The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 23 May 2015 | |
24 May 2015 The RBS MacTavish finalists are known and the Marine Harvest Premiership has familiar leaders following the shinty action on Saturday 23 May 2015.
RBS MacTavish Cup – Semi Final Skye Camanachd 0 Glenurquhart 2 Glenurquhart will play Newtonmore in the 2015 RBS MacTavish Cup Final after they beat Skye Camanachd 2-0 thanks to two late goals in their semi-final tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye went into the tie without injured pair Shockie MacLennan and Iain Nicolson. The Glen gave Ewan Brady a pre-match fitness test which he failed. However Ally MacKintosh returned from injury to take up a place on the bench. Both sides created chances in the first half with Iain MacLeod in the Skye goal twice saving well whilst Stuart MacKintosh did like-wise for the Glen. Danny Morrison came within a whisker of giving Skye an interval lead but he steered a ball from the right just the wrong side of the post. Ally MacKintosh came on in midfield for an injured Arran MacDonald at half time and as the second half went on, it became clear that the opening goal would be crucial. The break-through came with just 7 minutes remaining as Neale Reid got just ahead of his marker to turn a ball from the right into the net to make it 1-0. Skye tried to force extra-time but the Glen sealed the win with just a minute remaining. Fraser Heath saw his initial shot blocked but he slammed the rebound into the net to make it 2-0. Glenurquhart have now reached their third consecutive RBS MacTavish Cup Final and after two defeats to Lovat, they will now face Newtonmore at the Bught Park on Saturday 13 June 2015.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – First Round Bute 1 Oban Camanachd 4 Marine Harvest Premiership side Oban Camanachd and Bute from Marine Harvest South Division 1 met for the second time this season in a 3pm throw up at Mossfield. It took extra-time to separate the sides last time around with the Oban side eventually running out 4-2 winners. However this time Oban Camanachd survived an early scare to win 4-1. Bute went into the half time break a goal to the good thanks to a 10 minute James Dunn strike. However Oban Camanachd stamped their authority on the tie in the second half. They drew level just 3 minutes after the restart when Aidan MacIntyre found the back of the net. Andrew MacCuish put the Oban side in front on 57 minutes and Scott MacMillan made it 3-1 on the hour. Andrew MacCuish got his and Oban Camanachd’s second on 78 minutes to complete the 4-1 triumph. Oban Camanachd will now host Ballachulish in the quarter-finals.
Balliemore Cup – Quarter Finals Beauly 7 Ballachulish 1 Beauly are through to the Balliemore Cup semi-finals after they beat Ballachulish 7-1 in their 2pm throw up at Braeview Park. Beauly pair Conor Ross and Bryan MacKay were free of suspension. John MacDonald was still banned for Balla’ but Stuart Robertson was free of his two-match suspension. Beauly forward Marc MacLachlan scored against his former club to give the home side a 19 minute lead. MacLachlan added a second on 39 minutes and Beauly benefited from an own goal a minute later. When Marc MacLachlan completed a first half hat-trick on the stroke of half time to make it 4-0, there was only going to be one winner. Balla’s Allan Clark pulled a goal back a couple of minutes into the second half but Beauly turned the screw with three goals in the last half hour of the tie. Youngster Sandy Elrick helped himself to a double with goals on 62 and 79 minutes and Sean Stewart scored 3 minutes from time to make it 7-1.Beauly will now face Bute or Kilmallie in next month’s semi-finals. After the match, Beauly held a ceremony where their Clubhouse was named “The Paterson’s Pavilion” in tribute to shinty playing brothers Donald and Alasdair Paterson, who gave their lives in the Battle of Festubert 100 years earlier, and others who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Glenorchy 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll 5 Marine Harvest National Division side Glasgow Mid Argyll had a successful trip to Mart Park, defeating Glenorchy from Marine Harvest South Division 1, 5-1. Former Lochcarron player Ben Dalgety gave GMA a 10 minute lead and Mark Bain doubled their interval advantage a couple of minutes before the break. Allan MacKechnie gave Glenorchy hope with a goal on the hour mark but a Jamie MacFadyen hat-trick with strikes on 65, 77 and 88 minutes rounded off the 5-1 victory.
