The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 17 October 2015 - UPDATED! | |
18 October 2015 Newtonmore grabbed the headlines as they sealed a sixth successive Marine Harvest Premiership title following the shinty action on Saturday 17 October 2015.
Marine Harvest Premier Division Newtonmore 3 Lovat 2 Newtonmore clinched a sixth successive Marine Harvest National Division title with a 3-2 win over a stuffy Lovat side at the Eilan. Newtonmore boss Paul John MacKintosh was on holiday so Iain MacKintosh led what was a full strength squad. Norman Campbell continued at full forward and Scott Chisholm, Conor Jones and Craig Ritchie were on the substitutes’ bench. Lovat manager John MacRitchie had to do without the services of the injured Drew Howie whilst Craig Mainland was unavailable. Fraser Gallacher started at full back with Martin Mainland dropping back into defence. Lorne MacKay was free to play for Lovat but he will miss his team’s next two matches as his booking against Kyles Athletic last weekend took him over the disciplinary points threshold. There was an even opening 15 minutes to the game but then Lovat, with Danny Kelly influential in midfield, started to enjoy more than their share of the game. Lovat’s Lorne MacKay saw a shot come back off the post on 24 minutes. The home defence scrambled the ball away but only as far as Greg Matheson and ‘More goalie Michael Ritchie did really well to get his body in the way of Matheson’s net-bound shot. Newtonmore went close on 29 minutes. Martin Mainland missed a clearance out of the Lovat defence and Evan Menzies pounced and found himself one-on-one with Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald but the Scotland goalie threw himself to his left to save. Newtonmore moved Cameron Binnie to full centre around the half-hour mark and although there were chances at both ends, the sides went into the interval without scoring. Newtonmore took control in the second half. They conjured up a chance on 50 minutes when a Fraser MacKintosh cross found Glen MacKintosh in space. MacKintosh hit a shot on the turn which Stuart MacDonald dived to save and the keeper quickly got to his feet to spectacularly volley the ball to safety. Fraser MacKintosh settled home nerves on 58 minutes when a Martin Mainland clearance fell for MacKintosh at the edge of the D and he gave keeper MacDonald no chance as he crashed the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0. Newtonmore extended their advantage 5 minutes later. Norman Campbell lost his marker at the left of the D and he had time to drill a powerful shot into the net to make it 2-0. Lovat made a change on 65 minutes with Calum MacAulay replacing Callum Cruden. Lovat pulled a goal back on 72 minutes. Danny Kelly burst forward from midfield, beating three players on a run to the by-line. Kelly cut the ball back across the D. Lovat claimed for a penalty for a kick inside the D whilst Newtonmore claimed offside but Scotland forward Kevin Bartlett kept his eye on the ball and he stroked it into the net. Referee Evan MacRae consulted with goal judge James White before awarding the goal. The home side suffered a blow with 15 minutes remaining when 18-goal Evan Menzies had to go off which was later confirmed to be a fractured hand. Newtonmore finished strongly and when the ball was deflected into the path of Norman Campbell on 80 minutes, he drilled a shot into the net to make it 3-1 with what was a carbon-copy of his first goal with Lovat claiming another ‘More forward was offside. Lovat replaced Greg Matheson with Euan Ferguson on 81 minutes. The visitors refused to lie down and Lorne MacKay scored from wide on the left, 15 yards out, to make it 3-2 with 82 minutes played. ‘More’s Craig Ritchie and Conor Jones replaced Paul MacArthur and Jamie Robinson in the closing stages and the final whistle signalled the start of the celebrations with the trophy presentation still to come following the game against Kyles Athletic at the Eilan on Saturday 31 October 2015. Steven MacDonald and Rory Kennedy were best for Newtonmore which will be good news for Scotland boss Ronald Ross. Forwards Glen MacKintosh and Norman Campbell were always a threat up front. Martin Mainland and Daniel Grieve were terrific for Lovat but Danny Kelly was their stand-out player and someone they can build a side around next season. This was Lovat’s final fixture in the most eventful season for many a year for the SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup winners who end up in fifth position in the league. Next up for them will be the Lovat Cup meeting with Beauly at the New Year. Newtonmore are worthy champions and their sixth successive title demonstrates the strength of their squad. They have suffered only one league loss all season; ironically against relegated Inveraray. Keeper Michael Ritchie has marshalled a mean defence, conceding only twelve goals in their sixteen league fixtures so far. Norman Campbell in the first part of the season and more recently Rory Kennedy along with Steven MacDonald have been impressive at the back whilst the wing back pairing of Andy MacKintosh and Michael Russell is under-rated. Paul MacArthur, Cameron Binnie, Jamie Robinson and Craig Ritchie have been strong in midfield. ‘More forward Glen MacKintosh is the league’s top scorer with 23 strikes with two matches still remaining – at home to second place Kyles and away to Oban Camanachd. He has been ably supported by Evan Menzies, Fraser MacKintosh and Conor Jones with Scott Chisholm fulfilling a number of roles. They are already the team to beat in 2016.
