The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 31 August 2019 | |
01 September 2019 The wet weather played havoc with the shinty fixture list with only four regional league matches beating the elements following the shinty action on Saturday 31 August 2019.
Mowi Premiership Kinlochshiel P Newtonmore P Champions Newtonmore missed out on the chance to lead the Mowi Premiership for the first time this season when their noon throw up against Kinlochshiel was postponed. Kinlochshiel’s new Reraig pitch failed a Saturday morning inspection following the persistent overnight rain. Kinlochshiel now have three matches remaining. They host Oban Camanachd on Saturday 21 September 2019 and travel to Kingussie on Saturday 5 October 2019. The date for the rescheduled meeting with Newtonmore has still to be confirmed. Newtonmore remain in second place in shinty’s top flight with 20 points and five matches remaining. Their next league fixture is at Kyles Athletic on Saturday 21 September 2019 before home matches against Oban Camanachd and Kyles Athletic over the following two Saturdays. ‘More then travel to face Oban Camanachd on Saturday 19 October 2019 with the visit to Kinlochshiel still to be rescheduled. ‘More can still finish the season on 30 points. The trip to Kinlochshiel was Newtonmore’s final match ahead of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final against Oban Camanachd at An Aird on Saturday 14 September 2019. However their second team fixture against Aberdeen University this coming weekend allows Michael Russell and Glen MacKintosh the opportunity to prove their fitness following injury and stake a place in the cup final squad.
Kingussie P Caberfeidh P The 3pm throw up between Artemis Macaulay Cup winners Kingussie and Caberfeidh at the Dell was called off on Saturday morning. Kingussie stay third on 19 points with six matches remaining and they arguably have the more straight-forward run-in. Their next fixture is at home to Inveraray on Saturday 21 September 2019. There final matches take place on successive Saturdays thereafter and are Caberfeidh (away), Kinlochshiel (home), Kyles Athletic (away) and Kilmallie (away) with the meeting with Caberfeidh at the Dell still to be rescheduled. The Kings can still finish the season on 31 points. Seventh placed Caberfeidh have twelve points with four fixtures remaining and they are already ahead of last year’s total of 10 points which earned an eighth spot. Caberfeidh still have visits to Lovat and Kyles Athletic, either side of a home meeting with Kingussie with the away clash with the Kings still to be confirmed.
Lochaber P Oban Camanachd P The wet weather claimed another casualty as the clash between Lochaber and Oban Camanachd at Spean Bridge was postponed on Saturday morning. Relegation-threatened Lochaber are on seven points and they have two matches left to save their season. They have a noon meeting with Kyles Athletic at Spean Bridge scheduled for Saturday 14 September 2019 whilst the Oban Camanachd clash is still to be rescheduled. This was Oban Camanachd’s final fixture ahead of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final against Newtonmore at An Aird on Saturday 14 September 2019. Thereafter, Oban Camanachd’s remaining six league fixtures sees them travel to Kinlochshiel on Saturday 21 September 2019 and, on successive Saturdays thereafter; they play Newtonmore (away), Inveraray (home), Lovat (away) and Newtonmore (home) with the trip to Lochaber still to be rescheduled. Oban Camanachd can finish the season on 28 points.
Kyles Athletic P Kilmallie P The clash between Kyles Athletic and Kilmallie at Tighnabruaich was postponed as the Kilmallie club attended the funeral of former youth player Matthew Duncan. Kyles Athletic still have six games left. They travel to Lochaber on Saturday 14 September 2019 with a trip to Newtonmore the week after. Kyles then visit Newtonmore on Saturday 5 October 2019 with home matches on consecutive Saturdays thereafter against Kingussie, Caberfeidh and Kilmallie. Kilmallie are on nine points, two points ahead of both Inveraray and Lochaber in their battle to beat the drop. Meantime Kilmallie have a wait to play their final two games which are at home to Kingussie on 19 October 2019 with a trip to Kyles the week after. Inveraray will have finished their season by then having made trips to Kingussie and Oban Camanachd.
Mowi National Division Skye Camanachd P Glasgow Mid Argyll P Skye Camanachd’s clash with Glasgow Mid Argyll was postponed on Friday afternoon as Pairc nan Laoch was waterlogged. Glasgow Mid Argyll can finish the season on 23 points and, with four matches remaining; they are still favourites to secure second spot and promotion to the Mowi Premiership. However they still have work to do. GMA host Strathglass on Saturday 14 September 2019 and finish the season with away matches on the following three Saturdays at Fort William, Strathglass and Skye. Skye can still reach 19 points but their promotion hopes rest on beating Glenurquhart at Pairc nan Laoch on Saturday 21 September 2019 and GMA at the same venue a fortnight later in their two remaining games whilst also hoping GMA slip up elsewhere.
