There was a mixture of league and cup shinty action, with some wet weather thrown in, on Saturday 21 May 2016.
Camanachd Cup – First Round
Taynuilt 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 8
Glasgow Mid Argyll will host Skye Camanachd in the Camanachd Cup second round this coming Saturday after they beat Taynuilt 8-0 at the Taynuilt Sports Field.
Taynuilt’s John Gillies was free of suspension having served a one-match ban for passing through the disciplinary points threshold.
GMA ere without the injured Brendan McLoone and they named top scorer Craig Anderson on the bench after he suffered the recurrence of a problematic leg injury in the previous week’s defeat to Inveraray. However he should be ready for the Skye game as he did come on for the final 20 minutes of the game and showed no ill-effects afterwards.
In the end it was a comfortable win for the Marine Harvest National Division leaders against a Taynuilt team from a league below.
The visitors led 4-0 at the break and doubled that advantage in the second half.
John McNulty, Ryan Harrison and Calum McLay each scored twice with Craig Anderson and Iain Luke getting the others.
Craig Anderson’s effort was probably the pick of the afternoon’s goals. Anderson was allowed too much time and space around 35 yards from goal and he sent a great shot into the top corner of the net.
Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup - Semi Final
Oban Camanachd P Kyles Athletic P
The Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup semi-final between Oban Camanachd and Kyles Athletic was postponed as the middle area of the Mossfield pitch was water-logged. The tie has been rescheduled for Saturday 4 June so Inveraray will have to wait a bit longer to learn their final opponents.
Balliemore Cup – Second Round
Oban Celtic 1 Beauly 3
Oban Celtic put up a strong fight before eventually going down 3-1 to Balliemore Cup holders Beauly in their 12.30pm throw up at Ganavan.
Celtic had Lee Askew, Ewan MacCorquodale and David Graham out through injury whilst Scott Burnett was unavailable. However Neil Carmichael returned.
Beauly also had absentees for the Saturday morning journey south.
Both teams went into the tie in buoyant mood after two straight wins apiece but Beauly’s fitness and experience told in the end.
The Celtic players and officials have to be commended for sweeping water off the pitch ahead of throw up, allowing the game to go ahead.
Beauly took the lead after just 6 minutes through Calum Morrison who got onto the end of a high ball into the goal area and he slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.
Celtic came right back into the game and won a penalty after Beauly keeper Josh Grant kicked the ball inside the D. However the spot-hit from David MacInnes was went wide and Fraser MacMillan was adjudged to have moved too early.
Neil Carmichael avoided a couple of tackles and bundled the ball home to pull the sides level a minute before the break.
This was a thrilling encounter with no quarter asked nor given and the outcome remained in the balance until 15 minutes from time when Beauly top scorer Jack MacDonald made it 2-1. The goal came following a free-hit just outside the D and some quick movement from MacDonald saw him lose his marker which gave him the chance to send a low, hard shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Ross Forbes sealed the win 3 minutes later, making it 3-1. Forbes dribbled the ball into a shooting position around 18 yards from goal and he sent a great shot into the top corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.
Beauly will now play Kilmallie or Glasgow Mid Argyll in the Balliemore Cup semi-finals on Saturday 18 June 2016.
Caberfeidh 3 Aberdour 1
Caberfeidh are through to the last four of the Balliemore Cup after they beat Aberdour 3-1 at Castle Leod.
The home officials spent time sweeping water off the pitch after the day’s earlier encounter between the Caberfeidh seconds and Aberdeen University.
However conditions improved and Aberdour made a good start against their higher league opponents with Angus Thorburn going close early on.
Cabers settled though and Callum MacCulloch took advantage of a defensive lapse to score after 10 minutes.
Aberdour responded in the best way and they drew level on 17 minutes. After some good link-up play, Roddy MacColl slipped the ball to Angus Thorburn who steadied himself on the wet surface, then turned his man and blasted the ball into the net to make it 1-1.
Cabers regained the lead on 24 minutes when the visiting defence failed to clear their lines and Liam Symonds pushed the ball past a helpless Tom Bowerman in the Aberdour goal.
Cabers began to take control of the centre line in the second half and Liam Symonds scored a great goal on 57 minutes, his second of the game, after he found just a few yards if space.
Caberfeidh will now play Strathglass or Taynuilt in the Balliemore Cup semi-finals on Saturday 18 June 2016 whilst Aberdour will take great encouragement that they are competing well with teams from a higher division.
