The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 3 March 2012 - UPDATED! | |
04 March 2012 The preparation is over and the 2012 shinty season officially started on Saturday 3 March 2012 and despite the mixed weather, all but one of the scheduled fixtures went ahead. Orion Group Premiership Newtonmore 1 Lovat 3 Lovat secured the result of the day when they beat reigning champions Newtonmore 3-1 at the Eilan. Newtonmore started their bid for a third successive league title without influential full centre Jamie Robinson who missed out through injury. Injury also ruled out Fraser MacKintosh and Danny MacRae although the latter started on the bench. Forward David Cheyne made a surprise return from a period abroad and he made a second half substitute appearance. Andy MacKintosh and Michael Russell started in the wing back positions. The game came too early for Lovat’s James Grieve who will feature for the Lovat reserves this season and Ryan Ferguson. Alan MacPherson and Connal MacIllechiar were also unavailable. Teenage Lovat forward Greg Matheson was the third top scorer in shinty’s top division last season with 18 goals, only four strikes behind Ronald Ross and Glen MacKintosh who each bagged 22 goals. And Matheson wasted no time racking up the goals this season when he bulleted a shot into the net on 10 minutes to put his side 1-0 in front. It was a dream start for the visitors and they doubled their advantage on 20 minutes thanks to another great drive from Greg Matheson which beat Michael Ritchie to make it 2-0 following a great run from Lorne MacKay. Lovat were buzzing and Greg Matheson completed a 16 minute hat-trick when he netted on 26 minutes to leave the home support stunned. Newtonmore moved Steven MacDonald to full centre in a bid to stem the tide. If the first half belonged to Lovat, it was Newtonmore who dominated the second period. Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald had little to do in the first half but he was called into action on several occasions during the second half to keep the champions at bay. However in one break-away attack, Lovat substitute Graeme MacMillan came close to making it 4-0. ‘More’s consolation was an own goal a minute from time when Daniel Grieve put through his own net under pressure from John MacKenzie. So Lovat are early league leaders and whilst Greg Matheson deserves to grab the headlines, Lorne MacKay was excellent in the Lovat midfield. Kingussie 3 Kinlochshiel 5 Kinlochshiel also made a fantastic start to life in shinty’s top flight when they beat Kingussie 5-3 at the Dell. This match was originally scheduled for Kirkton but the wet west coast weather left ‘Shiel’s pitch unplayable so the fixture was reversed to the Dell with a 12.30pm throw up. The Kings were withoutRonald Rosswho is unlikely to feature until next month. Thomas Borthwick was another absentee as he is in Australia at present. New King’s bossRussell Jones listed Lee Bain in attack and Iain Borthwick, who missed most of last season through injury, started on the bench. Newly promoted Kinlochshiel were without the services of Scotland U21 captain John MacRae who was unavailable. ‘Shiel captain Gordie MacDonald scored the west coast side’s first ever top division goal on just 5 minutes but strikes from Martin Dallas on 12 minutes and Barrie Dallas just 3 minutes later put the home side 2-1 in front. The Kings were dominating the early part of the game with Lee Bain causing the visiting defence all sorts of problems. However a Gordie MacDonald effort on 35 minutes ensured the sides went into the break all-square. ‘Shiel boss Johnston Gill replaced defender John Don MacKenzie with David Falconer and his side flew out of the blocks at the start of the second half and 12 minute Finlay MacRae hat-trick, including one from the penalty spot, put the visitors 5-2 up. MacRae’s first strike came on 49 minutes and the spot hit was just 2 minutes later. His third goal came on the hour mark after a mazy run and just when it seemed the chance had gone, he stretched to put the ball into the net. ‘Shiel full centre Steven Callander picked up a knock and was moved to full forward with Finlay MacRae slotting into the midfield. Ryan Borthwick pulled a goal back for the Kings on 72 minutes; 6 minutes after Kingussie captain Craig Dawson put a penalty awarded by referee Graham Cameron over the bar. ‘Shiel saw out the rest of the game to seal an historic win. Fort William 1 Bute 1 Fellow new boys Bute collected a valuable point when they drew 1-1 with Fort William at the Black Park. There is a changing of the guard at the Fort this season. Boss Peter McIntyre and his assistant Dave Stafford will