Oban Camanachd and Newtonmore are safely through to the Camanachd Cup semi-finals whilst Kinlochshiel and Beauly and Kyles Athletic and Lochaber will have to do it all over again following the shinty action on Saturday 9 July 2016.
Camanachd Cup – Quarter Finals
Kilmallie 3 Oban Camanachd 4
The match of the day was at the Canal Parks where Oban Camanachd came from behind three times to eventually beat a determined Kilmallie side 4-3 in their Camanachd Cup quarter-final tie.
Kilmallie had players back from the side that beat Inverness in the league a week earlier. Shane Gillies returned in goal whilst Martin Stewart and Liam MacDonald were also back and Peter Carmichael and Michael Rodger were free of one match suspensions.
Oban Camanachd travelled with a full squad for this 3pm throw up.
There was a minutes silence ahead of throw up to mark the passing of Oban Camanachd stalwart Duncan MacIntyre.
The visitors had a couple of early chances but Kilmallie looked dangerous up front and they went in front on 24 minutes when Liam MacDonald punished the Oban Camanachd defence for failing to clear their lines.
It only took Oban Camanachd a couple of minutes to level with Andrew MacCuish scoring.
Brian MacKay put Kilmallie back in front with a shot from the left on 29 minutes but Andrew MacCuish again levelled on 33 minutes with a low drive into the bottom corner of the net.
Just a minute later, Kilmallie took the lead for the third time when Duncan Rodger fired the ball home to the delight of the home crowd who now sensed a cup shock and Kilmallie took the 3-2 lead into the break.
Andrew MacCuish completed his hat-trick with a low strike which went through the keeper’s legs on 51 minutes. The goal made it 3-3 and made MacCuish top scorer in the tournament so far.
Oban Camanachd were playing well in the second period and they went in front for the first time in the tie on 63 minutes when Connor Howe poked the ball over the line following a goalmouth scramble to make it 4-3.
And that’s the way it stayed. Oban Camanachd’s fitness gave them an advantage and Lorne Dickie turned in a man of the match performance at full centre.
This was a great game of shinty, played in front of a big crowd who generated a fantastic atmosphere in the rain and it’s Oban Camanachd who go forward into the semi-final draw.
Next up for Oban Camanachd is a Marine Harvest Premiership visit to the Dell to play Kingussie this Saturday. Throw up is at the later time of 3.30pm.
The big games also keep coming for Kilmallie and they now have a Balliemore Cup Final against Caberfeidh at Blairbeg to look forward to this coming weekend.
Newtonmore 4 Skye Camanachd 2
Newtonmore beat Skye Camanachd 4-2 at the Eilan.
Evan Menzies returned for ‘More after suspension whilst Rory Kennedy was also back but Fraser MacKintosh was still missing.
Skye had skipper Neil MacVicar back after injury but they were minus Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Chris MacLennan, Iain Nicolson and David MacInnes.
Newtonmore put Skye under pressure from the throw up and Jamie Gannon made a terrific save with his feet after Jamie Robinson had drifted in from the left and fired the ball goalwards.
Skye survived the early ‘More onslaught and a James Pringle shot went wide mid-way through the half.
Newtonmore took the lead on 25 minutes. An initial shot was saved with his hand by Skye keeper Jamie Gannon but Evan Menzies bundled the rebound over the line to make it 1-0.
Jamie Gannon pulled off a terrific save with his hand from a deflected Glen MacKintosh shot just 3 minutes later.
Evan Menzies got his and Newtonmore’s second goal with a low shot from 20 yards out with just a couple of first half minutes remaining.
Skye started second half well and ‘More keeper Owen Fraser made a good stop with his feet to deny Danny Morrison a couple of minutes after the restart.
The Skye rear-guard were defending well but there was little they could do on 55 minutes as Norman Campbell made it 3-0 with a 20 yard drive.
‘More substitute Iain Robinson made it 4-0 on 70 minutes when he created a bit of space for himself before sending a low shot into the corner of the net.
A 20 yarder from Skye substitute Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod was expertly dealt with by keeper Owen Fraser as the tie moved into the final 15 minutes.
Skye had made substitutions which aided them as an attacking force and, with 6 minutes remaining, a superb 20 yard shot from Jordan Murchison flew past Owen Fraser to make it 4-1.