Marine Harvest Premiership
Skye Camanachd 1 Kinlochshiel 1
An injury time goal from Jordan Murchison earned Skye Camanachd a 1-1 with Kinlochshiel in their 3pm throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye Camanachd boss John MacLeod made three changes to the squad which drew 0-0 with Lovat in the league the previous weekend as Danny Morrison, Iain Nicolson and Chris Rose were all unavailable. There were call ups for David MacInnes and James Pringle, who both started and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and Chris MacLennan who were on the bench. Iain Murray and Allan MacKinnon were both still out injured.
Kinlochshiel manager Colin Fraser has been able to field a settled side in recent weeks but he was without John MacRae for this west coast derby as he served a one match ban for exceeding the disciplinary points threshold. However Gordie MacDonald returned to the midfield after missing the previous weekend’s 2-1 league win over Oban Camanachd. A tight hamstring meant David Falconer started on the bench so John Don MacKenzie took his role at wing back.
The teams also played for the 2015 Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup which was held over from last year.
Skye youngster James Pringle went on a great early run, skipping past two defenders to run clean through on goal, but he was tripped by Paul MacRae which earned the ‘Shiel full back a yellow card from referee Graham Cameron.
Kinlochshiel had made the better start though and a turn and shot on his right side from Duncan “DA” MacRae, after collecting a Donald Nixon ball forward, put his side ahead on 13 minutes.
Both keepers – Jamie Gannon for Skye from Jordan Fraser twice and Scott Kennedy for Kinlochshiel from Jordan Murchison and Shockie MacLennan – made fantastic saves and the visitors stayed in front until second half stoppage time.
‘Shiel looked to have done enough to take both points but there was late drama as Gilleasbuig MacDonald sent a corner from the Skye left to the back post. Skye defender Steven Morrison had pushed forward, tracked by Gordie MacDonald, as the home side went for broke. The ball fell for Jordan Murchison who fired a forceful shot through a ruck of players into the net to give Skye an equaliser.
The large crowd were well-entertained and the sides meet again in Portree in the Artemis MacAulay Cup quarter-finals next month.
Another draw – their fourth in five league outings – means Skye move up to seventh place in the league on goal difference.
Kinlochshiel are now the Marine Harvest Premiership leaders and they become the first top division side to have fulfilled half their league fixtures.
The teams had a penalty shoot-out to determine the outcome of the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup and converted spot-hits from Gordie MacDonald and Finlay MacRae cancelled out Shockie MacLennan’s effort to give Kinlochshiel a 2-1 win so their captain David Falconer lifted the trophy.
Kingussie 1 Lovat 3
Fifth placed Lovat are now just two points off the top of the table after they beat Kingussie 3-1 in their 3pm throw up at the Dell.
Kingussie co-managers Russell Jones and Davie Anderson had a number of absences included the suspended Fraser Munro who started a 3 match ban following his red card against Lochaber a week earlier.
Lovat manager John MacRitchie was still without the injured Drew Howie, Callum Cruden, Martin Mainland and Graeme MacMillan.
Both teams played some nice shinty at various stages during this match and the Dell surface was excellent condition.
The Lovat forwards moved the ball about really well in the opening stages of the game with Kevin Bartlett at the centre of things good.
And it was Bartlett who gave Lovat the lead on 23 minutes when he sped up the left wing, checked back, and his low shot was so forceful that it went through the legs of Kings’ keeper Craig Dawson to make it 1-0.
Kingussie also had their spells of pressure and Lovat goalie Stuart MacDonald saved well from Thomas Borthwick on two occasions before saving low to deny Savio Genini a first half leveller.
Kingussie dominated the early part of the second half and Thomas Borthwick equalised on 50 minutes when he took possession and jinked to make just enough space before sending the ball low into the bottom left corner of the goal to make it 1-1.
Young Scott MacKenzie and Craig Mainland were impressive at the back for Lovat as they defended the Kingussie attacks.
It was against the run of play when Greg Matheson put Lovat back in front on 74 minutes. Matheson seemed to be impeded at the edge of the D but referee Innes Wood allowed good advantage and Matheson stretched as he was falling to steer the ball into the net with just one hand on his caman.
Kingussie starlets Alexander Michie and Roddy Young both made their first team debuts as late substitutes.
Lovat introduced Euan Ferguson and Mark Kelly for Calum MacAulay and Greg Matheson and the substitutes combined to make it 3-1. Kelly won possession and picked out Ferguson with a good pass and he sent the ball over the keeper’s head at the second attempt to make it 3-1 on the stroke of full time.