have to do without James Clark who has retired and Adam Robertson and John MacLeod who are more likely to help out with the reserve side. Scottish international John MacDonald is unlikely to play this season whilst Gary Innes has said that his appearances will be limited because of commitments with his band Manran. U17 player Arran MacPhee, younger brother of Fort’s Scottish international Niall MacPhee made his first start for the senior side a day short of his sixteenth birthday. Bute have made a quick-fire return to shinty’s top flight following their relegation at the end of the 2010 season and manager Barry Martin has retained the squad which won the Marine Harvest South Division 1 title and the Balliemore Cup last year. This match took place at the Black Parks as major drainage works at An Aird are not expected to be complete until later in the summer. Bute captain Robert Walker put the Islanders ahead a couple of minutes into the second half in this 1.30pm start. However the home side ensured a share of the points when captain Bryan Simpson squared the game just 5 minutes later. Glenurquhart 3 Kilmallie 2 The new Glenurquhart management team of Fraser MacKenzie and Drew McNeil made their competitive debut in charge of the side against Kilmallie at Blairbeg. The Glen have been boosted by Eddie Tembo’s return to fitness after he suffered a frustrating 2011 season through injury. The Glen finished in a very respectable fifth position in the league last season. If they had any failing, it was in attack, where Neale Reid finished their top scorer with nine goals. Scottish international John Barr was moved up front mid-way through the season and he shipped in with seven league goals. He continued in that role for this game. Kilmallie were without Fraser Massie and Michael Rodger who served the final match of a suspension carried forward from last season. John Barr gave the home side the lead on just 4 minutes but Liam MacDonald leveled on 21 minutes. However Fraser Heath struck a couple of minutes before the break to give the home side a 2-1 lead at the break. Liam MacDonald got his second goal of the game 4 minutes into the second half to make it 2-2. The returning Eddie Tembo was the hero of the day on 72 minutes when he put Glenurquhart ahead for the third time to make it 3-2 and get his side off to a winning start. Inveraray P Kyles Athletic P The match between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic was postponed and a reversal was not possible as the visitors’ pitch at Tigh na Bruaich was unable to take two games.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Caberfeidh 3 Skye Camanachd 4 Skye Camanachd came from 3-0 down to beat Caberfeidh 4-3 at Castle Leod. Click on the link to read the match report in full http://www.skyecamanachd.com/Default.aspx.LocID-087new3de.RefLocID-087018.Lang-EN.htm Lochcarron 1 Lochaber 1 The last time Lochcarron and Lochaber meet at Battery Park, Lochcarron bossAndrewMacKenzie saw his team lead 3-0 before Lochaber manager Michael Delaney’s son Ben Delaney inspired the Spean Bridge side to a 6-3 victory. This time the sides shared the points following a 1-1 draw. Scottish international Shaun Nicolson played at buckshee forward and he put the visitors ahead after just 8 minutes. However the home side played well and a second half goal from Kieran Murray on 56 minutes earned the home side a point. Inverness 1 Beauly 3 Inverness manager Steve Munro increased his options with the signings of former Skye Camanachd players Somhairle MacDonald and Dougie Rankin and both made their competitive debut against Beauly at the Bught Park. Beauly had joint managers Stephen MacLean and Iain Morrison in charge but they had to do without the services of Sean Stewart who is still absent following a serious ankle injury. Keeper Martin Davidson has intimated the wish to play second team shinty this season so MacKay Murray took over between the sticks. Beauly played into a strong wind in the first half but despite that, Barrie MacDonald gave them an 8 minute lead. However Inverness created several first half chances but only had a James Cameron goal on the stroke of half time to show for their efforts. Beauly dominated the second half though and Jack MacDonald put the visitors ahead on 51 minutes before Barrie MacDonald added his second on 77 minutes to put the Braeview Park men top of the table.