The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 4 November 2017 | |
05 November 2017 Caberfeidh were promoted to the Marine Harvest Premiership, Bute go third in Marine Harvest South Division 1 and Kingussie U17 lifted the London Shield following the shinty action on Saturday 4 November 2017.
Marine Harvest Premiership Kilmallie P Oban Camanachd P The 11.30am throw up between Kilmallie and Oban Camanachd 0 at The Canal Parks was postponed on Friday evening as the pitch was unplayable. With league positions unaffected, the sides agreed with the Camanachd Association that the points be shared so the match will not be scheduled. Kilmallie manager Mark MacPherson would have been without suspended trio Michael Rodger, Martin Stewart and Craig MacIsaac for this game but there is at least some good news as the points sharing arrangement means the game will count against each player’s suspension. Rodger and MacIsaac will still miss the first two games of next season but Stewart will just miss the 2018 opening day match. Kilmallie return to the Marine Harvest National Division next season after 12 months in shinty’s top flight. The Oban Camanachd squad end the season in a comfortable sixth position in the league. This match completes the 2017 Marine Harvest Premiership programme.
Marine Harvest National Division Fort William 2 Inveraray 0 Fort William will play Marine Harvest National Division shinty again next season following their 2-0 win over Inveraray in their noon throw up at An Aird. It would have taken a winning margin of thirteen goals for the Fort to pip Caberfeidh to the division’s second promotion spot but this always looked an unrealistic target. The wet weather in the lead up to the game led to a Saturday morning inspection when the pitch was ruled playable. Fort William were without Bryan Simpson and Sean Cameron. Inveraray’s Allan MacDonald was suspended for this one as he started a five match ban, which will stretch well into next season, although he did travel with the squad. Ally Munro, Ally MacDonald, Grant Griffin, Garry MacPherson and youngster Ruaraidh Graham were also missing for the visitors but Nicholas Crawford, starting at full centre, was back in the side after injury. Douglas Dando also started. There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up following the sad passing of former Lochaber U14 player Kyle Bruce. Fort William knew they had to go for goals and the game was only 15 seconds old when Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan saved first with his stick and then with his feet. Fort William took the lead after 8 minutes when Alexander MacMillan’s shot took a slight deflection off John Kennedy’s stick and ended up in the back of the net. Another good Fort William move saw an effort hit the side-netting on 11 minutes. Allan Cameron hit Inveraray’s only effort at goal during the early exchanges. Arran MacPhee and Calum Shepherd were dominant in the Fort William midfield and Alexander MacMillan had the ball in the net on 23 minutes but the effort was ruled out for offside by referee Archie Ritchie. Indeed it was one of three efforts Fort William had disallowed for offside. Had it not been for some great goalkeeping from Inveraray’s Scott MacLachlan, and for some over-elaborate forward play, it could well have been a more interesting second half with Fort William targeting a big win. As it was, the second half fell flat although Calum Shepherd, pushed forward after starting at wing centre, added a second, sending the ball low into the bottom corner of the net just 30 seconds after the restart. The heavy pitch didn’t suit Fort William and there was no further scoring. Lachie Shaw really impressed for the Fort who were better than the 2-0 win suggests and their young side may well benefit from another season in shinty’s second tier in the long run. The match completes the 2017 Marine Harvest National Division league programme and Caberfeidh, along with champions Skye Camanachd, will be promoted to the Marine Harvest Premiership. Inverness end the season bottom of the table. However it is unlikely that there will be promotion hopefuls from either North 1 or South 1 so the Highland Capital side should have the option of continuing to play in shinty’s second tier.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Fort William P Aberdeen University P The clash between the Fort William second team and Aberdeen University was called off on Friday afternoon as An Aird could not take two games and the Marine Harvest National Division meeting between Fort William and Inveraray took precedent. The sides shared the points. Aberdeen University finish the season in second position whilst the Fort William colts complete their league campaign in fifth spot.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Bute 2 Aberdour 0 Bute go third in Marine Harvest South Division 1 following their 2-0 home victory over second placed Aberdour. A late player call-off meant Aberdour had to play the whole match with just eleven players. Bute started with a cold wind in their favour and, after an even opening spell; they took the lead through a very good Robert Walker goal on 35 minutes although visiting keeper Kevin Latimer did get his hand to Walker’s shot. The Aberdour players put in a great shift but and it took some stout defending to restrict Bute to a single goal interval lead with Aberdour restricted to just a few chances. The second half continued in the same vein and Ian McDonald made it 2-0 on 59 minutes. It was a last appearance for Aberdour marksman Roddy McColl. The former Kyles player has only missed one game in the last two seasons and that was when his son Murdo was born. His contribution, especially his goals, will be difficult to replace next season. This was Aberdour’s final match of the season and they are currently in a creditable second place in the division. Bute could overtake them on goal difference if they beat Kilmory at MacRae Park this Saturday. However Kilmory themselves, with three matches remaining, can still snatch a second place finish.
Kyles Athletic P Tayforth P With Tighnabruaich still unplayable, the clash between the Kyles Athletic seconds and Tayforth was switched to Yoker with a 3pm throw up. However the game was called off on Saturday morning following a bereavement.
Taynuilt P Col Glen P The meeting between Taynuilt and Col Glen was called off when The Taynuilt Sports Field failed a pitch inspection. The teams agreed to share the points.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Kilmallie P Inverness P The match between the Kilmallie seconds and the Inverness seconds was postponed when it became clear The Canal Parks could not take two games. The match has been rescheduled for this coming Saturday.
