The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 23 November 2019 | |
24 November 2019 Oban Camanachd finished second in the Mowi Premiership and Skye Camanachd U17 lifted the Mowi London Shield following the shinty action on Saturday 23 November 2019.
Mowi Premiership Lochaber v Oban Camanachd – Points to Oban Camanachd Oban Camanachd has finished second in the Mowi Premiership after being awarded the points when Lochaber were unable to fulfil their fixture at Spean Bridge. Lochaber last played on Saturday 14 September 2019 when they lost 3-0 to Kyles Athletic and this was the fourth attempt to play the match. The fixture was previously twice postponed because of an unplayable pitch and also didn’t go ahead in mid-October when Lochaber were deducted two points as they were unable to raise a team; a penalty which confirmed their relegation. Lochaber are preparing their field for next season whilst Oban Camanachd were keen to play the match knowing two points would seal a second place finish with Lovat and Kyles Athletic dropping to third and fourth place respectively. Camanachd Association officials consulted all the clubs involved and all agreed that Oban Camanachd be awarded the points. The outcome completed the Mowi Premiership season. It means that during their first season in charge, Oban Camanachd boss Stephen Sloss and his assistant Kenny Wotherspoon have led the side to Scottish Sea Farms Glasgow Celtic Society Cup success as well as finishing runners up in all three national competitions; the Mowi Premiership, the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup and the Artemis Macaulay Cup.
Mowi Premiership 2019 Mowi London Shield Final Skye Camanachd U17 4 Newtonmore U17 0 Skye Camanachd U17 lifted the Mowi London Shield for the second successive season with a 4-0 victory over Newtonmore U17 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The final had been delayed as several of the Newtonmore players featured for their second team squad which clinched the Mowi North Division 1 title the previous weekend. A number of neutral venues were considered for the final but, with pitch maintenance plans in place across the Highlands, none were available so the there was a toss of the coin, which Skye won, to decide who should host the final. Pipers Angus MacKinnon and Seonaidh MacLeod led the teams onto the field and both sides looked strong, particularly down the centre of the pitch with Skye’s Ross Gordon and ‘More’s Struan Ross lining up in the full centre positions. Skye made a stunning start, taking the lead within the first 60 seconds. Calumn MacKay launched a good hit-in from the right which found Taylor Matheson and he turned his marker and ran into the D. ‘More goalie Xavio Vastano darted off his line but Matheson forced the ball by him and into the net Despite the setback, ‘More settled into the match but Skye’s Taylor Matheson got his second on 19 minutes when he gathered Ross Gordon’s free-hit from deep inside his own half. Although Xavio Vastano got his legs to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out. The large crowd were being thoroughly entertained and Xavio Vastano made a good stop with his feet to thwart Archie MacDonald. The action continued to flow after the restart and Taylor Matheson juggled the ball through on goal but ran out of space whilst, at the other end, Ritchie Irvine was crowded out as he tried to shoot. Xavio Vastano threw himself at Taylor Matheson’s shot, parrying the ball for a corner from which Ross Gordon sent a 25 yarder wide. Newtonmore Head Coach Graeme Irvine pushed defender Declan Brannan, who featured for the Newtonmore first team towards the end of the season, forward and he almost steered a corner from the right on goal. Skye Head Coach Davie Pringle resisted the temptation to respond by pulling one of his key players back into defence and his decision paid off when Taylor Matheson completed his hat-trick on 67 minutes. Taylor Matheson and Skye substitute Angus Gilpin both saw shots saved by keeper Vastano before Calumn MacKay played the ball back into the goal area where Taylor Matheson sent a low scorching shot past a helpless keeper from wide on the left. Skye sealed the win on 71 minutes. Cameron Campbell won the ball from a ‘More goal-hit and fed Archie MacDonald who released Cameron MacKay and he ran at the ‘More defence before unleashing a glorious strike which beat keeper Xavio Vastano inside his right post. Referee Calum Girvan brought a keenly contested but sporting encounter to an end and John Angus Gillies from sponsors Mowi was on hand to present the London Shield, donated by London Camanachd in 1989, to Skye skipper Murphy Henderson. The Douglas Mackintosh Memorial Medal for the man of the match went to Skye’s Ross Gordon who was excellent throughout. Hat-trick hero Taylor Matheson, buckshee back Ross MacKinnon and William James Sutherland, who also plays for the Skye U14s, were also impressive for the Islanders whilst captain Struan Ross, Declan Brennan and Charlie Ferguson all shone for Newtonmore.
Roll of Honour Four of the five major shinty honours went to Badenoch as Kingussie took the Mowi Premiership title for the first time in 10 years as well as the Artemis Macaulay Cup whilst Newtonmore claimed Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup and the cottages.com MacTavish Cup. Oban Camanachd, who were runners up in the Premiership, Camanachd Cup and Macaulay Cup, took shinty’s other top prize as they retained the Scottish Sea Farms Glasgow Celtic Society Cup. The Newtonmore second team eventually edged out Glengarry to win a fourth successive Mowi North Division 1 title whilst Aberdour will play National Division shinty for the first time in 202 after securing the Mowi South Division 1 championship. Lochside Rovers retained the Bullough Cup whilst also winning the Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup. Mowi Premiership – Kingussie Mowi National Division – Fort William Mowi North Division 1 – Newtonmore Mowi South Division 1 – Aberdour Mowi North Division 2 – Lochcarron Mowi South Division 2 – Kilmory Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup – Newtonmore Artemis Macaulay Cup – Kingussie cottages.com MacTavish Cup – Newtonmore Scottish Sea Farms Glasgow Celtic Society Cup – Oban Camanachd Liberty British Aluminium Balliemore Cup – Fort William Sutherland Cup – Lochside Rovers Strathdearn Cup – Fort William Bullough Cup – Lochside Rovers Marine Harvest WCA National Division 1- Badenoch & Strathspey Marine Harvest WCA Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup – Skye Camanachd Marine Harvest WCA Challenge Cup - Lovat |