Skye were awarded a penalty on 88 minutes when referee Deek Cameron penalised Owen Fraser for playing the ball whilst on the ground. Jordan Murchison made no mistake from the spot hit, sending a low shot into the corner of the net.
Newtonmore deserved their place in the last four of the Camanachd Cup and the sides meet in league action at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree this coming Saturday.
Kinlochshiel 1 Beauly 1
Kinlochshiel and Beauly will have to do it all over again this coming weekend after they drew 1-1 at Kirkton.
Kinlochshiel keeper Scott Kennedy returned in goal after missing the previous weekend’s league win over Kingussie because of a groin injury sustained against Skye a fortnight earlier. Raymond Gillies deputised against Kingussie and he was named on the bench for this game as a precaution in case Kennedy’s injury flared up again. Paul MacRae went over his ankle in the Skye match and he also missed the Kingussie clash but he was back for this one with a strapped ankle. Defender Mark MacDonald was on holiday so Calum MacLean continued in defence.
Beauly boss Steven MacLean was without Barrie MacDonald. He made his return from a long injury lay-off a week earlier but he was ruled out with a swollen knee. Colin MacDonald, Jamie MacLennan, Sandy Elrick and Liam Mutch were missing. David MacLean started at buckshee back with Ryan Tillman at full centre.
Beauly shocked their hosts when they took the lead after just 3 minutes. Ross Forbes and Marc MacLachlan worked the ball up the Beauly left and MacLachlan sent a deep cross to the back post. Keeper Kennedy stumbled as he came off his line to clear the danger and Conor Ross did well to hold off Calum MacLean and steer the ball low into the far corner of the net from a tight angle to make it 1-0.
Kinlochshiel had most of the first half pressure but the closest they came to an equaliser was a low John MacRae shot which was well saved with his foot by a stretching Josh Grant in the Beauly goal.
The pattern of play continued in the same vein during the second half and Kinlochshiel drew level of 56 minutes from a set-piece when John MacRae ran in from the left to sweep the ball into the net.
Jordan Fraser had the ball in the net shortly after but referee Graham Cameron ruled the effort out for offside.
Despite all ‘Shiel’s pressure, this was a spirited performance from Beauly and they could have won it late in the game when a Jack MacDonald shot from the right came back off Scott Kennedy’s right post.
Beauly’s David MacLean put in a man of the match performance in defence whilst full centre Ryan Tillman also caught the eye.
So the teams will do it all over again at Braeview Park this coming Saturday where the Marine Harvest Premiership side will start as favourites against their Marine Harvest National Division opponents.
Kyles Athletic 2 Lochaber 2
Kyles Athletic had to twice come from behind to earn a replay against Lochaber in their 3pm throw up at a wet Tighnabruaich.
Andrew King’s return to the Kyles Athletic defence a week earlier was a timely boost for the homes side whilst Lochaber had Kevin Ferguson available after a two match ban.
Ben Delaney gave Lochaber the lead after 37 minutes only for Dunkie Kerr to equalise on the stroke of half time.
Neil MacDonald put Lochaber back in front on 51 minutes when he fired the ball over Kyles’ keeper John Whyte’s right shoulder.
However Grant Irvine drew Kyles level for a second time with a goal on 64 minutes.
Lochaber deployed Barry MacDonald against Grant Irvine in the middle of the park and the youngster had a fine game.
The sides were scheduled to meet at Tighnabruaich in the league this coming Saturday. Instead they will replay their Camanachd Cup quarter final tie at Spean Bridge and Lochaber’s Brenan MacDonald will be an injury concern for that game as he left Tighnabruaich with his arm in a sling after taking a blow to the elbow.
Marine Harvest National Division
Bute 1 Inveraray 4
Inveraray stay top of shinty’s second tier as they beat Bute 4-1 in their 3pm throw up at the Meadows.
Inveraray travelled with a depleted squad, missing several regulars including the suspended Andrew McMurdo. However they found Bute in a very similar situation so both teams fielded some of their promising youngsters.
On a dreach day in Rothesay, ‘Aray made the brighter start and they deservedly went ahead thanks to Allan MacDonald’s persistence which saw him break clean through on goal and he confidently struck the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0.