Glenurquhart 2 Lochaber 0
Glenurquhart edged out Lochaber with a 2-0 win in what was a close encounter at Blairbeg.
Glenurquhart co-managers Billy MacLean and Dave Menzies had Fraser Heath and Andrew Corrigan back although the latter started on the bench. Michael Brady was still out and Euan Lloyd made a failed attempt at a comeback from injury in the day’s earlier reserve match against Kingussie.
Lochaber boss Ally Ferguson was without the injured Neil MacDonald and Jack Dignan.
The first half was goalless with the Glen having the better of the first quarter before Lochaber came right back into it without really testing Stuart MacKintosh in the home goal.
This was a tight game and there was a touch of fortune about the Glen’s opening goal when David Smart latched onto a long David MacLennan shy and his first-time drive ended up in the net to make it 1-0.
Lochaber fought hard for a leveller but the Glenurquhart defence, with the experienced Lewis MacLennan and John Barr in the central positions and youngsters James Hurwood and Lachie Smith on the wings, protected their keeper well although one terrific reflex save by MacKintosh caught the eye.
The outcome remained in the balance until 4 minutes from time when Connor Golabeck, who had been pushed forward into attack, took a David Smart pass and he beat Lochaber goalie Callum MacDonald to make it 2-0.
Seventh placed Skye, eighth placed Glenurquhart and ninth placed Lochaber are all now on four points with Fort William at the foot of the table with one point.
Marine Harvest National Division
Ballachulish 1 Kilmallie 5
It’s been a stop-start season so far for Kilmallie and their 5-1 win over Ballachulish at Jubilee Park was their first match in three weeks.
The home side were again without the banned John MacDonald whilst Kilmallie were minus Steven McAllister, Mark Graham and Michael Rodger. However Duncan Rodger was back in attack and he lined up alongside Liam MacDonald and they were to have a profitable afternoon.
Balla’ shocked their more fancied opponents when Lorne Brown fired the home side into the lead on 24 minutes.
However Kilmallie provided the perfect response and they scored four times before the break. Duncan Rodger was on target on 26 and 32 minutes to make it 2-1 and Liam MacDonald on 35 and 45 minutes made it 4-1 at the break.
Kilmallie would have extended their lead had it not been for some fantastic saves from Balla’ keeper Cameron Sutherland and his man of the match performance meant Kilmallie didn’t score from open play in the second half.
However they did add to their tally in the final minute when referee Deek Cameron awarded them a penalty. Duncan Rodger despatched the spot-hit to make it 5-2 and complete his hat-trick.
The win means Kilmallie now only trail table-toppers Glasgow Mid Argyll on goal difference and they will hope for a run of fixtures to allow them to build momentum in their quest to return to shinty’s top division.
Inverness 2 Inveraray 3
Inveraray are one of three teams tied on top of the Marine Harvest National Division following their hard-fought 3-2 win over Inverness at the Bught Park.
With Allan MacLeod unavailable, Somhairle MacDonald was in goal for Inverness as he continues to be hampered by a hamstring injury.
Inveraray travelled without Nicholas Crawford and Ally Munro. Gary MacPherson and Allan MacDonald were free to play but both will miss next weekend’s Camanachd Cup second round tie against Beauly at Braeview Park as their bookings against Glasgow Mid Argyll the previous weekend mean they must serve one match bans for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. MacDonald started on the bench alongside Lewis MacNicol and player / manager Ruaraidh Graham. However John Kennedy and Grant Griffin returned for the visitors.
Referee Evan MacRae, officiating in his second match of the day, awarded Inveraray a penalty on 7 minutes when Grant Griffin was up ended in the D. Youngster Fraser Watt coolly slotted the spot-hit into the roof of the net, giving Somhairle MacDonald no chance.
Despite being a goal down, Inverness had started well and the powerful James Cameron and teenager Charlie MacDonald causing a number of problems for the Inveraray back line.
Inveraray’s David Robertson played the first 45 minutes but left at half-time to attend a wedding and Allan MacDonald took his place.
Inveraray went 2-0 ahead 4 minutes after the restart when Grant Griffin pounced to score following a corner.
Inverness halved the deficit on 59 minutes when Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan saved well from a low drive, but the visiting defence never reacted and James Cameron was quick onto the rebound and he and knocked the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
Young Scott MacLachlan in the Inveraray goal was the busier of the two keepers but it was Grant Griffin who got his second and Inveraray’s third with 15 minutes remaining when he scored following a well-worked free-hit.