Oban Camanachd 2 Lochaber 0 Oban Camanachd’s incredible fight to beat the relegation play-off spot continued as they beat Lochaber 2-0 at Mossfield. Oban Camanachd manager Iain Hay was on holiday so club stalwart Dougie MacIntyre looked after the side. Scottish international Daniel Cameron was missing as he was at a wedding in Cyprus so Scott MacMillan stepped into the full centre role and he had a fine game. Injured top scorer Andrew MacCuish was still out for the home side. This was Lochaber’s last match of a season and although they lost, Ally Ferguson’s side still finish in an elevated fourth spot in the table which is an impressive turnaround from the team that ended up bottom of the eight team league in 2014. The Spean Bridge side travelled without Neil MacDonald, Ben Delaney, Kevin Ferguson and Connor Sweeney. Stuart Callison played despite suffering from a thigh strain. The visitors suffered a blow in the opening minute when Brennan MacDonald had to come off with a quad muscle pull. Lochaber tested Oban Camanachd keeper Gavin Stobbart during the opening 10 minutes of the match and he made a great save from a Stuart Callison shot. However the home side were up for the game and the opening goal came after 39 minutes. Aidan Macintyre played a corner to the near post. Connor Howe got to the ball first and his touch took the ball into the D. However Howe was brought down before he could get a shot goalwards and referee Lachie Wood pointed to the penalty spot. The drama wasn’t over yet though. Lorne Dickie stepped up to take the spot-hit but his effort was saved. However the referee signalled for a re-take after judging that a Lochaber player had encroached before the ball was struck. Lorne Dickie kept his nerve and this time he smashed the ball into the top left corner of the net to make it 1-0. And that’s the way it stayed until 2 minutes from the end. Lochaber threw everyone forward in the closing stages in an attempt to get an equaliser. However they were countered on the break-away when Oban Camanachd’s Aidan MacIntyre gathered possession on the left and he spotted Connor Howe bursting through the middle of the Lochaber defence. MacIntyre chipped a quality through-ball over a defender and Howe managed to turn the ball to his right hand side and he hit a good strike into the right-hand side of the goal to make it 2-0 to the delight of the home support. Lochaber didn’t play badly and they are probably disappointed not to take something from the game. However Oban Camanachd wanted the win that bit more and they deserved the points with Calum MacDonald the busier of the two keepers. Oban Camanachd boss Iain Hay would have been sure to enjoy his holiday all the more when the final score filtered through. The win sets up an exciting last few weeks of the season with Oban Camanachd, Kingussie and Fort William still under risk of finishing in the relegation play-off spot, where Kilmallie await, with a top division spot at stake. Oban Camanachd are currently in ninth spot with 12 points and three matches remaining – at home to Kingussie at the end of the month and away to Kyles Athletic and at home to Newtonmore next month. Eighth place Kingussie are currently a point better off than Oban Camanachd and their final match is in Oban on Saturday 31 October 2015. A Kingussie win in that match would guarantee their top flight status next season. Seventh place Fort William still aren’t safe. They have completed their league programme and they have 15 points. However their goal difference is currently inferior to their rivals and they can still be caught by both teams.