Oban Celtic 1 Inverness 3 After winning their first five games of the season, including a Glasgow Celtic Society Cup win over Ballachulish, Marine Harvest South Division 1 side Oban Celtic have lost three consecutive cup ties against higher league opposition and next up was a 3pm meeting with Marine Harvest National Division opponents Inverness at Mossfield. Davie Glass was free to play for Inverness but he will miss their next outing because of a bookings points accumulation. However Somhairle MacDonald and Matt Rippon were missing for the visitors in what was to be a scrappy encounter. James Cameron followed up his goal against Ballachulish last weekend with a double on 22 and 28 minutes. Oban Celtic’s Daniel Madej pulled a goal back for Oban Celtic on 35 minutes but James Cameron completed a first half hat-trick on the stroke of half time to make it 3-1. There were no goals in the second half and Oban Celtic will have worries over a leg injury sustained by forward Kenny Wotherspoon which is likely to side-line him for a number of weeks. Inverness will now play Glasgow Mid Argyll in the semi-finals.
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup – Quarter Finals Daniel MacLennan 4 Duncan Rodger 6 Fort William, minus the suspended Scott Knox, made the short trip to Craigard where the Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders beat Glengarry from the league below 6-4 in what was a tale of two in-form forwards. Both sides set out to ensure their key attackers – Daniel MacLennan for the home side and Duncan Rodger for the visitors – saw as much of the ball as possible and they did this to great effect. The goal avalanche started on 15 minutes when referee Archie Ritchie pointed to the penalty point and Duncan Rodger slotted spot-hit home. Rodger got his and Fort William’s second on 20 minutes and although Daniel MacLennan scored for Glengarry on 39 minutes, Duncan Rodger completed a first half hat-trick with a goal a minute before the break to make it 3-1. Rodger took his and the Fort’s tally to five goals with strikes on 50 and 55 minutes which made it 5-1. Daniel MacLennan reduced the deficit on 67 minutes but Duncan Rodger added another on 75 minutes to make it 6-2. A late Daniel MacLennan double on 82 and 85 minutes took his total to an impressive four goals but Rodger’s superb double hat-trick took Fort William into the last four of the tournament.
Newtonmore 3 Glenurquhart 1 The Newtonmore and Glenurquhart second teams met for the second successive Saturday and it took two late goals to give the home side a 3-1 win. John MacKenzie returned to the Newtonmore squad. With Glenurquhart second team player / manager Iain MacLeod on first team duty, Chris Surtees looked after the side although MacLeod does remain in charge. In fact all the goals came late in the game with John MacKenzie netting after 59 minutes. Ryan Porter levelled on 67 minutes but Iain Robinson on 75 minutes and Calum Stewart 5 minutes from time, took Newtonmore through to the semi-finals.
Inveraray 2 Skye Camanachd 1 The Skye Camanachd second team are out of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup after they lost 2-1 to the Inveraray second team at the Winterton on Saturday 23 May 2015. With no first team game, Inveraray were able to include Chris Crawford who was returning from injury. Skye were without defenders Stewart Grant, Kyle Pirie and Andrew Banks but Alan Palmer was included. Goals from Lewis Montgomery on 41 minutes and Chris Crawford 3 minutes after the restart saw Inveraray move into a 2-0 lead. Skye’s Angie MacDonald reduced the deficit 15 minutes from time and Skye missed a late penalty and the chance to take the tie into extra-time. The Inveraray reserves will now meet the Newtonmore reserves in the semi-finals.
Lochside Rovers 6 Lochaber 2 Lochside Rovers beat Lochaber 6-2 in their noon throw up at Mossfield. Daniel MacMillan gave Lochside an early lead when found space on the right and he sent a low drive across the keeper Bryn Whittaker into the far corner of the net after just 4 minutes. Craig MacDougall made it 2-0 with a great strike on 12 minutes. Findlay MacDonald pulled a goal back for Lochaber on 24 minutes and that’s the way it stayed until the half time break. Findlay MacDonald got his and Lochaber’s second a minute after the restart to draw the sides level at 2-2. Michael MacQueen put Lochside back in front on 50 minutes and Daniel MacMillan got his second to make it 4-2 on 62 minutes. Brian MacCallum added his name to the score-sheet with a goal just 3 minutes later to make it 5-2. Michael MacQueen got his second to make it 6-2 on 68 minutes. Lochaber’s Jamie MacIntyre was sent off by referee Ronnie Campbell. Lochside Rovers reward is a last four meeting with the Fort William second team.