Again Inverness came back though and Charlie MacDonald found the back of the net for the fifth consecutive match and he took his goal 77 minute goal really well.
Inverness kept pressing but Inveraray held out and they will be delighted to have headed back down the A9 with both points on a day when they weren’t at their best.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Newtonmore 2 Kinlochshiel 0
The match between the Kinlochshiel and Newtonmore second teams was switched to the Eilan on Saturday morning as Kirkton was unplayable.
Newtonmore boss Cammy MacDonald was without John MacKenzie who served a one-match ban for passing the disciplinary points threshold.
Kinlochshiel were also light up front as boss Willie MacRae travelled without Neil Fraser and Scott MacLean. Steven Isles, Jonnie MacAskill and Lewis MacVicar were also missing so there were call-ups for youngsters Finlay MacRae, Duncan Matheson, Corran Campbell, Shaun Peterkin, Liam Fleming and WD MacRae who was given the task of making Newtonmore danger-man Iain Robinson.
‘Shiel must have feared the worst when a well taken goal from Iain Robinson on 4 minutes and Duncan Gorman on 9 minutes gave them a 2-0 early lead.
‘More enjoyed the bulk of the pressure but some good saves from keeper Raymond Gillies kept them at bay.
Liam Fleming forced a good save from home keeper Callum Grover late in the first half and Fleming put the rebound wide of target.
However that was the end of the scoring but not the drama as referee Callum Duff red carded ‘More’s Struan Kish and Colin MacDiarmid from ‘Shiel following a scuffle around 20 minutes from time.
The win takes Newtonmore to the top of the table, a point ahead of Strathglass, although they have played a game more.
Kinlochshiel and Newtonmore are scheduled to meet again at Kirkton in early June in the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup quarter-finals.
Kingussie 8 Glenurquhart 0
The Kingussie young guns were to the fore as their second string took the points with a convincing 8-0 win over their Glenurquhart counter-parts in a noon throw up at the Dell.
Glenurquhart were without Bradley Sneddon who completed a two-game ban following his red card against the Lovat second team a fortnight earlier and a number of their youth players were missing because of a school trip.
Glenurquhart, with Callum Smith at full forward, were on top during the opening half hour and they created several chances without scoring.
Kingussie’s first real chance came when Kevin Thain collected the ball in space and his shot went just past the post.
There seemed little sign of the goal avalanche to follow when Dylan Borthwick gave the Kings a1-0 first half lead with a terrific strike from around the penalty spot just 4 minutes before the break.
Indeed he almost scored again just moments later when he took a Roddy Young pass but sent the ball over the bar.
Kingussie took control after the break and Roddy Young made it 2-0 after 46 minutes.
The Kingussie forward line, with veteran Kevin Thain urging on youngsters Dylan Borthwick, Ruaridh Anderson and Roddy Young, were now in full flow.
The Kings made it 3-1 on 51 minutes when Roddy Young got past Ross MacAulay and broke down the wing. With keeper David MacFadyen coming off his line, Young showed great composure to slip the ball past him and into the net from the tightest of angles with a couple of defenders racing back to try and clear the danger.
Dylan Borthwick got his second on 56 minutes with a shot from distance before Roddy Young completed his hat-trick to make it 5-0 with an hour played. This time Young kept the ball in play on the by-line before beating a defender and rolling the ball over the line for what was good finish.
A strike from Dylan Borthwick went over the bar on 66 minutes.
Kingussie didn’t let up and Ruaridh Anderson added his name to the scoresheet with a stunning sixth goal a minute later. Kingussie substitute Russell Menzies, who had come on for Roddy Young, crossed and Anderson raced in to send a first-time shot into the net.
Dylan Borthwick took his tally for the afternoon to four goals with strikes on 72 and 83 minutes to round off an 8-0 win.
The Kings are now just three points off the top and they have played a game fewer than leaders Newtonmore.
Beauly 5 Fort William 4
The Beauly colts edged out the Fort William colts in a nine goal thriller at Braeview Park.
Beauly’s Marc MacLachlan sat this one out as he served a one math ben for passing through the disciplinary points threshold.
With no first team match, Fort were able to include Cal Brown.
Padraig McNeil put the Fort ahead on 10 minutes but Rory Campbell levelled just 9 minutes later.
A Martin Davidson strike on 27 minutes and a second from Rory Campbell on 32 minutes made it 3-1 for Beauly but a Grant Disher goal on 40 minutes meant Neil Brindle’s side took a 3-2 lead into the break.