Inveraray 1 Kyles Athletic 4 Kyles Athletic beat Inveraray 4-1 in an end of season affair at the Winterton. Inveraray were without Ruaridh Graham who served the second match of a three game ban which will carry forward into next season. Andrew McMurdo was also suspended for this one after passing the disciplinary points threshold. Grant Griffin, Chris Crawford and John Kennedy were all still out. However Douglas Dando returned for his first match since the Artemis Macaulay Cup Final and he started at full centre as work commitments meant David MacPherson was a late arrival. David Robertson continued at full forward as he was still troubled by a back injury and he had a good battle with Kyles and Scotland full back Callum Miller. Promising youngster Ross Montgomery was given a start in defence. Kyles Athletic defender Andrew King was sidelined with a hernia problem which has also ruled him out of selection for the Shinty / Hurling international double-header against Ireland. Roddy MacDonald was unavailable and David Zavaroni and Roberto Zavaroni. Sandy MacKenzie was given a start and Scotland U21 player Innes MacDonald was relieved of his wing centre duties and he started at half forward. Indeed Kyles, who also had a second team match on Bute, found their resources stretched to the point where club stalwart Kenny MacDonald was their only substitute. Inveraray were already relegated going into the game whilst Kyles Athletic’s title challenge hung by a thread. The home side took David MacPherson on midway through the first half and he took over from Douglas Dando at full centre. Dando dropped back into defence with John MacKenzie coming off. Kyles led 2-0 at the break. The opening goal came after 25 minutes when Sandy MacKenzie touched the ball past his marker and hit it hard and low into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-0. MacKenzie got his second just 3 minutes before the interval when he reacted first, after Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan made a save, to tap the rebound into the net. Inveraray were missing Andrew McMurdo’s influence in defence and Innes MacDonald made it 3-0 just 10 minutes into the second half when he took the ball down from a corner before crashing a shot into the top corner of the net from around the penalty spot. Garry MacPherson gave Inveraray hope when he pulled a goal back on 59 minutes. However there was to be no comeback. Kyles’ Grant Irvine was dominating the middle of the park and the Inveraray defence were finding the unorthodox but effective Innes MacDonald difficult to deal with. And it was MacDonald who got his second to seal the win with just a couple of minutes remaining when the ball bounced off an Inveraray defender to MacDonald at the edge of the D and he gave keeper MacLachlan no chance with a crisp finish to make it 4-1. This match completed Inveraray’s league programme and they will be heartened by the performance of defender Ross Montgomery who will surely be pushing for a regular place in the side in next year’s Marine Harvest National Division. Kyles visit champions Newtonmore at the end of the month and they complete their season against Oban Camanachd at Mossfield a week later.
Marine Harvest National Division The Marine Harvest National Division fixtures are complete.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Beauly 3 Newtonmore 4 Newtonmore came from three goals down to beat Beauly 4-3 in their second team clash at Braeview Park. Throw up was brought forward to 11.30am which allowed the travelling ‘More party the chance to get back to the Eilan to watch the crucial first team meeting with Lovat. The home side took control early on. Rory Campbell put them ahead after just 9 minutes when the ball was cut back across the D and Campbell’s first-time shot flew into the back of the net to make it 1-0. Youngster Robbie Brindle made it 2-0 on 16 minutes after Rory Campbell had sent a low ball in on the keeper who missed his hit and Brindle ran in behind to tap the ball into the empty net to make it 2-0. It was to get better for the home support when Ross Forbes added a third on 20 minutes. Rory Campbell was again involved but his shot was saved and as the ball deflected up into the air, Forbes volleyed it into the net. Beauly led 3-0 and they looked in control. However Craig MacLeod reduced the deficit just 4 minutes later to spark the come-back. A high ball was played into the Beauly goal area and there was a tussle for the ball around the penalty spot. The ball broke nicely for Craig MacLeod just outside the D and he showed good composure to slide the ball under goalkeeper Kyle MacDonald into the net to make it 3-1. Craig MacLeod got his second on 36 minutes to reduce the deficit to a single goal. Good wing play from Drew MacDonald ended when he crossed the ball and after some slick passes, Craig MacLeod hit a sweet strike into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-2. Newtonmore’s Kenny Ross was now dominating the midfield and Iain Robinson levelled on the stroke of half time. Struan Kish pushed forward from the wing centre position and he played a lovely ball into Iain Robinson who manages to roll his man to great effect and he sent a quick and powerful shot past the helpless keeper to make it 3-3. The winning goal came after 58 minutes. Martin Ivil played in a Newtonmore corner which went across the goal where the ball took an unfortunate deflection off Beauly goalkeeper Kyle McDonald and ended up in the back of the net to put ‘More ahead for the first time in the match. The game was refereed by Camanachd Association President Jim Barr. This was Beauly’s final game of the season and they finish their league campaign in sixth spot. Second place Newtonmore travel to Cannich at the end of the month to play Strathglass in what will be the final match in this division.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Lochside Rovers 2 Strachur 0 Lochside Rovers keep their noses in front at the top of the table thanks to a 2-0 win over Strachur at Ganavan. The first half ended goalless but Brian MacCallum put Lochside ahead on 58 minutes. Lochside top scorer Brian MacCallum got his second, his twentieth goal of the season, on 64 minutes to make it 2-0 and take the points for the league leaders. Lochside Rovers play their final match of the season against Glenorchy at the Meadows on Saturday 31 October 2015.
