The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 2 September 2017 - UPDATED! | |
03 September 2017 Skye Camanachd won the Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Cup whilst Glengarry lifted the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup as women’s shinty took centre stage on Saturday 2 September 2017.
Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Cup Final Skye Camanachd 6 Lochaber 1 Skye Camanachd won the Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Cup for the first time with a storming 6-1 win over Lochaber in the final at An Aird. A good sized crowd gathered for this show-piece occasion and there was a children’s banner parade ahead of throw up with Ardnamurchan Primary School judged to have the best display. This 3pm throw up was a repeat of the 2016 final when four-goal Kirsty Delaney helped Lochaber to a 4-2 victory. This was the first time the sides had met since that day and Skye captain Lorna MacRae, who scored both her team’s goals twelve months earlier, was to play a key role. Ahead of throw up, the players were piped onto the field and they, along with managers Robbie Gordon and Michael Delaney, were introduced to Iain Fraser from sponsors Marine Harvest and Womens Camanachd Association President Lisa MacColl. Skye took the lead after just 3 minutes. Caitlin MacLean’s low shot from distance was saved with her feet by Lochaber keeper Aeleen Campbell but Lorna MacRae was quickly in to bundle the rebound over the line. Lorna MacRae doubled Skye’s advantage on 17 minutes when she collected a low Caitlin MacLean pass from the right before taking a touch to the left and her dropping back-hand effort beat the keeper. Alison MacVicar gave Lochaber hope on 23 minutes when she sent the ball low into the net after Skye keeper Sarah-Jane Ferguson had saved a Kirsty Delaney effort following a free-hit on the Lochaber left. However Skye returned on the offensive and Lorna MacRae completed her hat-trick on 29 minutes, accepting a Sarah Corrigall pass before taking the ball round the keeper and tapping it home to make it 3-1 and that’s the way it stayed until the break. Lorna MacRae put the outcome beyond doubt on 46 minutes. Jenna Beaton’s ball from the left gave MacRae an initial shooting chance but the keeper saved. Caitlin MacLean’s effort from the rebound hit the post but Lorna MacRae followed up to knock the ball home from close range. Jenna Beaton made it 5-1 just 4 minutes later with a well-worked goal. Caitlin MacLean was again involved as she won a couple of challenges on the Skye right before finding out Lorna MacRae in space. MacRae ran at the Lochaber defence before picking out her strike partner and Jenna Beaton struck the ball low into the net. It was fitting that Lorna MacRae would round off the scoring. Sarah Corrigall cut in from the Skye left and her short pass found MacRae who took a touch past a defender before running in on goal and stroking the ball low into the net to make it 6-1 with 67 minutes played. After the disappointments losing out in the final to Glasgow Mid Argyll in 2014 and Lochaber last year, Skye tasted Valerie Fraser Cup success for the first time and Iain Fraser from sponsors Marine Harvest presented the trophy to captain Lorna MacRae. Lorna MacRae also deservedly collected the player of the match award from sponsor Peter Gow. The sides have still to meet twice more in the league this season with the title destination still in the balance. Iain Kennedy was the match referee.
Marine Harvest Challenge Cup Final Glengarry 7 Ardnamurchan 1 Glengarry were Marine Harvest Challenge Cup winners, beating Ardnamurchan 7-1 in the final at An Aird. Glengarry went into this 1pm throw up sitting mid-table in Marine Harvest North Division 2 whilst Ardnamurchan are newly crowned Marine Harvest South Division 2 champions. Glengarry, managed by club stalwart Ewen Cameron, took the lead after 13 minutes when referee Duncan Kelly awarded them a penalty. Joanne Gillanders converted from the spot, sending the ball past player / manager Laura Bradley in the Ardnamurchan goal. ‘Garry went on to stamp their authority on the game and Leona Falconer grabbed a first half hat-trick with goals on 30, 33 and 35 minutes to make it 4-0 at the break. Elaine Cameron added to Glengarry’s dominance with goals on 42 and 50 minutes and Emily Gordon produced a seventh on 64 minutes. Ardnamurchan, who were co-captained by Kate Bradley and Lucy MacMillan, fought until the death and Annie MacDonald gave them some consolation with a goal on 70 minutes. Glengarry captain Leona Falconer was presented with the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup by Iain Fraser from sponsors Marine Harvest. ‘Garry’s Joanne Gillanders was named player of the match.
