The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 25 August 2012 | |
27 August 2012 The focus returned to league action and there was no change at the top of the Orion Premiership following the Derby Day fixtures whilst Oban Camanachd were crowned Marine Harvest South Division 1 champions on Saturday 25 August 2012.
Orion Group Premiership Newtonmore 3 Kingussie 1 Newtonmore have only three more hurdles to negotiate in their quest to retain the Orion Group Premiership following their 3-1 derby win over Kingussie at the Eilan. Newtonmore manager Norman MacArthur was without the services of Jamie Robinson through injury so Glen MacKintosh started at full centre. Kingussie boss Russell Jones had Louis Munro and Fraser Munro available after they attended a family wedding abroad. In Louis Munro’s case it was also a return from an ankle injury. Ryan Borthwick recovered from injury to start at full forward where he was marked by Rory Kennedy. Lee Bain was unavailable. Jones also gave starting spots to 15 year old duo Savio Genini and Rory MacKeachan. Genini made an immediate impact to his debut as he put the Kings ahead after just 2 minutes when he closed down a clearance from home keeper Michael Ritchie. However Newtonmore captain John MacKenzie fired home to make it 1-1 on 25 minutes and a Chris Sellar strike a couple of minutes before the break put ‘More in front. Paul MacArthur clinched the win with an effort 10 minutes from time and the winning margin could have been greater had it not been for some fine saves from Kingussie keeper Andrew Borthwick. Next up for ‘More is a trip to Bute followed by a double-header against Glenurquhart. Fort William 2 Kilmallie 0 The final derby clash was never for the faint-hearted as Fort William edged out Kilmallie 2-0 at An Aird. Fort William boss Peter McIntyre kept Duncan Rodger in attack following his hat-trick last weekend. However he was without Gary Innes and Niall MacPhee. Liam Cameron recovered from injury and started in midfield for Kilmallie. However their boss Johnnie Morrison had to do without Ryan Stewart who was injured. Throw up was at 4.05pm and the whole match was broadcast live on BBC Alba. Referee Evan MacRae produced an early yellow card early when Daniel Stewart kicked out at Kilmallie keeper Kevin Toye after the visiting keeper had raced from his goal in an attempt to clear the danger. Fort William thought they had taken the lead on 28 minutes when Duncan Rodger swept the ball home from a corner on the left. However referee MacRae correctly ruled that Rodger’s foot was on the D just before he put the ball in the net. Some good goal-keeping at both ends kept the game all square at the break. Fort William keeper Paul MacKay did well to turn away a John Stewart thunder-bolt whist at the other end, Kilmallie keeper Kevin Toye also made a brilliant stop as he blocked a waist-high Gordie MacKinnon effort. Stevie Stewart was next into the book for a late swipe at Michael Rodger when the pair clashed in the middle of the park on 55 minutes. Fort William were taking control of the centre line although Kilmallie were always dangerous on the counter-attack. The first goal was always going to be important and the deadlock was broken on 68 minutes. Fort captain Bryan Simpson collected a Daniel Stewart cross from the right after Kilmallie failed to clear a Gordie MacDonald free hit. Simpson turned and shot past an unsighted Kevin Toye. Fort William continued to press and Gordie MacKinnon went close but before the home side doubled their advantage on 79 minutes. Good play from Duncan Rodger set up a chance and Daniel Stewart played the ball on for Gordie MacKinnon to sweep the ball over the line to make it 2-0. Fort William have now followed up wins over Kingussie and Inveraray with a third victory in their three matches since their return to An Aird. Fort William wing centre Alex Duncan was deservedly named BBC Alba man of the match. Kyles Athletic 2 Bute 0 Title contenders Kyles Athletic kept up the pressure at the top of the table as a goal in each half gave them a 2-0 win over already relegated Bute at Tighnabruaich. Zac Coley made a welcome return in defence for the home side after he suffered a hand injury during Scotland U17s win over Dublin U17 in July. Bute boss Barry Martin has already turned his attention to building a squad for Marine Harvest South Division 1 next season with stalwart Hector Whitelaw indicating that this may be his last season in the senior side. Kyles spurned an early chance to take the lead when referee Robert Baxter awarded them a penalty. However Robbie MacLeod missed from the spot. Most of the game was played in heavy rain which made the under-foot conditions difficult and it was the home side that got their noses in front when Dunkie Kerr fired home 5 minutes before the break. Gordon Whyte added a second 10 minutes into the second half so Kyles continue to trail Newtonmore only on goal difference but they have played a game more. Kinlochshiel 1 Inveraray 1 Kinlochshiel welcomed Inveraray to Kirkton in a repeat of their recent Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi-final. Inveraray came out on top that day as they did when the sides met at Tighnabruaich earlier in the season however they had to settle for a share of the points this time following a 1-1 draw. Kinlochshiel keeper Graham Kennedy was free of suspension but Scott Kennedy continued in goal. There were starting slots for U17 player Conall Fraser and Zander Grant who was in their first team squad last weekend after a couple of outings with the reserve side. The former Scotland U17 player has been out of action for over a year because of work commitments and he could become a valuable addition to their pool of players. Inveraray defender Alan MacDonald was free of suspension. Neil Campbell gave Inveraray a first half lead when he pounced on a rebound off home keeper Scott Kennedy to score. Kinlochshiel’s Paul MacRae suffered a nasty eye injury when he was hit by the ball but he returned to the field of play following treatment. ‘Shiel fought back and they got their reward just 3 minutes from time when Graeme MacPherson saved from Jordan Fraser and Keith MacRae fired home to give his side a deserved point.