Oban Celtic P Strathglass P The wet weather through Friday night into Saturday morning led to the postponement of the match between Oban Celtic and Strathglass at Ganavan. This encounter has been rescheduled for Saturday 21 September 2019 with Oban Celtic’s final match at home to Glenurquhart taking place a week later. Strathglass finish with September matches at GMA and Oban Celtic and a home clash with GMA.
Bute P Glenurquhart P Bute’s 2pm throw up with promotion hopefuls Glenurquhart at the Meadows was called off on Saturday morning as the heavy rain meant the pitch on Rothesay was mainly under water. Bute will finish their season with matches at Beauly and then at home to Glenurquhart. The Glen have three matches to go and they can finish the season on 20 points. Their promotion hopes rest on winning at Skye on Saturday 21 September 2019 and at Oban Celtic and Bute on the two Saturdays thereafter whilst also hoping GMA slip up.
Strathdearn Cup Final Newtonmore P Fort William P There was disappointment for the Newtonmore colts and the Fort William colts as the Strathdearn Cup Final, a 4pm throw up at the Bught Park, Inverness, had to be postponed as there was water lying on the pitch. Newtonmore’s Calum Stewart would have missed the final as he started a two match suspension following his sending off against the Kingussie seconds a week earlier. Instead, he will begin his ban in a rescheduled Mowi North Division 1 noon throw up against Aberdeen University at the Eilan on Saturday 7 September 2019. Cameron McNiven will also miss that game as he begins a two match ban for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. The journey to the Eilan will be a fourth consecutive away match for the Students who haven’t played at Balgownie since early July. However, only two of their remaining six games are at home as they struggle to move off the bottom of the table.
Mowi North Division 1 Glengarry P Skye Camanachd P Mowi North Division 1 league leaders Glengarry’s match against the Skye Camanachd second team at Craigard was postponed. The early indications on Saturday morning were that the game could go ahead but the heavy rain left the pitch unplayable.
Lovat P Inverness P The Lovat reserves match against the Inverness first team was called off on Saturday morning when Balgate was ruled unplayable.
Caberfeidh P Glenurquhart P The game between Caberfeidh reserves and the Glenurquhart reserves was postponed on Saturday morning. A pitch inspection found several large pools of water on the Castle Leod pitch with no let-up in the rain.
Kingussie P Aberdeen University P The noon throw up between the Kingussie seconds and Aberdeen University was postponed when it was deemed the Dell could not host two matches.
Mowi South Division 1 Tayforth 3 Lochside Rovers 2 Tayforth came from two goals down to beat Lochside Rovers 3-2 in their 1.30pm throw up at Peffermill. It has been a good season for Tayforth who went into the game in second place in the table; a significant improvement on last season’s second bottom finish. Although they had a couple of absentees, Tayforth listed a strong squad for what was their final match of the season. Lochside’s impressive fourteen match winning run ended the previous weekend when they lost out in a title showdown with Aberdour. With George Easton and Gareth Evans unavailable, Andrew Pearson took sole charge of the Oban side but he travelled with just thirteen players. Lochside were missing their entire defence with Gavin Stobbart, Chrissie MacMillan, skipper Jordan Kerr and the suspended Scott Robertson all out. Michael MacQueen, Jamie MacGillivray and Brian MacCallum were amongst the others unable to travel. There was a debut in attack for 13 year old Callum MacMillan whilst his father, David MacMillan, came out of retirement to feature in a revamped defence. There was a second father and son combination with Johnny Campbell up front and his son Ross Campbell at the back. Kieran Pearson featured again and his 13 year old brother Daniel Pearson was on the bench; coming on late in the game. With Oban Camanachd’s trip to Lochaber called off, Blair MacFarlane was quickly added to the Lochside squad and he featured on the wing whilst David Lafferty travelled up from Glasgow to play at full centre. This was very much a game of two halves with Lochside having a strong wind in their favour in the first period. However, despite the elements, the pitch was in immaculate condition. David Lafferty did his chances of catching the eye of Oban Camanachd manager Stephen Sloss ahead of the Camanachd Cup Final no harm when he put Lochside ahead on 20 minutes. The goal came from a corner which was cleared to about 25 yards out where David Lafferty sent a dive into the top left-hand corner of the net. Evan MacLellan, playing his first match since picking up an injury in the HIS Sutherland Cup Final, made it 2-0 on 36 minutes. This goal came from a free-hit played out wide before Evan MacLellan took a shot from just outside the box which went into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. Such was the strength of the wind, Tayforth struggled to get up the pitch during the first 45 minutes