Other Shinty There were several regional league matches played on Saturday 2 September 2017.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Tayforth 5 Kilmory 4 Tayforth threw away a four goal lead before eventually beating Kilmory 5-4 at Levenhall Links. This was the second time the sides had met this season and Kilmory were 10-0 winners at MacRae Park in July. Calum Barton gave Tayforth an 11 minute lead and when Brendan Duggan hit a first half hat-trick with goals on 22, 31 and 36 minutes, the hosts looked to have an unassailable 4-0 interval lead. Kilmory fought back in the final third of the match though and Hal Jones hit a hat-trick with goals on 60, 72 and 74 minutes to narrow the deficit to a single goal. When Alex Cunningham made it 4-4 with just 5 minutes remaining; Kilmory looked good for a point. However Tayforth sealed victory when Brendan Duggan notched his fourth goal of the afternoon with just 3 minutes to make it 5-4 and Tayforth go third in the division.
Kyles Athletic 2 Ballachulish 2 The Kyles Athletic second team came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Ballachulish at Tighnabruaich. Lewis Bryson gave Balla’ the lead on 5 minutes. A ball from a corner eventually fell to the feet of Patrick MacLean and Lewis Bryson reacted quickest to power the ball home with his strike beating the keeper at the near post. Balla’ made the stronger start to the game but although they created chance after chance, they were unable to add to Bryson's early goal. However the visitors did double their advantage on 20 minutes. A high ball forward from Duncan MacDonald found its way to Lorne Brown who took a touch, turned, and fired the ball into the net to make it 2-0. Kyles now began to create chances but found stand-in keeper Donald Wilson to be a very solid shot stopper between the Balla’ sticks. Kyles stepped up a level and when a ball reached Craig Martin, he tucked the ball home to make it 2-1 with 34 minutes gone. The second half was a much more even affair with both clubs creating opportunities but not much coming off. With half an hour remaining, Kyles brought on Colin MacDonald as they tried to get a leveller. The switch paid off on 68 minutes when Colin MacDonald dribbled through the Ballachulish defence. His shot was blocked by Ally Banks but the ball fell kindly for Scott MacDonald who finished well to make it 2-2. With some big first team games coming up, Kyles will be delighted that Innes MacDonald played his first 90 minutes since injuring his ankle.
Glenorchy 4 Taynuilt 7 There were goals galore at Mark Park where Taynuilt beat Glenorchy 7-4. Steven Parr gave Taynuilt a 21 minute lead but John Sartain equalised on 27 minutes. However the visitors took a 2-1 lead into the break when Ewan MacCorquodale found the back of the net on 35 minutes. Ewan MacCorquodale extended Taynuilt’s advantage a couple of minutes into the second half and Robbie Brown made it 4-1 on 50 minutes. Ewan MacCorquodale completed his hat-trick just 3 minutes later and although John Sartain got his second to make it 5-2 on the hour; Liam Higgins made it 6-2 on 64 minutes and Ewan MacCorquodale scored his fourth goal of the afternoon on 67 minutes to make it 7-2. Late counters from Kieran Gallagher on 75 minutes and Kieran MacKay on 82 minutes reduced the deficit but Taynuilt still ran out 7-4 victors.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lewis Camanachd 1 Lochcarron 3 Two second half goals gave Lochcarron a 3-1 win over Lewis Camanachd at Shawbost. Crisdean Finlayson put the visitors ahead on 21 minutes but Will Church made it 1-1 on the half hour mark. However Lance MacCuish 5 minutes into the second half and Liam Arnott on 73 made it 3-1. Paddy Sinclair hit the post late on in the match but Lochcarron stayed in front to take both points.
Lovat W/O v Boleskine The match between the Lovat second team and Boleskine at Balgate was scheduled at the third time of asking. This fixture was cancelled on two previous occasions because of unplayable pitches with the latter call-off coming shortly before the match was due to start. However Boleskine were unable to raise a team for this one so Lovat were awarded the points.