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Caberfeidh 3 Skye Camanachd 3 Third place Caberfeidh and league leaders Skye Camanachd shared the points following a 3-3 draw at Castle Leod. Click on the following link to read the match report in full (to follow) Strathglass 0 Lochaber 6 Lochaber capitalised on Skye’s dropped point with a 6-0 win over Strathglass at Cannich. The sides met at Spean Bridge a fortnight ago when Lochaber ran out 6-0 winners and they repeated that feat. Lochaber were several players short including captain Hughie Innes and full back Lachlan Campbell. Shaun Nicolson scored on 20 and 42 minutes to put the visitors 2-0 up at the break. Two goals in two minutes from Scott Patterson on 51 minutes and Stuart Callison just 60 seconds later put Lochaber out of sight. Martin Johnston added to the Spean Bridge side’s tally on 57 minutes. Shaun Nicolson notched his hat-trick with a 59 minute strike which made it 6-0. The teams have still to play once more this season. Beauly 5 Lochcarron 1 Beauly beat Lochcarron 5-0 at Braeview Park. The sides had contrasting results the previous weekend with Beauly coming from behind to beat Caberfeidh and Lochcarron losing 3-0 to Skye when their boss Andrew MacPherson was pleased with the form shown by keeper Douglas MacKenzie, who saved a penalty and pulled off a string of fine saves, in that game. Ross Forbes put Beauly ahead on 12 minutes and David MacLean made it 2-0 on 32 minutes. Referee Robert Morrison awarded the home side a penalty just 3 minutes later and Jack MacDonald converted from the spot. Lochcarron’s Alan MacKenzie pulled a goal back before the break to make it 3-1 at half time. Barrie MacDonald made it 5-1 on 55 minutes and a second from David MacLean on 78 minutes made it 5-1 and gave Beauly the points.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Oban Camanachd 7 Oban Celtic 0 Oban Camanachd bounced back from the disappointment of last weekend’s Artemis Macaulay Cup Final defeat and were crowned Marine Harvest South Division 1 champions following their 7-0 derby win over Oban Celtic at Mossfield. Defenders James MacMillan and Alasdair Gunn were missing for the home side. However Andrew MacCuish was available but he will serve a one match ban in his side’s next outing for a points accumulation. MacCuish was to make an important contribution and he was on target on 16 minutes and 31 minutes, either side of a 27 minute Iain MacMillan strike, which left Oban Camanachd 3-0 up at half-time. Craig MacMillan made it 4-0 on 52 minutes before Andrew MacCuish completed his hat-trick on 59 minutes. Late goals from Craig MacMillan on 83 and 86 minutes also gave him a hat-trick and sealed a 7-0 triumph. The win gives Oban Camanachd a quick-fire return to the Orion Group Premiership and confirms that their second team, Lochside Rovers, will gain promotion to Marine Harvest South Division 1. Taynuilt 6 Aberdour 0 Taynuilt beat Aberdour 6-0 in their noon throw up. Michael MacQueen scored the only goal of the first half on 20 minutes. Stuart Scott made it 2-0 just 5 minutes into the second half. Michael MacQueen got his second on 62 minutes and Gary Cameron bagged a brace on 75 and 85 minutes to make it 5-0 whilst David Campbell added a sixth a couple of minutes from time. This was the final match of the season for both sides and the win gives Taynuilt a credible fourth place finish in the league.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Kingussie 3 Newtonmore 3 This derby clash between Kingussie and Newtonmore at the Dell went ahead to Friday 24 August 2012. This game has been played on a Friday evening in recent seasons and a large crowd gathered for the 6.30pm throw up. Rory Fraser was suspended for the home side after his red card against Aberdeen University last week. Hamish Anderson was also missing. Newtonmore were without Cameron Binnie and captain Evan Menzies. Michael Clark got Kingussie off to a great start when he scored in the opening minute. Calum Stewart made it 1-1 on 11 minutes only for Michael Clark to get his second on 31 minutes. Newtonmore introduced David Cheyne in the second half but it was Kingussie who extended their lead on 62 minutes through Savio Genini. Calum Stewart got his second of the game a couple of minutes later and David Cheyne struck 6 minutes from time to earn ‘More a point. Kingussie keeper Russell Menzies made some great saves to help earn his side a point. Skye Camanachd 2 Lochaber 1 Skye Camanachd eventually ran out 2-1 winners against Lochaber at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Click on the following link to read the match report in full (to follow) Fort William P Kinlochshiel P The match between Fort William and Kinlochshiel was postponed as it was deemed that the An Aird pitch could not take two games.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Aberdour W/O v Bute Aberdour have been awarded the points as Bute were unable to raise a team for their trip to Fife. Ballachulish W/O v Col Glen Fourth place Ballachulish have been given a walk-over as fifth Col Glen were unable to raise a team for their trip to Jubilee Park.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Boleskine 3 Beauly 2 Boleskine welcomed champions Beauly to Farr and inflicted their first league defeat of the season with a 3-2 win. Sean Stewart on 24 minutes and Jordan Keil on 26 minutes put Beauly 2-0 up at the break. However home goals in the second half from Michael Pirrie on 57 minutes and Craig Pirrie 7 minutes later squared the game at 2-2. Lewis Smith grabbed the winner on 78 minutes to give Boleskine an impressive 3-2 win. Beauly’s priority will be next weekend’s Strathdearn Cup Final against Fort William. Caberfeidh W/O v Lochcarron Lochcarron were unable to raise a team for their trip to Castle Leod to play Caberfeidh so the points went to the home side. This completes Cabers season. |