but they did manage to create a couple of dangerous attacks. Lochside led 2-0 at half-time but Tayforth now had the elements and they went on to dominate the remainder of the game. It took some very good goalkeeping from Lochside custodian Dougie MacDonald to keep his side in front and, despite their pressure; it didn’t look as if it would be Tayforth’s day. Indeed Lochside remained 2-0 in front until 16 minutes from time but former Lochcarron player Finlay Stark made his mark on the match as he pulled a goal back when he hit a low drive into the far bottom corner of the net following a well-worked free-hit to make it 2-1. The goal gave Tayforth belief and they continued to push on with Lochside tiring. They hosts equalised with 10 minutes remaining when a well-struck Donnie Forbes shot went into the roof of the net from around the penalty spot to make it 2-2. A second goal from Finlay Stark with 5 minutes remaining proved to be the winner. Stark’s effort was another low drive that took a bounce just in front of the keeper; enough to evade him, and the ball ended up in the back of the net to make it 3-2. The win completes Tayforth’s season and they currently sit in second place, three points ahead of third placed Lochside who still have four games to play. Lochside are back in action on Saturday 21 September 2019 when Col Glen visit Oban. They then have trips to Kyles Athletic and Ballachulish before hosting Taynuilt on successive Saturdays thereafter.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 3 Col Glen 0 The Glasgow Mid Argyll second team boosted their chances of beating relegation to Mowi South Division 2 when they overcame Col Glen 3-0 at Yoker. Calum McLay scored on 27 minutes to give the hosts the lead with what proved to be the only goal of the first half. It was Calum McLay again for GMA, making it 2-0 just 3 minutes into the second half. McLay completed his hat-trick on 79 minutes to seal the 3-0 win and the youngster’s scoring prowess this season has earned him a call-up to the South U21 squad but he is unable to play in this weekend’s clash against the North U21 as he attends a wedding. The win moves GMA off the bottom of the table at the Inveraray reserves expense.
Kyles Athletic P Ballachulish P The heavy rain led to the cancelation of the 1pm throw up between the Kyles Athletic seconds and Ballachulish at Tighnabruaich.
Mowi North Division 2 Boleskine 5 Lewis Camanachd 0 Boleskine finish fifth in the division after beating Lewis Camanachd 5-0 in their 2pm throw up at Smith Park. This was the only match to go ahead in the north and Boleskine, with Sandy Fraser at the back and Rory Campbell in midfield, had plenty of options with David Bowman, Paul Noble, Reece Munro, Stevie Munro and Keith Nicholson making up a five-man bench. Lewis Camanachd had Daniel Gallagher and Michael MacLeod in defence whist Scott MacLeod and Innes Lamont were in midfield. Donald Lamont was a substitute alongside Craig MacRitchie and Dylan Murray. James Anderson gave Boleskine the lead, beating Lewis keeper Willie MacLeod on 5 minutes, and Ross Anderson made it 2-0 at the break with a goal on 31 minutes. Neil Hope added a third on 57 minutes whilst Ross Anderson went on to complete his hat-trick with efforts on 68 and 75 minutes. The teams also competed for the Boleskine Challenge Cup and the match completed the season for both sides.
Kilmallie P Strathspey Camanachd P The clash between the Kilmallie seconds and Strathspey Camanachd at the Canal Parks was postponed as the Kilmallie club attended the funeral of former youth player Matthew Duncan.
Mowi South Division 2 Ardnamurchan 7 Bute 0 Ardnamurchan finished their season on a high, recording their first victory of the year, as they defeated the Bute second team 7-0 at Strontian. Craig MacDonald opened the scoring with a goal on 8 minutes. Neil Mellis made it 2-0 on 27 minutes with Aaron Mellis adding a third on the half hour mark. Calum Ritchie made it 4-0 on 35 minutes and a second goal from Neil Mellis just 4 minutes later ensured there would only be one winner. Calum Ritchie got his second goal of the game a minute after the restart whilst Aaron Mellis did like-wise on 71 minutes to crown the 7-0 victory.
WCA Round Up There was a very limited Women’s Camanachd Association programme as Macaulay association area representative trials were scheduled.
Mowi National Division 1 Skye Camanachd P Ardnamurchan P Skye Camanachd and Ardnamurchan were to meet in an 11.30am throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 31 August 2019. However the match was called off on Friday afternoon as the pitch was waterlogged. Skye Camanachd now turn their attention to this Saturday’s Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final against Badenoch at the Dell.
Mowi North Division 2 Inverness 3 Strathglass 0 Inverness beat Strathglass 3-0 in their 7.30pm throw up at the Bught Park, Inverness on Thursday 29 August 2019. Katie McMillan scored all three goals and the result sets Inverness up nicely for Saturday’s Mowi Challenge Cup Final against Lovat at the Dell this coming Saturday.
(All throw ups were are 2.30pm unless the match report states differently) |