Inverness P Kilmallie P The Kilmallie second team were granted a postponement of their match against the Inverness second team at The Bught Park. Kilmallie made the request following the sad passing of former player Martin Duncan.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently)
GMA Win 2017 Robert Wylie Memorial Cup Glasgow Mid Argyll took the Robert Wylie Memorial Trophy south following a 3-1 win over Oban Celtic at Mossfield on Friday 1 September 2017. Marine National Division side Oban Celtic had not been in action since the beginning of August when they lost to Skye in the league so this game was a useful work-out for manager Kenny Wotherspoon. Marine Harvest Premiership side GMA last played in mid-August when they lost to Kinlochshiel, also in the league. With manager George Hay unable to travel, his assistant Dougie Luke took charge of the side. GMA scored the only goal of the first half when former Kilmallie player Sebastian MacMillan gathered possession out wide and he lifted the ball to just in front of the penalty spot where Calum Mclay came running onto it. Mclay took a brilliant first touch and smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-0. GMA had keeper Robert Dunnings, a former Lochside Rovers player, to thank for some good first half saves which denied Daniel Madej, Daniel Macmillan and Ross Macmillan. Jamie McFadyen put the visitors 2-0 ahead shortly after the restart when he gathered the ball on the wing and ran at the Celtic defence before sending a waist-high shot into the right of the net. Oban Celtic replied instantly and Ross Macmillan went on a mazy run only to be brought down inside the D and referee Billy Wotherspoon, who had a good game, pointed to the spot. Macmillan dusted himself down and fired the penalty beyond Robert Dunnings to make it 2-1. As the night started to draw in, visibility was becoming increasingly difficult and it was GMA who sealed the win. Calum Mclay played the ball along the by-line and keeper Iain MacFarlane saved at his right post. However 16 year old Angus MacInnes ran in to flick the ball past the keeper from a tight angle to make it 3-1. Both camps took the chance to experiment, making a number of changes throughout the game. The presentation followed the final whistle and the Wylie family were on hand to hand over the medals and trophy. The Bob Wylie (senior) award for Oban Celtic's man of the match was given to Fulton Ronald who had an outstanding game at half back. Oban Celtic are in league action this coming Saturday when they host Inveraray at Ganavan.
Youth Round Up 2017 MacQuiston Cup Final Oban Camanachd U17 3 Col Glen U17 0 Oban Camanachd U17 won the MacQuiston Cup, beating Col Glen U17 3-0 in the final at The Winterton on Sunday 3 September 2017. This 1pm throw up was played on a heavy pitch but, despite the wet conditions, both teams gave it their all. Ewen Logan put Oban Camanachd ahead on 31 minutes. Logan played a long ball in on goal and the ball ended up in the net off the keeper’s stick Oban Camanachd took the single goal advantage into the break and although they had most of the territorial advantage, the Col Glen side which included players from Strachur, Bute and Aberdour, stuck to their task. Lennon Campbell made it 2-0 straight after half time. Blair MacFarlane played well when he came on as a substitute, joining the Oban Camanachd, and he made it 3-0 near then end. It was a fair result in the end and Oban Camanachd captain Craig Easton was presented with the MacQuiston Cup after the final whistle.
MacMaster Cup Semi Finals The MacMaster Cup semi-finals took place on Friday 1 September 2017.
Lochaber U14 5 Kinlochshiel U14 3 Lochaber U14 reached the MacMaster Cup Final with a 5-3 victory over Kinlochshiel U14 at Craigard. Lochaber made a strong start to the tie and they were 3-0 ahead after just 15 minutes. The Spean Bridge side led 4-1 at the break and, despite a ‘Shiel fight-back in the second half, they won through to the final. Dillon Brockie grabbed a hat-trick for Lochaber with Robbie Rydings and Max Campbell getting the others. Ciaran Kellet, Zander MacRae and Archie MacRae were on target for ‘Shiel.
Inverness U14 2 Kingussie U14 9 Kingussie U14 won through to the MacMaster Cup Final, beating Inverness U14 9-2 at Smith Park. The impressive Ross MacKinnon scored both Inverness goals but an Ally Douglas hat-trick and doubles from Calum MacKintosh, Michael Slimon and Ewan Baker gave the Kings victory. The 2017 MacMaster Cup Final will take place at The Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 30 September 2017, ahead of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final between Lovat and Newtonmore. |