Strathdearn Cup – Second Round Inverness 0 Kinlochshiel 2 The tie between Kinlochshiel and Inverness second teams was postponed last weekend as Kirkton couldn’t take two matches. Inverness were unable to use the Bught Park outside pitch so this cup tie was switched to Glenurquhart’s Blairbeg pitch. However despite losing home advantage, ‘Shiel eventually ran out 2-0 winners. With no first team game, Inverness were able to bolster their squad. Kinlochshiel were without Fergus Dobson who was on first team duty and Sandy MacDiarmid fulfilled the role of stand-in goalie. There was no scoring in the first half. There were near things at both ends as ‘Shiel keeper Sandy MacDiarmid saved well midway through the half and whilst his team mate Kenneth Loades put the ball over the bar against his former club. The visitors did go ahead on 51 minutes with Allan MacDiarmid collecting an Alasdair MacRae free-hit and he scored from 12 yards. Youngster Ross MacRae made it 2-0 when he knocked the ball over the line on 59 minutes after an Allan MacDiarmid had been saved. Inverness were still in the tie but Seumas Lane was in great form in the ‘Shiel defence. With 20 minutes remaining, WD MacRae made his second team debut in place of another youngster, Lewis MacVicar. Kenneth Loades and Allan MacDiarmid both went close late in the game but there was no further scoring until referee Callum Duff’s final whistle. Kinlochshiel will travel to play either the Lochaber or Kingussie reserve sides – who meet next weekend - in the quarter-finals.
Marine Harvest Premiership Fort William 3 Lovat 1 Fort William recorded their third successive league win as they beat title challengers Lovat 3-1 at An Aird. Fort William were without the injured Cameron Grant and they gave Steve Stewart a marking job on Lovat danger-man Greg Matheson. Lovat’s Drew Howie picked up an ankle knock in the previous weekend’s match against Lochaber and was unable to play. Daniel Grieve started at full back with Callum Cruden at buckshee back. Lorne MacKay was carrying a hand injury so he started on the bench. This was the third meeting this season between the sides with Lovat 2-1 winners in both previous encounters. Fort William went ahead after 10 minutes. Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald made a save but he was unable to get the ball away and Gordie MacKinnon took advantage to make it 1-0. The home side went 2-0 up on 28 minutes when Daniel Stewart shot across the keeper to score. Lovat reduced the deficit on 32 minutes. Kevin Bartlett collected possession and Fraser Gallacher controlled his ball in the air before blasting a first-time shot goalwards. Fort keeper Paul MacKay made a fine save but Bartlett had continued his run towards the goal and he knocked the ball into the net to make it 2-1. Lovat took Lorne MacKay on in place of Euan Ferguson on 62 minutes as they tried to draw level. However Ewan Campbell scored his sixth goal in the last five matches when he got ahead of his marker to divert the ball into the net following a set-piece on 65 minutes which made it 3-1. The remainder of the match fizzled out but the two points lift Fort William to fourth place in the table.