The visitors were now playing the ball slickly around the front line for Fraser Watt, David Robertson, Ruaridh Graham and Allan MacDonald and it was no surprise when they extended their lead. Fraser Watt added a second with a well struck shot from 20 yards on 18 minutes.
Then, 10 minutes later, player / manager Ruaridh Graham pounced on a through ball and he sent a strike high into the net to make it 3-0.
The Inveraray midfield of Garry MacPherson, Lewis MacNicol and youngster Ruaridh Graham dominated the middle of the park. Young Graham deserves special praise for a tireless display all afternoon and he is a player on which the Winterton side has high hopes.
There was a role reversal after the break when Bute came much more into the game and they did not let Inveraray play their usual game.
However the visitors did manage a fourth goal through Allan MacDonald on the hour when he had a simple finish to notch his second strike of the afternoon following great play from Ruaridh Graham senior.
Inveraray made changes for the final 20 minutes, replacing veterans David Robertson and Ruaridh Graham with young guns Robert Wood and Niall Kennedy.
Bute finished strongly and they got their reward 5 minutes from time when former Lovat player Duncan Davidson scored to make it 4-1.
In the end, Inveraray did the damage in the first half against a never say die Bute team.
Ballachulish 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 12
Glasgow Mid Argyll notched another league win and they go second in the table after beating Ballachulish 12-0 at Jubilee Park.
Scott MacDonald was still out through suspension for Balla’ whilst GMA’s were without the banned John McNulty and the injured Brian Slattery and Euan Murray but Mark Bain returned
This was the fourth time these sides had met this season with GMA coming out on top each time.
It took GMA half an hour to break Balla’s resistance with Euan Forsyth scoring whilst Craig Anderson added a second a minute before the break.
The goal glut came in the second half. Craig Anderson got his second 3 minutes after the restart and Mark Bain made it 4-0 on 54 minutes.
Garry Luke added a fifth on 57 minutes whilst Nick Lavin added his name to the scoresheet 10 minutes later.
Garry Luke completed his hat-trick with goals on 74 and 79 minutes to make 8-0.
Ryan Harrison made the most of a spell up front with goals on 82 and 88 minutes. His goals came either side of a first goal at senior level from GMA debutant Angus MacInnes, with the youngster netting on 86 minutes.
Mark Bain rounded off the scoring just seconds before referee Innes Wood’s final whistle.
It’s tight at the top of the Marine Harvest National Division with only five points separating the top five teams. Inveraray are four points ahead of second placed GMA but the Glasgow side has three games in hand. Beauly and Kilmallie only trail GMA on goal difference with Caberfeidh just a point behind them.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Lovat 4 Strathglass 8
Strathglass extended their lead at the top of the table with an 8-4 win over the Lovat second team at Balgate.
Lovat were without keeper Ronan MacMillan so James Gallacher played between the sticks. There were starting places for Fraser Gallacher and Greg Matheson and Martin Mainland who are on their way back from injury.
Strathglass had keeper Adam Todd back as well as Steven Hyslop, Ryan Balharry and Michael Stokes who all missed the previous weekend’s win over the Skye reserves in Portree. Donald Fraser and Jono Price were missing.
Lovat made a good start but it was the Cannich side who went ahead on 8 minutes when wing centre Seth Jones sent a great 30 yard shot into the net.
The visitors doubled their lead straight from the restart when Scott Douglas scored from close range. Keeper Gallacher got his stick to the ball but he couldn’t keep it out of the net.
Scott Douglas got his second on 23 minutes and substitute Barry John Phimister, who had replaced Steven Hyslop after he took a head knock, made it 4-0 just a couple of minutes later.
The Strath centre line of Ross Balharry, Michael Stokes and Seth Jones were dominating and they added to their tally a minute later through Darren Reid.
Reid then turned provider as he showed good skills on the right before crossing for Scott Douglas to score from the edge of the D to complete his hat-trick with half an hour played.
With Strathglass now 6-0 ahead, Lovat pulled a goal back a minute before the break when full forward Fraser Gallacher jostled with full back Ally MacAdams and Gallacher’s strike beat the keeper at his left post.
