Inveraray will face Kinlochshiel in the 2016 Artemis MacAulay Cup Final and Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd occupy the top two positions in the Marine Harvest Premiership title race following the shinty action on Saturday 23 July 2016.
MacAulay Cup – Semi Finals
Kinlochshiel 3 Lovat 0
Kinlochshiel are through to their first senior final after they beat Lovat 3-0 at Braeview Park.
There was a large crowd at this excellent venue for this much anticipated semi-final tie.
The early play took place in the ‘Shiel forward line but, after 5 minutes, it was at the other end of park where there were two superb displays of skilful stick work. First, Lovat’s Kevin Bartlett connected with a ball in the air to steer a shot goalwards only for keeper Scott Kennedy to produce a fantastic reflex save with his club to stop Bartlett’s effort entering the net.
A minute later, a first-time Greg Matheson shot from the edge of the D went just wide of the post.
Kinlochshiel made the breakthrough on 8 minutes. Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald had to quickly adjust his feet to keep out a slightly deflected shot on goal but the alert Keith MacRae ran in to tap the rebound into the net to make it 1-0.
Kevin Bartlett created another chance for himself on 13 minutes but Scott Kennedy managed to stretch his right foot to save.
A trademark ‘Shiel free-hit from wide on the left on 17 minutes saw full forward John MacRae sprint across the pitch from the left touchline to get onto the ball. However Lovat full back Daniel Grieve was alert, tracking MacRae’s run, and he did enough to prevent a clean strike at goal.
John MacRae wasn’t to be denied on 41 minutes though. There was a scramble at the edge of the D following a ‘Shiel corner. The ball spun up in the air and MacRae knocked it into the net to make it 2-0 and the west coast side were worthy of their two goal interval lead.
Calum MacAulay came on for Lewis Tawse at the break with Tawse departing to head on holiday.
Lovat made another switch as Drew Howie came on for Graeme MacMillan on 62 minutes. Howie went to full back, Daniel Grieve to buckshee back and Danny Kelly was pushed into the forward. Kevin Bartlett was now playing about the centre line area.
With 15 minutes remaining, a Donald Nixon rocket shot from distance produced a good save from Stuart MacDonald as ball would have dipped just under the crossbar.
Keith MacRae finally put the result beyond doubt on 77 minutes when he collected the ball 15 yards out before drilling a low shot which went under the diving Michael MacKenzie, leaving Stuart MacDonald seeing the ball late, and it went into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Lovat made a final change as Euan Ferguson came on for frustrated Lorne MacKay.
Some excellent work from Duncan “DA” MacRae – on as a replacement for Jordan Fraser - at edge of D on 85 minutes saw him shake off his marker, creating enough space to send a fierce shot goalwards but he was denied by another spectacular Stuart MacDonald save with the ball heading for roof of the net.
Kinlochshiel deserved the win and they could have added more than one goal to their tally in the second half. Lovat, especially when Kevin Bartlett was in centre line, did not possess their usual goal threat.
Best for Lovat were Stuart MacDonald, Daniel Grieve and Mark Kelly with Ryan Ferguson battling well in centre line.
‘Shiel had no weaknesses with Finlay MacRae turning in a man of the match performance and his brother Keith MacRae not far behind.
Innes Wood was the match referee.
Kyles Athletic 2 Inveraray 3
Inveraray overcame the odds to beat Kyles Athletic 3-2 in their 1.30pm throw up at Mossfield and they will play Kinlochshiel in the Artemis MacAulay Cup Final at Mossfield on Saturday 3 September 2016.
Kyles were without Grant Irvine who suffered a broken arm in the Camanachd Cup defeat to Lochaber a week earlier and his season could be over. They were also without Roddy MacDonald and Donald Irvine. Andrew King was in defence with David Zavaroni at full centre.
Andrew McMurdo was still banned for Inveraray whilst Grant Griffin was also missing. A strong Inveraray bench featured David Robertson, Lewis MacNicol and David MacPherson.
Kyles took the lead after 18 minutes when some great work from Dunkie Kerr saw him turn Ally Munro and surge towards goal before sending a perfect ball to Robbie MacLeod at the back post and he turned the ball home to make it 1-0.
Allan MacDonald equalised on 21 minutes with a back-hand rocket-shot into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out.
Gordon Whyte put Kyles back in front on 27 minutes from the penalty spot and that’s the way it stayed until the break.
Kyles had a great chance to extend their lead when referee Lachie Wood awarded them a second penalty. Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan and Dunkie Kerr clashed when going for a 50-50 ball and Wood pointed to the spot on the advice of goal judge Robert Baxter. Inveraray disputed the decision but Whyte sent this one the wrong side of the post.