A second Grant Disher goal 3 minutes after the restart made it 3-3 but Beauly got their noses back in front when Martin Davidson nabbed his second goal of the game to make it 4-3 on 67 minutes.
When Beauly’s Josh Ironside made it 5-3 on 77 minutes, the home side looked favourites to take the points.
Cal Brown netted 8 minutes from time to make it 5-4 and set up a nervy end for the home support. However Beauly held on to take the points and they remain in fourth place in the table.
Skye Camanachd P Lovat P
The heavy overnight rain led to the postponement of the noon meeting between the Skye Camanachd reserves and the Lovat reserves as the Pairc nan Laoch pitch was unable to take two matches.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Inveraray 1 Lochside Rovers 1
The Inveraray second team and Lochside Rovers shared the points in a 1-1 draw in their Friday night meeting at the Winterton.
Inveraray showed their intent straight from the start of this 7pm throw up as Fraser Watt put them in front in the opening minute. Andrew Fraser collected a ball forward and he played a through-ball to Watt, which was missed by his marker, and the youngster struck the ball across the keeper into the far side of the net to make it 1-0.
Lochside Rovers drew level on 63 minutes when Niall MacFarlane scored. There was a scramble around the home goal and the ball broke to MacFarlane who crashed a shot into the top corner of the net to make it 1-1.
Kyles Athletic P Glenorchy P
An unplayable field at Tighnabruaich put paid to the clash between the Kyles Athletic second team and Glenorchy.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Caberfeidh 2 Aberdeen University 4
Aberdeen University saw off third place Caberfeidh reserves with a 4-2 win in their noon throw up at a wet Castle Leod.
The playing conditions were difficult and Students weren’t given time to settle as Stuart Kryzanowski put Cabers ahead after just 2 minutes.
However Alex Duncan levelled on 15 minutes and the contest remained level until the break.
Kenny Cushnie put the Aberdeen side ahead for the first time just 3 minutes into the second half. However a Colin MacLennan goal made it 2-2 with just 15 minutes remaining.
The heavy rain was making it difficult for both sets of players but the Aberdeen University dug deep and Ewan Fraser on 80 minutes and a second goal from Alex Duncan 3 minutes from time gave them a 4-2 win which maintains their 100% league record and puts them two points clear at the top of the table.
Glengarry 6 Strathspey Camanachd 1
Fifth placed Glengarry beat Strathspey Camanachd 6-1 at Craigard.
‘Garry’s Steven Cameron scored on 16 and 38 minutes to put the home side 2-0 ahead and when referee Martin MacLean pointed to the penalty spot on the stroke of half time, Raymond Robertson stepped up to convert and make it 3-0 at the break.
Raymond Robertson again a minute after the restart made it 4-0 and he completed his hat-trick with 50 minutes played.
JJ Grey pulled a goal back for Strathspey on the hour mark but a fourth goal of the afternoon from Raymond Robertson sealed a 6-1 win with 20 minutes still to play.
Lochcarron P Lochaber P
Second place Lochaber colts were left kicking their heels as the heavy rain led to the postponement of their match with Lochcarron at Battery Park.
Kilmallie P Boleskine P
The game between the Kilmallie seconds and Boleskine was postponed as the Canal Parks was unplayable.
Lewis Camanachd P Inverness P
Lewis Camanachd and Inverness were due met for the second time in four weeks; this time at Shawbost. However Inverness were unable to raise a team so the match will be rescheduled for a later date.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Glasgow Mid Argyll 2 Aberdour 3
The Aberdour seconds beat the Glasgow Mid Argyll seconds 3-2 at Yoker.
It was first blood to Aberdour when Kevin Latimer put them in front after just 4 minutes.
Craig Girvan made it 2-0 on 42 minutes but GMA’s response was immediate with Lewis Miller pulling a goal back just a minute later.
Lewis Miller got his and GMA’s second on 72 minutes but parity only lasted 3 minutes when Chris Bowerman netted what proved to be the winner with 15 minutes remaining.
GMA are now only behind second placed Kilmory on goal difference although they have played a game more.
Kilmory P Tayforth P
The top two teams in the division were to meet at MacRae Park but there was disappointment for both camps when the match was postponed following an 8.30am Saturday morning pitch inspection.
Dunoon Camanachd P Bute P
The encounter between Dunoon Camanachd and the Bute second team was postponed as the heavy rain left the Dunoon Stadium unplayable.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently. The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available)
(Picture of Inveraray boss Ruaraidh Graham issuing instruction courtesy of Donald Cameron)