Strathspey Camanachd 2 Caberfeidh 1 Strathspey Camanachd beat the Caberfeidh second team 2-1 in their 1.30pm throw up at Grantown Grammar School. The match was rescheduled for Sunday 5 October 2017. Arron MacBean gave Strathspey the lead on just 5 minutes whilst Struan Ross made it 2-0 on 25 minutes. Ruaridh McCreadie pulled a goal back 5 minutes from time but Strathspey stayed in front to take the points.
WCA Round Up The Women’s Camanachd Association season is reaching a conclusion.
Marine Harvest National Division 1 Skye Camanachd P Lochaber P The crucial league match between Skye Camanachd and Lochaber at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree has been rescheduled for Saturday 11 November 2017. The match was originally scheduled for Saturday 4 November 2017 but Lochaber requested a postponement so their squad could attend the funeral in Fort William that same day of former Lochaber U14 player Kyle Bruce.
Fort William P Lochaber P The 3pm throw up between Fort William and Lochaber on Sunday 5 November 2017 was postponed as An Aird was unplayable.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 The Lochaber second team knew that a win over Glenurquhart in their noon throw up at Spean Bridge on Sunday 5 November 2017 would give them the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title. However it proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the home side as the Glen ran out 2-1 winners. Caitlin MacDonald got the Lochaber goal but strikes from Jenny Service and Hazel Hunter gave Glenurquhart victory and they finish third. There will now be a play-off between Lochaber and Strathspey, with the date yet to be confirmed, to decide the title destination.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 A Fay Robertson double gave Cowal & Bute a 2-0 win over the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team.
Youth Shinty One of youth shinty’s show-piece games took place at The Dell where Kingussie U17 lifted the London Shield following a dramatic final against Oban Camanachd U17.
2017 London Shield Final Kingussie U17 4 Oban Camanachd U17 4 (AET Kingussie won 1-0 on penalties) Kingussie U17 won the London Shield, eventually edging out Oban Camanachd U17 on penalties following their 4-4 draw in a thrilling encounter at The Dell. The final was originally scheduled for Craigard, Invergarry but that was ruled unplayable so, on the toss of a coin, the venue was switched to Kingussie’s The Dell rather than Oban Camanachd’s Mossfield. Both teams were able to field players with Marine Harvest Premiership experience with Ruaridh Anderson, Roddy Young and Alexander Michie in Kingussie colours whilst Daniel MacCuish, Daniel Sloss and Craig Easton have all played for Oban Camanachd this season. Oban Camanachd were dealt a blow in the lead up to the final with Craig MacMillan and Robbie Brown both unavailable. Ross Campbell and Blair MacFarlane were given starting roles in their place. This was Oban Camanachd’s third successive London Shield final and they went into the game as holders having beaten Skye at The Eilan in 2016. It was a final of fine margins and Oban Camanachd got off to a great start, opening up a two goal advantage before the 10 minute mark. Ross Campbell put them in front on 5 minutes with the 14 year old forcing the ball low into the net from an acute angle. Things got even better for the Oban side just 4 minutes later. Lennon Campbell’s shot was saved by Kingussie keeper George Taylor-Ramsay but Lewis Buchanan knocked the rebound home to make it 2-0. The next goal was always going to be crucial. A third Oban Camanachd goal could have killed Kingussie off but instead it was Roddy Young who got his side right back into the game. As the Kings went forward, Roddy Young and his marker collided, both falling to the ground. Young was quickly back on his feet and he beat another player before slotting the ball past keeper Cameron Sutherland, into the far post side-netting to make it 2-1. Ruaridh Anderson drew Kingussie level on 46 minutes with the goal coming following a corner. Anderson touched the ball down, through the Oban defence and into the D, and he ran on to flick the ball past the keeper into the corner of the net. Kingussie took the lead for the first time in the final on 67 minutes. Roddy Young collected a free-hit, chipped over the Oban defence towards him, and he turned back into three defenders, taking the ball through them before shooting into the bottom corner of the net to bag his second goal of the game. However Oban Camanachd fought back and Lennon Campbell equalised on 76 minutes. This time Lewis Buchanan saw his shot saved but Campbell got in ahead of a defender to make it 3-3. Both keepers – 12 year old George Taylor-Ramsay for Kingussie and Scotland U17 goalie Cameron Sutherland for Oban Camanachd – made great saves during the match and were helpless for the goals. At the end of an exciting 80 minutes, referee Deek Cameron took the final into extra-time. Kingussie made an explosive start to the extra-time period and Ruaridh Anderson put them back in front. Joe Donald’s initial shot was saved by Cameron Sutherland but Ruaridh Anderson ran in and flicked the ball around the keeper and into the net for his second goal of the afternoon to make it 4-3. With the clock counting down, Oban Camanachd pushed players forward and, with 5 minutes remaining, they were awarded a penalty after referee Deek Cameron spotted a “kick” inside the D. Kingussie swapped keepers for the spot-hit with Alexander Michie replacing George Taylor-Ramsay between the sticks but it made no difference as Lewis Buchanan got his second, as his well-struck penalty went low and hard into the net to make it 4-4. George Taylor-Ramsay returned in goal although he was replaced again just before the end of extra-time with half back Dylan Borthwick now going in goals. The switch paid dividends as Borthwick saved all five Oban Camanachd penalties. The penalty that made the difference was the Kings’ fifth spot hit when Kieran MacPherson thumped the ball home to give Kingussie a 1-0 shoot-out win. The pick of the players probably came in the middle of the park where the captains – Kingussie’s Ruaridh Anderson and Oban Camanachd’s Daniel MacCuish - were superb. Kingussie captain Ruaridh Anderson lifted the London Shield, rounding off a successful youth season for the club.
(All throw ups were 2pm unless the match report states differently) |