The tie was very even at this stage and it was Inveraray who levelled for a second time when a terrific move involving all four forwards saw Fraser Watt win the ball in the middle of the park and he played it wide to substitute David Robertson who had come on at the interval along with Lewis MacNicol in place of player / manager Ruaridh Graham and Ally MacDonald. Robertson switched the play to Lewis Montgomery who controlled the ball and played an accurate pass to the unmarked Allan MacDonald at the back post who coolly fired the ball home to make it 2-2 with 65 minutes gone.
The winning goal came 5 minutes from time when Allan MacDonald sent a dipping, swerving 25 yard effort past a helpless John Whyte to make it 3-2 and complete his hat-trick.
Kyles pushed Callum Miller up front for the last 5 minutes in a bid to take the tie to extra-time. Allan MacDonald tracked back with him.
There was late drama when Kyles were awarded a third penalty. Referee Lachie Wood penalised the Winterton side for a kick, again on the advice of the goal judge. Inveraray were unhappy with the decision but Robbie MacLeod hit the spot-hit straight at MacLachlan who stopped the ball and played it out for a corner. Allan MacDonald was sent off by referee Lachie Wood for something said in the aftermath.
Defender Nicholas Crawford and forward Allan MacDonald were both outstanding for Inveraray whilst there was some super wing play from Kyles pair Robbie MacLeod and Thomas Whyte.
Strathdearn Cup – Quarter Finals
Aberdeen University 0 Kingussie 4
The Kingussie second team beat Aberdeen University 4-0 at Balgownie.
The Students started brightly and they twice hit the frame of the goal before the Kings took a 42 minute lead through Kevin Thain.
Kevin Thain got his and Kingussie’s second on 52 minutes.
Aberdeen forward Alex Duncan was sent off by referee Euan Pearson after the restart.
Roddy Young on 73 minutes and Ruaridh Anderson on 82 minutes secured Kingussie’s progression to the last four of the tournament.
Glenurquhart 6 Fort William 0
The Glenurquhart reserves beat the Fort William reserves 6-0 at Blairbeg.
Fort William had Gordie MacKinnon in their squad, coming out of retirement to play.
James MacPherson has been in great goal scoring form for the Glen reserves this season and he netted four times. Callum Smith and Cairn Urquhart got the others.
The Glenurquhart colts now have a Strathdearn Cup semi-final meeting with the Kingussie colts to look forward to.
Kilmallie 1 Lochcarron 2
Lochcarron came from a goal down to beat the Kilmallie second team 2-1 at the Canal Parks.
Iain Beagrie put Kilmallie ahead after 10 minutes but Lochcarron’s Liam Arnott, who was named “Most Committed Player” at the Camanachd Association Development Camp earlier in the week, made it 1-1 after half an hour.
The winning goal came 10 minutes from time when Sean MacCuish scored to clinch Lochcarron’s place in the last four of the competition.
Lochcarron will now play the Skye Camanachd reserves in the semi-finals.
Marine Harvest Premiership
Fort William 1 Newtonmore 4
Newtonmore extended their lead at the top of the table with a 0-0 win over Fort William at An Aird.
Fort William defender Mark Grant was free of suspension but he didn’t play. An understrength home side were short of several players including Bryan Simpson, Arran MacPhee and Daniel Stewart. They had no substitutes for the game and Paul Bamber came out of retirement to play whilst there was also a place for youngster Ally MacRae.
Fraser MacKintosh returned for Newtonmore after missing his team’s last three outings through injury. He started on the bench but played the second half. Michael Ritchie remained in goal whilst defender Andy MacKintosh was still out. Jamie Robinson was also back and he made a substitute appearance late in the game.
Newtonmore took the lead after 4 minutes when Glen MacKintosh got on the end of a cross and his shot took a deflection off a defender before nestling in the net.
When Iain Robinson played in Glen MacKintosh on 38 minutes, the Scotland forward was one-on-one with home keeper Paul MacKay, who needed treatment early in the match after being hit in the face with the ball, and the Scotland forward pushed the ball home to make it 2-0.
Scott Henderson pulled a goal back for Fort William on 44 minutes when he capitalised on a slip in the ‘More defence to score.
However Evan Menzies restored Newtonmore’s two goal advantage on the stroke of half time when his long-range effort beat Paul MacKay to make it 3-1.
Glen MacKintosh completed his second hat-trick in successive Saturdays on 55 minutes when he finished off a nicely worked free-hit with a low, hard shot into the net to make it 4-1.