Fraser Gallacher scored a similar goal with a 20 yard shot 4 minutes into the second half and he almost repeated the feat a minute later but this time the ball went just the wrong side of the post.
Referee Neil Ferguson awarded Strathglass a penalty on 58 minutes when Sam Ferguson was penalised for kicking the ball inside the D. However James Gallacher saved Scott Douglas’ spot-hit, high above his head with his caman.
The Lovat fight-back continued and they made it 6-3 on 63 minutes. Adam Todd saved a Fraser Gallacher shot with his hand but Greg Matheson knocked the dropping ball home.
It was Strathglass who would score next though as Steven Hyslop, back on the field, made it 7-3 and then Michael Stokes, with a peach of a goal, sent a 35 yard waist-high rasping shot into the net to make 8-3 with 67 minutes played.
There was consolation for Lovat when Greg Matheson scored his second goal of the afternoon a couple of minutes from time. The ball came out to Matheson off a Strathglass defender and he just managed to steady himself enough to scoop the ball into the net to make it 8-4.
Strathglass are now four points ahead of the Newtonmore reserves who have a couple of games in hand.
Kingussie 3 Kinlochshiel 2
The Kingussie reserves beat the Kinlochshiel reserves 3-2 at the Dell
Kevin Thain gave Kingussie a two goal advantage with strikes on 12 and 39 minutes. However ‘Shiel pulled a goal back just a minute later through Scotland U17 player Jonnie MacAskill.
John Gibson restored Kingussie’s two goal advantage on 74 minutes and it was an important score as Duncan “Ach” MacRae pulled another goal back for ‘Shiel with just 8 minutes remaining.
Third placed Kingussie are now just three points behind their Newtonmore rivals.
Beauly 0 Skye Camanachd 3
The Skye Camanachd colts collected two valuable points with a 3-0 win over the Beauly colts at Braeview Park
Beauly second team manager Neil Brindle was without Oran MacDonald who was suspended for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. Kieran MacTavish, Craig Rankin, Iain Rankin and Marc MacLachlan were with the Beauly senior side.
Skye boss Davie Pringle made four changes to the squad which lost to Strathglass in their league meeting in Portree a week earlier. Captain David Grant and keeper Iain MacLeod were unavailable and defender Neil John Campbell and full centre Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod were called up by the first team. John Angus MacInnes was back from holiday and Thomas Wilson and youngsters Martin Pringle and Sam MacPhee were added to the squad. Ryan Morrison took over in goal.
Ross Gordon was given a start for Skye after scoring his first goal at second team level against Strathglass a week earlier and he repaid his manager’s faith with a goal after 18 minutes.
Another youngster, Ruaraidh MacLeod, made it 2-0 on 40 minutes.
However it was older head John Angus MacInnes who sealed the win with a goal after 72 minutes.
The win lifts Skye a couple of places to sixth in the table.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Oban Celtic 3 Glenorchy 0
A revamped Oban Celtic side got their league challenge back on track as they beat Glenorchy 3-0 at Mossfield.
The sides had met at Mart Park just a couple of weeks earlier with Glenorchy coming out on top.
Celtic were minus David MacInnes, Alan Mckie, Rory Bruce, Ewan MacCorquodale as well as top goalscorer Fraser MacMillan. Manager Wotherspoon reshuffled his starting line up in an effort to be more clinical up front. Andy MacDonald was switched from full back to full forward whilst Ally McKerracher moved from half back half forward. Lee Askew and Daniel Madej remained in attack.
Glenorchy were without the suspended Duncan Smith and Dylan Cooke as well as Findlay Ross, Alec McPherson, Kieran Mckay, James Livingstone, John Sartain, Conor Sartain, Ewan Murray and Sandy Leiper as well as keeper Andrew Smith.
And as well as that, Glenorchy were forced to make an early change when Kieran Gallagher was on the end of a bad challenge and he ended up in hospital requiring stitches.
Celtic enjoyed some early pressure but Glenorchy keeper Des McNulty stood in their way with some fine saves.
The home side made the breakthrough on 41 minutes when Neil Carmichael was on hand to flick home a loose ball following another Des McNulty save.
