochside could have been further ahead at the break, the second half belonged to Kyles and they may have regretted not introducing MacKenzie and MacDonald earlier. Lochside knew Kyles would come at them after the break and the visitors pulled a goal back on 59 minutes when Sandy MacKenzie scored following a free-hit to make it 2-1. Sandy MacKenzie was proving a real handful for the Lochside back-line so manager Gareth Evans brought Daniel Sloss back into defence to counter MacKenzie’s threat. Kyles came within a whisker of a leveller when Sandy MacKenzie’s effort deflected off Chrissie MacMillan and the spinning ball dropped down on the roof of the net with the keeper beaten. Lewis Buchanan passed up a chance at the other end with 15 minutes remaining with the wet weather now making it difficult for the players to grip their sticks. This was a great battle in the rain and a throw-back to the old winter shinty days and Lochside have proved to be Kyles Athletic’s bogey team all season, beating them twice in the league and in both cup competitions. The respective keepers – Gavin Stobbart and Douglas Nicolson - were solid whilst Lochside full back Chrissie MacMillan and Kyles Athletic attacker Sandy MacKenzie also played well. However Lochside’s Iain MacMillan was a class apart, spreading play to great effect all afternoon. Lochside now go into their match against the Inveraray second team at the Winterton this coming Saturday, trailing leaders Bute, who have completed their fixtures, by just two points with the Islanders five goals better off. The throw up time is to be confirmed.
Taynuilt 1 Bute 4 Bute did all they could in the hope they eventually finish top of South 1 as they overcame Taynuilt 4-1 at the Taynuilt Sports Field. Iain McDonald put Bute ahead on 15 minutes. Craig MacKay and Craig Fisher combined at a short corner and MacKay played the ball to the back post where Iain McDonald struck it on his back-hand on a slight angle. However Taynuilt’s Keegan MacPhee levelled on 20 minutes, ensuring the sides would go into the break on level terms. Bute made a strong start to the second half and they regained the lead on 46 minutes following some great one-touch passing between all four forwards close to the Taynuilt goal. Crag Fisher played the ball across the goal leaving Iain McDonald to roll the ball into an empty net. Bute extended their lead on 52 minutes when Ryan Craig knocked the Taynuilt keeper over with a firm but fair challenge following a ball over the top and Iain McDonald fired home to complete his hat-trick. Bute rounded off the win with 20 minutes remaining. The goal came following a hit-in and Iain McDonald beat two players before thumping the ball on the move into the roof of the net to make it 4-1. Bute’s young squad are believed to have aspirations to play National Division shinty should they win South 1 but they can now only wait to see if Lochside can match their points total and better their goal difference.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Kilmallie W/O v Lochcarron The Kilmallie second team were given a walk-over when Lochcarron were unable to field a team for their clash at the Canal Parks. This was Lochcarron’s final fixture of the season whilst the Kilmallie colts end their campaign at home to their Beauly counterparts on Saturday 27 October 2018.
Lochaber P Beauly P The contest between the Lochaber second team and the Beauly second team at Spean Bridge was postponed on Friday evening because of an unplayable field. The match has been rescheduled for Saturday 3 November 2018.
Mod Cup The Inveraray second team beat Col Glen 6-3 to lift the Mod Cup following their 2pm throw up at the Dunoon Stadium. Craig Taylor, Lewis MacNicol and Fraser Watt all scored twice for Inveraray with a Conor Kennedy brace and Finan Kennedy counting for Col Glen. Graham Fisher was the match referee. Oban defeated Cowal & Bute 5-1 to win the ladies match.
WCA Round Up There were two Women’s Camanachd Association regional league fixtures over the weekend.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Skye Camanachd 11 Lochaber 2 The Skye Camanachd Ladies second team were 11-2 winners against the Lochaber Ladies second team in their 2pm throw up at a wet Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 13 October 2018. Helen Lamond, Abby MacLean and Holly MacLean were amongst the Skye goals whilst Natalie MacDonald and Shanna Michie scored for Lochaber.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Tayforth 0 Ardnamurchan 5 The Ardnamurchan second team defeated Tayforth 5-0 at Musselburgh on Sunday 14 October 2018. Hannah MacDonald grabbed a hat-trick whilst Frances MacDonald and Iona Cameron got the others. The win means Ardnamurchan and Dunadd are now level on points at the top of the table so they will now play-off for the title.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report states differently) |