Newtonmore are three points ahead of second placed Oban Camanachd and they have a game in hand.
Oban Camanachd 2 Lochaber 1
Oban Camanachd edged out Lochaber with a 2-1 win in their 4pm throw up at Mossfield
Oban Camanachd were at full strength and Garry Lord was free to play was scheduled to miss this weekend’s league meeting with Skye Camanachd as he serves a one match ban for passing through the disciplinary points threshold.
Lochaber counted Zandz Ferguson and Jack Dignan amongst their absentees.
Andrew MacCuish gave Oban Camanachd a 4 minute lead when he drove the ball low into the bottom corner of the net from just outside the D.
Oban Camanachd were the more threatening in front of goal in the first half but they were made to pay for some missed chances when Danny Delaney drew Lochaber level on 35 minutes.
Oban Camanachd were reduced to eleven players in the second half when defender Garry Lord was sent off by referee Robert Baxter following a tussle with Danny Delaney.
Oban Camanachd dug deep though and Andrew MacCuish got his second on 75 minutes with what proved to be the winner. The goal was very similar to his opener with the ball again stuck low into the corner of the net.
The win came at a cost though as substitute Iain Campbell suffered a broken knuckle in the second half and he will likely miss the rest of the season.
Oban Camanachd host Skye Camanachd at Mossfield this coming Saturday.
Skye Camanachd 0 Glenurquhart 2
Glenurquhart collected two valuable points with a 2-0 victory over Skye Camanachd in their 3pm throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye made changes to the squad which lost 5-0 to Newtonmore in their league meeting in Portree a week earlier. Iain Murray, Steven Morrison and Iain Nicolson all returned in place of Danny Morrison, David MacInnes and Neil John Campbell; with the latter suffering a broken finger in the Newtonmore match.
Glenurquhart hadn’t played for two Saturdays but they had a 1-0 league win over Lovat at Balgate in their outing. David MacLennan was free of suspension after missing the Lovat game but he didn’t travel for this one. The Glen continued with John Barr at full back, Fraser Heath at buckshee back, Arran MacDonald at full centre and Lewis MacLennan in attack.
The game started at a fantastic pace and Stuart MacKintosh made a great save from a Jordan Murchison shot before Jamie Gannon did even better to deny both Neale Reid and Connor Golabeck.
Glen took the lead on 39 minutes when a Lewis MacLennan shot from the left took a wicked bounce in front of the Skye keeper and the ball sneaked into the net.
Whist there was a touch of fortune to the Glen opener, their second was well executed as a fine turn and 22 yard shot from Neale Reid made it 2-0 on 49 minutes.
Skye pressed late in the game but they couldn’t find the goal that would have set up a grandstand finish. The closest they came was a Jordan Murchison shot which was again well-saved by Stuart MacKintosh.
Glenurquhart now move two points away of the relegation zone and they have important matches coming up in the next fortnight; away to Fort William and at home to Skye.
Marine Harvest National Division
Bute 0 Kilmallie 3
Kilmallie moved up to second in the table with a 3-0 triumph over Bute at the Meadows.
Craig MacIsaac was free to play for Kilmallie but his booking in the Balliemore Cup Final next weekend means he starts a three match suspension in the league meeting with Beauly this coming weekend. Innes Blackhall served a one match ban for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. Peter Carmichael and Alan MacDonald were also missing.
Duncan Rodger scored the only goal of the first half on 33 minutes.
Liam MacDonald made it 2-0 on 52 minutes and a second from Duncan Rodger in the final minute completed the 3-0 triumph.
Kilmallie are just a couple of points behind league leaders Inveraray and they have two games in hand on the Winterton side.
Caberfeidh 8 Ballachulish 2
Caberfeidh go third after they recovered from the loss of an early goal to beat Ballachulish 8-2 at Castle Leod
This was a first match in charge of Cabers for Jodi Gorski who took over in the hot seat from Lee Nicol. Ally MacLennan and Paddy Wilson were missing for Caberfeidh whilst Donald Mellis played in goal instead of Ewan Pilcher. Scott MacDonald was still banned for Ballachulish, Cain MacPhee was also suspended but John MacDonald played.
Lorne Brown shocked the hosts with a goal after just 4 minutes. Brown struck the ball from fully 40 yards and it took a bounce in front of Caberfeidh keeper David Mellis before ending up in the net.
Cabers recovered though and Ruaraidh MacLeman slammed home a rebound on 29 minutes after Balla’ keeper Cameron Sutherland had made a good save.
