The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 30 October 2021 | |
31 October 2021 It was a shinty season like no other and it drew to a close on Saturday 30 October 2021.
Mowi Senior League A Glenurquhart P Kilmallie P A mixture of injuries, suspensions and prior commitments meant Kilmallie were unable to field a team for their 1pm throw up against Glenurquhart at Blairbeg. The postponement means Kilmallie duo Innes Blackhall and Stuart Callison will now carry suspensions into the 2022 shinty season. Blackhall will miss the first three matches of the new season whilst Callison is out of the opening two games.
Kinlochshiel P Lochaber P With two cup wins, Kinlochshiel claimed the title of shinty’s most successful team this season and they had hoped to display the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup and the cottages.com MacTavish Cup in front of their supporters ahead of their meeting with Lochaber at Rèaraig. However the heavy rain during the week led to a postponement 48 hours ahead of throw up. Paul MacRae, Ali Nixon and Donald Nixon are amongst the ‘Shiel players who will benefit from the break as they take time to recover from injury whilst manager Johnston Gill will take time to consider his future. Lochaber’s Barry MacDonald must now wait until next season to serve his four match suspension.
Mowi Senior League B Lovat P Caberfeidh P Lovat and Caberfeidh were to meet for the second successive Saturday, this time at Balgate. Cabers were 8-1 victors a week earlier but Lovat were unable to field a side this time around. The postponement has repercussions for some suspended players. Lovat’s Callum Cruden missed out on the chance to serve the second game of his three-match suspension so his ban carries into next season. However Lorne MacKay served the final game of a two-game ban, which saw him miss the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final, last weekend so is now free to play. Caberfeidh’s Connor MacGregor was left disappointed as the final match of his four-game ban will carry into next season.
Mowi North League B Newtonmore 3 Inverness 1 The Newtonmore colts came from a goal down to maintain their unbeaten league record, defeating the Inverness first team 3-1 at the Eilan. Inverness hit the front on 25 minutes through Steven Bellshaw but Craig Macleod drew ‘More level 5 minutes before the break. Second half strikes from Tristan Ross on 56 minutes and Brodie MacBean on 71 minutes made the final score 3-1.
Kingussie P Lovat P The Lovat seconds were unable to fulfil their fixture with the Kingussie seconds at the Dell.
Mowi South League A Bute 3 Col Glen 2 Bute marked an historic day for the club with an exciting 3-2 derby win over Col Glen in their 12.30pm throw up at the Meadows. It was the day Bute held a ceremony to officially mark the transfer of deeds for their pitch, the Meadows, gifted to them by the Mount Stuart Trust earlier this year. The proposal to transfer ownership stemmed from negotiations on the renewal of the ground lease from the Mount Stuart Trust to the club when both parties agreed that the best way forward would be to transfer ownership. Mount Stuart Trust generously offered to do so at no cost to Bute and also included the wider Meadows area subject to the ongoing tenancy of Argyll & Bute Council. The club currently boasts one of shinty’s best clubhouse facilities and this new ownership of the pitches and surrounding land will allow the club to further develop its ambitions for this important community resource for the whole island. Speaking ahead of the handover, Sophie Crichton-Stuart from the Mount Stuart Trust said: “Working closely with the team at Bute Shinty Club, we are delighted to be able to officially mark the handover of ownership of the playing pitches. “Recognising the importance of the role of shinty and the club in island life and acknowledging the facilities as an invaluable resource for the wider community, it gives me great pleasure to know that this new ownership will allow the club to realise its ambitions for the Meadows and I look forward to visiting for a shinty match or other future events.” The Bute Shinty and Amateur Athletic Club Chairman Barry Martin added: “This gift of the Meadows pitches will have a huge impact for the Isle of Bute Shinty Club. We are very much a community club with our clubhouse used for a huge range of events, with everything from yoga classes to Irish dancing, weddings and funerals taking place here. Many will also be aware of the key role the club plays in hosting the annual Agricultural show and Highland Games and this transfer of ownership will allow us to move on and start to plan a much needed storage facility for the Agricultural Society / Highland Games. “Throughout the process, the club is very grateful for the very generous support and advice provided by Elaine Campbell of Wm. Skelton and Co, Solicitors, which made the process very straightforward for us. In marking the handover today we are also taking the opportunity to recognise the many years of service of volunteer Margaret Whitelaw whose post match catering has fed many a team and its supporters over the years.” To the match itself and James Hamilton threatened to spoil the celebrations when he gave Col Glen a 3 minute lead. Leon MacMillan equalised on 15 minutes but Auryn Kerr put Col Glen back in front on the stroke of half-time. However Bute levelled for a second time through Craig MacKay just 3 minutes after the restart. Ryan Craig then struck on the hour with what proved to be the game’s winning goal.