Kyles Athletic 0 Bute 4 Second place Bute stay hot on Lochside Rovers heels thanks to a 4-0 win against the Kyles Athletic second team at Tighnabruaich. Kyles were without Sandy MacKenzie who was on first team duty and they had Tom Whyte (senior) in goal. Robert Walker’s return from injury has come at just the right time for the Islanders and he put his side ahead on 28 minutes. Walker got his and Bute’s second goal on 38 minutes and they took the 2-0 advantage into the break. James Craig made it 3-0 just 4 minutes after the restart to leave the visitors in control. Robert Walker completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes with his tenth goal in the three matches since his return to the side at the start of the month. Bute stay a couple of points behind table topper Lochside Rovers but with a game in hand and a better goal difference. Ted MacDonald’s side host Strachur at the Meadows next weekend before completing their season in Oban against Oban Celtic on Saturday 7 November 2015. The championship race is set for an exciting finish as Lochside Rovers and Bute battle it out.
Glenorchy 2 Aberdour 0 Two second half goals meant eighth place Glenorchy beat fifth place Aberdour 2-0 at Mart Park. There were no goals in the opening 45 minutes but Glenorchy’s Connor Sartain broke the deadlock on 50 minutes. Sartain made the difference between the sides as he made it 2-0 on 65 minutes. This was Aberdour’s final match of the season and both team’s league positions remain unchanged.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lochaber 4 Glengarry 1 The Lochaber second team beat Glengarry 4-1 in their derby encounter at Spean Bridge. Lochaber’s James McIntyre started a four match ban which will carry forward into next season following his red card against the Kilmallie second team last Saturday. This was a really even contest despite the three goal winning margin. Jack Dignan put the home side ahead when he went on a mazy run and fired a shot from distance which beat ‘Garry keeper Gordon MacDonald to make it 1-0. Danny Delaney made it 2-0 with another shot from far out and the visiting keeper’s cause wasn’t helped by a strong sun in his eyes. Lochaber extended their advantage early in the second half when Sandy Corrigan shot goalwards. Gordon MacDonald saved his effort but Danny Delaney ran in to score from the rebound for his second strike of the afternoon. Stuart Gregory pulled a goal back for Glengarry following a free-hit but it was Lochaber who would go on to extend their lead. Scotland Ladies player Kirsty Delaney had been switched to full forward and she latched onto the ball at the edge of the D and her shot took a bounce before nestling in the back of the net to make it 4-1. The match completes the Marine Harvest North Division 2 programme. The win lifts Lochaber into third place, a point behind second place Glengarry. Indeed Lochaber would have finished in second spot on goal difference had they not been docked a point for failing to raise a team to travel to Shawbost to play Lewis Camanachd at the end of August.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Ballachulish P Aberdour P Both teams agreed that the reserve meeting between Ballachulish and Aberdour be put back to Saturday 24 October 2015.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless stated differently) (These reports will be updated as more information becomes available) |