A speculative Craig Morrison drive from 25 yards on 35 minutes went into the top corner of the net and Blair Morrison peeled away from his marker John MacDonald, following a short corner on 41 minutes, and he drilled an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-1.
Balla’ weren’t going down without a fight though and John Clark pulled a goal back a minute before referee John Angus Gillies’ half time whistle when he reacted first to send a superb lob over keeper Mellis in the home goal.
The second half belonged to Caberfeidh though and Craig Morrison got his second from the penalty spot after 49 minutes to make it 4-2. Scotland U17 keeper Cameron Sutherland had made two outstanding stops in quick succession but was then penalised for falling on the ball
Craig Morrison and Blair Morrison were becoming more and more influential as the match went on and Craig Morrison completed his hat-trick on the hour mark with the goal of the match. Blair Morrison ran down the wing, juggling the ball on his caman, and he crossed to his brother Craig Morrison who volleyed the ball home from around the penalty spot past a helpless keeper.
Not to be outdone, Blair Morrison then took his tally to four goals with strikes on 69, 79 and 82 minutes to round off the 8-2 win.
Whilst the Morrison brothers shone for Caberfeidh, keeper Cameron Sutherland was again the pick of the Ballachulish players.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Newtonmore 2 Strathglass 0
The top two met at the Eilan where the Newtonmore seconds closed the gap on league leaders Strathglass with a 2-0 win.
Newtonmore, with John MacKenzie in goal, took the lead in the opening minute thanks to a Conor Jones goal and they doubled their advantage when Duncan Gorman made it 2-0 on 37 minutes.
Strathglass’ cause wasn’t helped when Scott Douglass was sent off by referee Graham Cameron for two bookings whilst they also lost keeper Adam Todd with what seemed to be a serious leg injury.
Strathglass rarely troubled the Newtonmore goal and John MacKenzie only had one real save of note to make. .
Newtonmore are now just two points behind Strathglass and they have two games in hand.
Skye Camanachd 1 Lovat 1
The Skye Camanachd reserves and the Lovat reserves shared the points following a 1-1 draw in their noon throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye’s James Pringle was with the Skye first team, Neil John Campbell was injured, and Aonghas MacDonald dropped out of the squad. Their places were taken by David MacInnes, DJ Gilpin and youngsters Jamie Gillies and Martin Pringle.
Lovat keeper Ronan MacMillan missed their last outing, an 8-4 defeat to Strathglass, but he was back for this one. Martin Mainland, on his way back from injury, started at full centre where he was a cut above the other players. Scott MacKenzie also stood out at buckshee back for the Balgate side who travelled without any substitutes.
Skye edged the first half but Lovat came closest to taking an interval lead when a Bailey MacKay shot came back off the post.
A low Cameron MacMillan strike deceived Skye keeper Ryan Morrison on 53 minutes to give Lovat the lead.
Skye pushed hard for a leveller but it looked like the visitors would take the points until Connor Gilpin, at the back post, crashed a corner from the right into the net to make it 1-1 with just a minute remaining.
Kinlochshiel 4 Beauly 0
The Kinlochshiel seconds overcame the Beauly seconds 4-0 at Kirkton.
Kinlochshiel defender Douglas Campbell began a two-game ban following his red card in the Strathdearn Dup semi-final defeat to Skye a week earlier.
Beauly were missing some regulars. Calum MacKay was called on the play in goal but, with now first team game, they were able to field Scotland U17 player Andrew Morrison.
There were no goals in the first half but Sandy MacDiarmid put ‘Shiel ahead just 3 minutes after the restart.
The home side scored three more times in the final 15 minutes of the game. A Scott MacLean shot deceived the keeper to make it 2-0 on 75 minutes and Duncan Matheson added a third just 3 minutes later.
‘Shiel captain Neil Fraser rounded off the 4-0 win with a goal on 81 minutes.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Oban Celtic 12 Taynuilt 0
Oban Celtic were too strong for Taynuilt, winning 12-0 in their 3pm throw up at Ganavan.
Celtic were without Rory Bruce, Allan Mckie, Scott Burnett, Ewan MacCorquodale David Graham and Fraser MacMillan. However they welcomed back full centre David MacInnes.
Taynuilt also had absentees in what was to be a difficult afternoon for the visitors.
Oban Celtic boss Kenny Wotherspoon's pre-match team talk proved to be positive as his side raced into a 3-0 lead after only 8 minutes.
An early Daniel Madej double on 3 and 6 minutes and an Ally McKerracher strike on 8 minutes gave Celtic a 3-0 advantage.