Mowi South League B Aberdour P Kyles Athletic P The Kyles Athletic second team were unable to field a team for their trip to Silversands to face the Aberdour second team.
Glasgow Mid Argyll P Bute P The clash between the Glasgow Mid Argyll reserves and the Bute reserves at Peterson Park was postponed as the visitors were unable to raise a team.
Mowi Central League Ardnamurchan 2 Kilmory 2 Euan Gilmour’s goal a couple of minutes from time gave Kilmory a share of the points with Ardnamurchan following their 2-2 draw at Strontian. Both teams fielded a number of young players and the first half looked like it would end goalless before James Baxter popped up on the stroke of half-time to give Kilmory a 1-0 interval lead. However with 20 minutes remaining, Freddie Patterson drew Ard’ level and he gave the hosts the lead with his second goal of the game on 81 minutes. Kilmory were not to be denied though and Euan Gilmour scored a couple of minutes from time to earn the visitors a share of the points. It was a good season for Ardnamurchan who only failed to play one fixture as time ran out at the season’s end. Kilmory meantime look forward to next season to further test their developing squad.
Glenorchy P Oban Celtic P The Oban Celtic second team were unable to gather a team to travel to play Glenorchy at the Mart Park.
MacTavish Juvenile Cup – Semi-Final Beauly U17 3 Fort William U17 1 Beauly U17 are through to the MacTavish Cup Final after beating Fort William U17 3-1 in their 2pm throw up at the Dell. This last-four tie was originally scheduled for Craigard, Invergarry but an unplayable pitch led to a midweek switch to Kingussie. Beauly’s Euan Maccormick and Fort William’s Craig MacDonald were key players. This was a really good game between two physically matched teams and it got off to a flying start as Beauly forward Callum MacIver gave his side the lead within just 20 seconds of the throw up. Beauly created chances to increase their lead but Jack Kearney in the Fort William goal was in excellent form, making several good saves. The Fort equalised on 57 minutes when the ball came to Rhys Kennedy and he slotted it by keeper Lennox Stewart to make it 1-1. This was a key period in the match as Beauly regained the lead almost straight from the restart when the Fort failed to clear a ball from Finlay “Stork” MacLennan and Scott Cameron took advantage to score. It was now Fort William’s turn to press but Beauly defended well and they added a third goal on 70 minutes. Charlie MacRae, Fraser MacPherson and Finlay MacLennan all combined to find Torrin Cairns who slammed the ball high past keeper Kearney to make it 3-1. Referee Calum Girvan blew for time and Beauly deserved their victory as they had more of the play but Fort keeper Jack Kearney deserves credit for several outstanding stops. The Dell pitch was in immaculate condition given the recent rain, with the drainage system working to good effect. It did, not surprisingly, get heavy towards the end with several players suffering from cramp. Beauly U17, coach by Beauly first team co-managers Gregor McCormick and Niall MacLennan, will now play Kingussie U17, who were 3-2 winners over Skye Camanachd U17 in their semi-final, in this year’s MacTavish Cup Final. Following a toss of the coin, it was confirmed that the final will be held at Braeview Park, Beauly on Saturday 13 November 2021. The throw up time is to be confirmed.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report states differently) |