Kinlochshiel 1 Newtonmore 6 Newtonmore went top of the Marine Harvest Premiership with a 6-1 win over Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. ‘Shiel were still minus the injured Keith MacRae, David Falconer, Alasdair Nixon and Duncan “DA” MacRae whilst Fraser MacVicar was working. Promising youngster Fraser Dobson was given a top team debut in attack and Nathan Whear also started. Finlay MacRae was given a buckshee back role and Mark MacDonald dropped back to wing back to bolster the defence so Oliver MacRae started at full centre be he will miss next weekend’s outing against Kyles Athletic in the SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup because of a bookings points accumulation. Newtonmore boss Paul John MacKintosh has been starting to get players back from injury to increase competition for starting places at a crucial stage of the season. They were still without the likes of Cameron Binnie, Danny MacRae and Scott Campbell but their squad is strong and Chris Sellar was the latest player to return after a spell on the sidelines. Rory Kennedy was full centre with Jamie Robinson on the substitutes’ bench. The sides had met a week earlier at the same venue in the RBS MacTavish Cup semi-finals were ‘More edged a 2-1 win. However they were winners by a more comfortable margin this time and Glen MacKintosh took advantage of being afforded too much space when he blasted the ball home after just 4 minutes. However Gordie MacDonald drew ‘Shiel level when he finished off a good move to score from the edge of the D on 14 minutes. Evan Menzies got the winner last weekend and he made it 2-1 with a goal a couple of minutes later when he crashed the ball into the roof of a net following a corner. Glen MacKintosh had a good chance to make it 3-1 but he put the ball over the bar after home goalie Scott Kennedy had made a save. ‘Shiel fought hard to try and level before the interval and the closest they came was a 30 yard Donald Nixon shot which was tipped over the bar by visiting goalie Michael Ritchie. Both chances had chances in the early stages of the first half and Scott Kennedy made a fantastic save from a Fraser MacKintosh shot from distance. The second half was just 10 minutes old when Chris Sellar celebrated his return with a goal to make it 3-1 following a quick passing move. ‘Shiel boss Colin Fraser brought Calum MacLean on at wing back. This allowed Mark MacDonald to go to buckshee back and Finlay MacRae to join the attack. It was a bold move in an attempt to get back in the game. However Newtonmore were relentless and they put gloss on the win with three strikes in the final 9 minutes. Fraser MacKintosh got their fourth on 81 minutes with Even Menzies getting his second a couple of minutes from time. Glen MacKintosh got his second with seconds remaining to seal the 6-1 win. Newtonmore, who gave a debut as substitute to 15 year old Iain Richardson, now lead second place Lovat on goal difference but the Eilan side have got three games in hand. Kyles are a point behind in third and they have played the same number of games as Newtonmore.
Kingussie 2 Kyles Athletic 1 Kingussie inflicted Kyles Athletic’s first defeat of the season when they beat the Tighnabruaich side 2-1 at the Dell. Kingussie were without influential full back James Hutchison who served a one game ban for a bookings points accumulation. However John Gibson was free of suspension whilst Louis Munro and James MacLean were added to the squad which drew 2-2 with Kinlochshiel in their last league outing a fortnight earlier. Kyles were without defender Donald Irvine and they are likely to miss him for the closing stages of the season as he plans to move abroad in the summer. They were also without David Zavaroni. There were no goals in the opening 45 minutes and Kingussie suffered a scare early in the game when Savio Genini had to make a hospital visit after being forced off with a leg injury. However there was relief in the home camp as an x-ray revealed that nothing was broken. Scotland forward Roddy MacDonald put Kyles in front on 51 minutes. Kingussie forward Robert Mabon celebrated his inclusion into the Scotland U17 squad with an equalising goal on 75 minutes. The winner came 7 minutes from time with Louis Munro turning the ball home. Craig Dawson was in fine form throughout the game in the Kingussie goal. This was a gutsy Kingussie performance which sets them up nicely for their next three crucial fixtures. They play in-form Fort William at An Aird in the SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup next weekend before travelling to the Eilan to play Newtonmore in the league seven days later. They follow that up with an Artemis Macaulay Cup meeting with Lovat at the Dell. More immediately, the win over Kyles means they move into fifth place in the league. They trail fourth place Fort William on goal difference but they do have a game in hand on the An Aird side.
Marine Harvest National Division Caberfeidh P Kilmallie P The match between Caberfeidh and Kilmallie at Castle Leod was postponed at the request of the home side following the sad passing of Dorothy Mellis.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Beauly 3 Kingussie 1 The Beauly second team recorded their second league win of the season as the beat the Kingussie seconds 3-1 in their 11am throw up at Braeview Park. Martin Davidson gave Beauly a 7 minutes lead and Robbie Brindle on 38 minutes and player / manager Stephen MacLean on the stroke of half time gave the home side a comfortable 3-0 lead at half time. Kevin Thain pulled a goal back for Kingussie on 75 minutes but there was to be no comeback and Beauly took the points.