Taynuilt were struggling to cope with the home side’s movement, particularly up front, and Daniel Madej completed his hat-trick on 25 minutes and Neil Carmichael made it 5-0 on the half hour mark. Ally McKerracher got his second on 33 minutes to make it 6-0 at the interval.
The second half started as the first half ended with relentless pressure from Celtic and Neil Carmichael got his second 4 minutes into the second half and a fourth from Daniel Madej made it 8-0 with 55 minutes played.
Some excellent goalkeeping from Taynuilt’s Chris Parr kept the home side at bay until four goals in the last 10 minutes completed the emphatic win. Neil Carmichael completed his hat-trick on 80 minutes with Ally McKerracher, who must be pushing for Scotland U21 recognition, also getting a hat-trick goal a couple of minutes later to take Celtic into double figures.
George MacMillan on 84 minutes and a fifth from Daniel Madej a couple of minutes later made it 12-0
Oban Celtic now go second, ahead of Aberdour on goal difference. They both trail Lochside Rovers by a point and they both have two games in hand.
Kyles Athletic 2 Col Glen 1
The Kyles Athletic second team came from behind to beat Col Glen 2-1 at Tighnabruaich.
Conor Kennedy got Col Glen off to a great start with a goal after just 2 minutes and they stayed in front until half time.
Rupert Williamson equalised on 62 minutes and Cairn Limbert scored the winner just a couple of minutes from time.
The win leaves Kyles fourth in the league with Aberdour and Oban Celtic just a couple of points ahead of them.
Glenorchy 1 Inveraray 2
Glenorchy and the Inveraray second team met for the second successive Saturday; this time at Mart Park.
Inveraray won 4-0 a week earlier and Duncan Smith was still banned for the home side.
Andrew Smith put Glenorchy ahead on 9 minutes but a Niall Shaw double on 34 and 38 minutes gave Inveraray the advantage.
And that’s the way it stayed to give Inveraray a third successive league win; lifting them off the bottom of the table on goal difference.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Strathspey Camanachd 1 Glengarry 4
Glengarry followed up their win over Boleskine a fortnight earlier with a 4-1 victory over Strathspey Camanachd at Kincraig.
Strathspey’s Liam Tinney started a two game ban following his red card against the Caberfeidh seconds a week earlier.
‘Garry led 2-0 at the interval with Stuart Gregory on 11 minutes and Ben Armitage on 25 minutes on target.
Former Kingussie player Ally Walker pulled a goal back for Strathspey on 65 minutes but a Raymond Robertson double on 67 and 78 minutes gave fifth placed Glengarry a 4-1 win.
Inverness 5 Caberfeidh 6
The Caberfeidh reserves took the points thanks to a 6-5 victory over the Inverness reserves in a high scoring encounter at the Bught Park.
Inverness included young forward Charlie MacDonald, who has been in fine form for their senior side this season, whilst Cabers were without former Inverness player Brian Mackain because of work commitments.
Colin MacLennan put Cabers ahead after just 3 minutes and Stuart Kryzanowski made it 2-0 on 14 minutes. Chris Johnson pulled a goal back a minute later only for Colin MacLennan to get his second on 22 minutes to make it 3-1.
Inverness, with Matthew Ross excellent at full centre, roared back into the match and Colin Fraser on 29 minutes and Charlie MacDonald on 38 minutes made it 3-3 at the break.
There was an even start to the second half before two quick goals from Stewart Krzyzanowski and a hat-trick strike from Colin MacLennan gave Cabers a 5-3 advantage with an hour played.
Michael Chisholm halved the deficit on 64 minutes only for Ruairidh McCreadie to make it 6-4 on 71 minutes.
Jack Craig made it 6-5 on 77 minutes and there were chances at both ends before the final whistle but Cabers took the points.
Caberfeidh are now just a point behind second placed Lochcarron in the league although they have played three games more.
Lewis Camanachd W/O v Boleskine
After the previous weekend’s Heb-Celt Cup success, there was disappointment for Lewis Camanachd as Boleskine were unable to raise a team for their match at Shawbost. Lewis were awarded the points so they move above Strathspey to eighth spot in the table.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Aberdour W/O v Bute
The Aberdour colts were given a walk-over as the Bute colts were unable to raise a team for their match at Silver Sands. Aberdour are awarded the points and they move off the bottom of the table on goal difference at Dunoon Camanachd’s expense.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently. The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available)
(The picture of Fort William's Gordie MacKinnon in action against Glenurquhart comes courtesy of Donald Cameron)