The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 21 July 2012. | |
27 July 2012 Lochaber won the Balliemore Cup and Newtonmore went clear at the top of the Orion Group Premiership following the shinty fixtures on Saturday 21 July 2012.
Balliemore Cup Final Beauly 1 Lochaber 5 Lochaber came from a goal down to lift the Balliemore Cup with a 5-1 win over Beauly at Castle Leod. Beauly beat Inverness in the league the previous week whilst Lochaber did not have a game because of the sad passing of Finlay Nicolson, father of Lochaber players Shaun Nicolson and Finlay Nicolson. Beauly and Lochaber met in early April at Braeview Park when a Shaun Nicolson hat-trick helped Lochaber to a 5-0 win. Beauly beat Glenorchy, Inverness and Kilmory to reach the final whilst Lochaber had a tougher route against Caberfeidh, Oban Camanachd and Glasgow Mid Argyll. Beauly were out to win this intermediate cup for the first time whilst Lochaber’s enjoyed success in both 1987 and 1994. Jack MacDonald rocked the favourites when he fired Beauly into a 10 minute lead. However strikes from Shaun Nicolson on 33 minutes and Stuart Callison on 41 minutes put the Spean Bridge men ahead at the break. The on-form Ben Delaney struck a minute into the second half and again 3 minutes later as Lochaber took control. Stuart Callison got his second on 65 minutes to give Lochaber a deserved 5-1 lead. There was no further scoring although the winning margin could have been bigger had it not been for the performance of Beauly keeper MacKay Murray and the ball striking the frame of his goal on more than one occasion. Lochaber substitute Finlay Nicolson came on in place of his brother Shaun Nicolson for the last quarter of the game and this poignant moment was warmly applauded by the crowd. Referee Evan MacRae blew the final whistle and Lochaber captain Lachie Innes was presented with the Balliemore Cup by Camanachd Association President Archie Robertson.
Orion Group Premiership Kyles Athletic 2 Newtonmore 5 The top two sides in the division clashed at Tighnabruaich where Kyles Athletic went down 5-2 to Newtonmore. The sides drew 3-3 at the Eilan earlier in the season and this one was expected to be just as close. Kyles full back Donald Irvine was missing because of work commitments. Kyles playmaker Roddy MacDonald was substituted 20 minutes from the end of last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup win on Skye when he picked up a leg knock but he was part of the home starting line-up. Newtonmore were not in action the previous weekend and manager Norman MacArthur was without captain John MacKenzie who was suspended for a points accumulation. Dunkie Kerr fired the home side into an 11 minute lead but ‘More benefited from a Calum Miller own goal on 23 minutes. ‘More took a 2-1 lead into the break when Danny MacRae fired home on 42 minutes. MacRae notched his second from the penalty spot on 53 minutes when referee David Mitchell spotted a kick inside the D. However Dunkie Kerr got his second 10 minutes from time to cut the visitors’ lead to a single goal. However late goals from Danny MacRae on 87 minutes, again from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick, and Calum Stewart in the final minute gave the reigning champions a 5-2 victory. Inveraray 7 Kilmallie 1 Inveraray all but consigned Kilmallie to a place in Marine Harvest North Division 1 next season with a 7-1 win at the Winterton. Kilmallie were without Martin Stewart who served the second game of a two match ban whilst Michael Rodger was also unavailable. Kilmallie’s John Stewart suffered a head knock in last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup defeat to Inveraray but he played. Chris Crawford put Inveraray ahead after 15 minutes when referee Colin MacDonald awarded the home side a penalty. However Mark Graham was on target for the visitors on 22 minutes to make it 1-1. Garry MacPherson put Inveraray back in front on 36 minutes. Chris Crawford made it 3-1 just 60 seconds later. Garry MacPherson on 44 minutes and Euan MacMurdo seconds before the break gave Inveraray a comfortable 5-1 interval advantage. A Russell MacKinlay brace on 62 minutes and on the stroke of full-time competed a 7-1 win Lovat 3 Fort William 1 Lovat go second in the table with a 3-1 win over Fort William in their 3pm throw up at Balgate. The Fort edged an Artemis Macaulay Cup tie between the sides by the odd goal in seven earlier in the season although Lovat came out on top in their league encounter at the Black Parks. Lovat manager Allan MacRae left Fraser Gallacher out of the squad so he played with the second team. Lorne MacKay started on the bench. Fort William were not in action the previous week and Gary Innes was missing for this one because of musical commitments whilst Alex Duncan started a three match ban. Greg Matheson scored twice the only goal of the first time on 24 minutes and he got his second on 20 minutes to take his tally for the season to twenty goals. Owen Ferguson got Lovat’s other just 60 seconds later to make it 3-0. Stevie Stewart netted a consolation goal for the Fort a couple of minutes from time. The win takes Lovat into second place in the table. Kinlochshiel 2 Glenurquhart 3 Newly promoted Kinlochshiel are just a point away from cementing their place in shinty’s top flight despite their 3-2 defeat to Glenurquhart at Kirkton. ‘Shiel defender John Don MacKenzie missed last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter-final win at Lovat with a leg injury which kept him out of this one too so David Falconer continued to deputise. Calum MacLean picked up a knock in that tie and had to be substituted along with Oliver MacRae who had a tight hamstring. However both started and there was a first senior starting place for teenage forward Jordan Fraser. There was a surprise appearance from Fraser MacVicar who was given a place on