A similar pattern of play followed in the second half and the Oban side eventually managed to beat the impressive Des McNulty once more on 63 minutes. Daniel Madej made the difference with a driving run into the D and he flicked the ball high past the keeper to make it 2-0.
Celtic made changes up front, bringing on Iain MacKechnie for his first appearance of the season and his clever link up play with Daniel Madej allowed Ally McKerracher to finish the game on 88 minutes with a well struck shot which gave the keeper no chance.
Kyles Athletic P Taynuilt P
The noon throw up between the Kyles Athletic second team and Taynuilt was postponed as it was ruled that the Tighnabruaich pitch could only take one game.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Aberdeen University 9 Lochaber 0
Aberdeen University’s title charge is very much on course as they beat the Lochaber second team 9-0 at Balgownie.
Alex Duncan put the home side ahead on 19 minutes and Ewan Fraser on 26 and 38 minutes had the Students 3-0 ahead at the break.
Alex Duncan got his second 3 minutes after the restart and he completed his hat-trick on 56 minutes to make it 5-0.
Aberdeen University player / manager Jamie Beaton scored on 64 and 75 minutes to make it 7-0.
Alex Duncan scored his fourth goal of the afternoon on 80 minutes and Ewan Fraser added another to compete his hat-trick 5 minutes from time to round off the 9-triumph.
Aberdeen University remain six points ahead of second placed Lochcarron but the Battery Park side has a game in hand.
Lewis Camanachd 0 Lochcarron 4
Second placed Lochcarron had a deserved 4-0 win over Lewis Camanachd at Shawbost
Lochcarron had David MacCuish and Sean MacCuish free of suspension.
The visitors went in front on 34 minutes when David Bauermeister ran in on goal before slotting the ball home.
An unmarked David MacCuish crashed the ball high into the net to make it 2-0 on 39 minutes.
Andrew Slaughter threaded the ball home after a goalmouth scramble on 57 minutes and Crisdean Finlayson rounded off the 4-0 victory 20 minutes from time.
Strathspey Camanachd 0 Caberfeidh 5
The Caberfeidh second team beat Strathspey Camanachd 5-0 at Kincraig.
Paddy Wilson was still suspended for Cabers.
First half goals from Colin MacLennan on 12 and 35 minutes had Cabers 2-0 ahead at the break.
David Mellis added a third just 3 minutes after the restart and Gavin McLaughlan on 56 minutes and Robert Bartlett 5 minutes from time made it 5-0.
Cabers stay third in the division.
Strathspey’s Liam Tinney was sent off by referee Callum Duff.
Boleskine 1 Glengarry 6
Glengarry were 6-1 winners over Boleskine at Smith Park.
Archie Johnstone on 3 and 28 minutes had the visitors 2-0 ahead whilst James MacRae on 34 minutes and Raymond Robertson a couple of minutes later made it 4-0.
Boleskine player / manager Jamie Matheson pulled a goal back a minute before the break but second half goals from Raymond Robertson on 60 and 85 minutes completed his hat-trick and gave ‘Garry the 6-1 win.
Kilmallie P Inverness P
The Kilmallie seconds and the Inverness seconds agreed to reschedule their meeting at the Canal Parks for a later date.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Bute 0 Tayforth 6
Tayforth were too strong for the Bute second team, winning 6-0 in their noon throw up at the Meadows.
Connor Sweeney scored twice, Finlay Stark was also on target whilst Brendan Duggan grabbed a hat-trick.
Dunoon Camanachd 0 Oban Lorn 2
Oban Lorn’s good league campaign continued as they returned from a very wet Dunoon Stadium with both points after they beat Dunoon 2-0.
Dunoon were minus the suspended Jonathon Black.
Callum MacDougall put Oban Lorne ahead on 68 and David Martin confirmed the win with a goal a couple of minutes before time.
Both teams deserve great credit for serving up an entertaining match in awful weather conditions.
Oban Lorne climb to third place in the table.
Glasgow Mid Argyll v Kilmory W/O
The Glasgow Mid Argyll second team were unable to raise a team for their meeting with Kilmory at Yoker. Kilmory have been awarded the points and they remain ahead of second placed Tayforth on goal difference although they have played a game more.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently. The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available)
(The picture of two-goal Evan Menzies of Newtonmore comes courtesy of Donald Cameron)