Strathglass 3 Lovat 3 Second place Strathglass’ title hopes suffered a blow when they drew 3-3 with the Lovat second team at Cannich. Lovat’s Jamie Matheson returned from injury and he started at full back. Bailey MacKay was back on second team duty after a short spell with the Lovat first team and he gave his side a 7 minute lead. However Strath’s Ciaran Melens was on target on 24 minutes to ensure the sides went into the break all-square. Donald Fraser put Strathglass into the lead with a goal 4 minutes into the second half. However when referee Martin MacLean pointed to the penalty spot on 67 minutes, Jamie Matheson strode forward to convert from the spot to make it 2-2. Lovat regained the lead on 70 minutes with Cameron MacMillan getting the goal. Strathglass ensured a share of the points with Donald Fraser getting his second goal with just 6 minutes remaining.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Kyles Athletic 1 Kilmory 1 League leaders Kyles Athletic dropped a point as they drew 1-1 with Kilmory at Tighnabruaich. Alex Cunningham blasted the ball into the net from distance to give Kilmory the lead on the half hour mark. Kilmory pressed to get a second goal to seal the points however with just 15 minutes remaining, a Kyle Macmartin strike took a wicked deflection and the ball ended up in the Kilmory net to make it 1-1 and ensure a share of the points.
Aberdour 5 Strachur 0 Aberdour notched their first win of the season as they beat bottom side Strachur 5-0 at Silver sands. Strachur travelled with just eleven players but they put in a dogged first half performance to deny Aberdour. However Aberdour’s top marksman Angus Thorburn broke the deadlock just 4 minutes after the restart and David MacKenzie made it 3-0 with goals on 63 and 75 minutes. Angus Thorburn went on to complete his hat-trick with late strikes on 83 and 85 minutes. Strachur’s Alan Paterson was shown a red card by referee Alan Harrison.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Aberdeen University 5 Caberfeidh 6 Caberfeidh came from three goals down to beat Aberdeen University 6-5 in an incredible match at Balgownie. The Students raced into a 3-0 half time lead thanks to goals from Stuart Cameron on 20 minutes, Greg Tillman just 3 minutes later and a Mark Fraser goal a couple of minutes before the break. Jonathon MacDonald on 51 minutes and Gavin McLachlan, a couple of minutes later, got Cabers back into the match. However Stuart Cameron’s second on 63 minutes made it 4-2. A 20 minute power-play from Stewart Kryzanowski went a long way towards sealing the win. The Caberfeidh talisman found the back of the net on 71 minutes to cut the deficit to a single goal. Iain Fraser restored the Students two-goal advantage a minute later but Kryzanowski got his second on 84 minutes to make it 5-4. Craig Morrison drew the side level with just 3 minutes remaining and the winning goal came with just 60 seconds remaining as Stewart Kryzanowski completed his hat-trick to grab a superb 6-5 victory which takes Caberfeidh a point clear at the top of the table although they have played a game more than Glengarry and Skye Camanachd who are both just a point behind.
Kilmallie W/O v Boleskine Kilmallie were awarded the points as Boleskine were unable to raise a team for their trip to the Canal Parks. Kilmallie go fourth in the table.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Col Glen 5 Oban Lorn 0 Col Glen now only trail league leaders Glasgow Mid Argyll on goal difference following their 5-0 win over third place Oban Lorn at Glendaruel. Hamish Harrison grabbed a hat-trick for the home side with Steven MacKellar and Scott MacVicar getting the others.
Bute 2 Glenorchy 0 The Bute second team beat the Glenorchy second team 2-0 in their noon throw up at the Meadows. Bute’s Tom MacMillan served the second game of a two match ban. Neil McKirdy gave the Islanders a 15 minute lead whilst Craig Fisher confirmed the win when he made it 2-0 with a goal 10 minutes from time. The two points mean Bute leap-frog Glenorchy into fifth place in the table.
(These reports will be updated as more information becomes available) |