the bench after missing several games through work commitments. Home captain Gordie MacDonald is playing with a knee injury in what could be a memorable season for the club. Glenurquhart’s Ruairidh Cameron, Dave MacLennan and Billy Urquhart all missed out. Neale Reid fired the Glen into a 10 minute lead following good play from David Smart in this entertaining match. Finlay MacRae got on the end of a Keith MacRae free-hit to level on the half hour mark. However Neale Reid got his second 10 minutes from the break to put the visitors 2-1. Fraser Heath got on the end of a rebound following a James MacPherson shot to make it 3-2 early in the second half. ‘Shiel keeper Graham Kennedy was red carded by referee Billy Wotherspoon after a discussion with the goal judge on 57 minutes. The keeper pushed David Smart away when he followed up on a rebound. The decision seemed harsh and it will rule Kennedy out of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi-final meeting with Inveraray in a fortnight’s time. David Falconer took over in goal but it was the home side that made the positive response and they reduced the deficit a minute later when Andrew Corrigan turned the ball into his own net to make it 3-2. ‘Shiel finished the stronger and Glen keeper Stuart MacKintosh made a brilliant save from a Jordan Fraser piledriver to keep his side in front. Indeed MacKintosh made a series of fantastic saves throughout the game and he and defender Lewis MacLennan were the difference between the sides. Kingussie 5 Bute 0 Kingussie beat Bute 5-0 at the Dell. Kingussie’s were 2-0 winners at the Meadows in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season. Louis Munro and Craig Dawson remained on the Kings’ injury list and Dawson had an operation on his broken wrist last week. Bute’s Iain MacDonald has a broken toe but he played through the pain barrier to turn out in this one. Roberto Zavaroni was amongst the Bute absentees. For the Islanders who have yet to record a win in the league this season. Ronald Ross put the hosts ahead in the first minute and he thought he had added a second soon after with a blistering 35 yard drive. The Bute defence claimed the ball had not crossed the line whilst the Kings were sure it had come back off the stanchion. However an offside decision was the eventual outcome. Stuart Downey did make it 2-0 on the half hour mark and Ryan Borthwick added a third a couple of minutes later. James Hutchison on 57 minutes and stand-in captain Lee Bain 10 minutes after sealed a 5-0 win which leaves fourth place Kings four points behind leaders Newtonmore with a game in hand.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass 1 Lochcarron 4 Lochcarron continued their run of good midweek results when they came from a goal down to secure a 4-1 Marine Harvest North Division 1 victory over Strathglass at Cannich. The match was brought forward to Tuesday 17 July 2012 as Lochcarron had their annual Highland Games at the weekend. There were two new faces in the Strathglass camp with Callum Duff on the touchline assisting manager Robert Geddes and former Beauly player Innes Simpson, making his debut at full centre. Strathglass opened well and they took the lead after just 4 minutes. Robbie Stokes got on the end of a sweeping move started by Robert Geddes on the left, and whilst Stokes missed his first shooting opportunity, he quickly gathered possession before dribbling through the visiting defence and rolling the ball low past Lochaber keeper Douglas MacKenzie into the net. Lochcarron started to come more into the game but any attacks were dealt with by the home defence with Ally MacAdams looking assured at full back. However Lochcarron got back on level terms on 20 minutes when Gregor Cushnie turned a David MacCuish cross from the right into the net to make it 1-1. Strathglass suffered a blow on 37 minutes when Innes Simpson was forced to cut his debut short and leave the field with what was later confirmed as an achilles muscle injury. Strathglass almost regained the lead on 48 minutes when a blistering Robert Geddes drive took a wicked deflection but Lochcarron keeper Douglas MacKenzie produced a fantastic reflex save as he palmed the ball away for a corner. Home keeper Steve MacLauchlan was called into action 5 minutes later when he saved well with his feet from a Sean MacCuish snap-shot. Lochcarron took the lead for the first time on 63 minutes when Alan Stewart collected the ball after good play from David Bauermeister, who was excellent through-out, and he lofted the ball goalwards. Keeper MacLauchlan seemed to miss-judge the ball and it crept into the net to put Lochcarron 2-1 ahead. The Lochcarron forwards linked up well on 67 minutes and Gregor Cushnie nipped round the back of the Strathglass defence, before stroking the ball into the net to increase the visitors’ advantage. The scoring was completed when Allan MacKenzie collected a ball into the middle on 85 minutes and he turned before executing a well-hit shot which gave MacLauchlan no chance to make it 4-1. The win takes Lochcarron level on points with fourth place Beauly. Skye Camanachd W/O v Inverness Inverness have been unable to raise a team for their Marine Harvest North Division 1 trip to Pairc nan Laoch, Portree to play Skye Camanachd. Inverness boss Calum McLeod was going to be without up to twelve players from his first team squad including keeper Adam MacMaster, the injured Davie Glass, former Skye player Somhairle MacDonald who is on holiday and the suspended James Cameron who was red carded against Beauly last week. The Inverness second team is in action this weekend and the club will not be fined or docked points for the first team forfeit as this is one of the “third games” on the fixture list. Skye Camanachd have been awarded the points and a 5-0 win and they top of Marine Harvest North Division 1. (more to follow) |