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Taynuilt 0 Oban Camanachd 3 Oban Camanachd seem to be everyone’s favourites to make a speedy return to shinty’s top flight following their relegation at the end of last year. Manager Diarmid MacMillan has the usual faces available with Aidan McIntyre and last year’s top scorer Scott MacMillan set to be key men. Taynuilt boss Davie Thomson will have to do without the influence of coach Fraser Ingles who stepped down at the end of last season and his side were first up against the Mossfield men. Oban Camanachd didn’t have it all their own way though and a Scott MacMillan penalty on the half hour mark was all that separated the sides until a couple of minutes from time. Then strikes from Aidan MacIntyre and Iain MacMillan put more polish on the result and gave the visiting Oban side a 3-0 win. Strachur 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Strachur hosted Glasgow Mid Argyll. The home side has been undertaking a major new pitch and clubhouse development with significant sportscotland funding although this new facility is not available for the start of the season. Mid Argyll finished runners up to Bute in the league last season and they have several of the games top youngsters including Finlay MacMillan, Craig Anderson and Ryan Harrison. A Mark Bain goal 6 minutes from time gave Glasgow Mid Argyll both points from a single goal victory. Aberdour 1 Kilmory 6 Aberdour and Kilmory clashed in Fife. The sides finished in the bottom two places in the league last season. A first half Doug Newsom hat-trick helped Aberdour to a 6-0 win when the sides met at the same venue last term and the visitors enjoyed a big win this time around too. Doubles from Steven Gilmour and Hal Jones helped Kilmory to a 6-1 win. Craig Taylor and Alasdair Cunningham got the others. David MacKenzie replied for the home side. Oban Celtic 1 Glenorchy 2 Oban Celtic and Glenorchy met in Oban. Oban Celtic boss Davy Hamilton will continue to give youth its chance with several players likely to shine from the U17 side which finished MacQuiston Cup runners up last season. Allan MacKechnie’s Glenorchy finished the 2010 Marine Harvest South 1 campaign as league champions with a 100% record. However they were relegated from the national league at the end of last season and they find themselves in a much more competitive south league this time around. Kenny Wotherspoon put Oban Celtic ahead on 19 minutes. However an Alex MacPherson leveled a couple of minutes later. The game remained all-square until 15 minutes from time when Alex MacPherson got his second to win the points for Glenorchy.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lovat 1 Newtonmore 4 Lovat were given a tough start to their league campaign as they opened at home to reigning champions Newtonmore. Lovat player / manager Fraser Gallacher included James Grieve who is returning from injury. Newtonmore bosses Cammy MacDonald and Glen have strengthened an already strong squad with the inclusion of 2011 ‘More senior captain Scott Campbell and he started at full centre. A double each from youngsters Calum Stewart and Angus Gray gave Newtonmore a 4-1 victory. Bradley MacHardie netted for the home side. Lovat lost Jimmy MacKenzie with a back injury. Kingussie 3 Kinlochshiel 4 The Kinlochshiel second team made it a double success at the Dell when a late Jordan Fraser double gave them a 4-3 win over the Kingussie second string. Rory MacGregor put the home side ahead on 15 minutes and Rory Borthwick made it 2-0 on the half hour mark. However the Kings were unable to take this lead into the break as goals from Aedan MacRae and Duncan MacRae on 43 and 44 minutes squared the game at the interval. Savio Genini put Kingussie back in front on 75 minutes and they held this lead until 4 minutes from time when a double from manager Colin Fraser’s son Jordan Fraser on 86 and 88 minutes gave ‘Shiel a dramatic 4-3 win. Glengarry 1 Aberdeen University 0 2011 Marine Harvest North Division 3 champions Aberdeen University made the step up a division and their first match was against Glengarry. The game was to take place in Aberdeen but the Students’ pitch was unavailable so the game was moved to Craigard, Invergarry. Glengarry also had the chance to step up a league at the end of last season after finishing third in Marine Harvest North Division 2 but decided that their development would be better served staying where they are. A Matthew Clark goal on 69 minutes was all that separated the sides and it gave Glengarry a single goal win. Lochaber 1 Fort William 0 There was a local derby at Spean Bridge where Fort William made the short journey to play Lochaber. Following a close encounter, which seemed set to finish goalless, Keith Neville struck 5 minutes from time to give Lochaber a 1-0 victory and both points. Skye Camanachd 3 Glenurquhart 0 New Skye Camanachd manager Murdo Morrison got off to a winning start as the Islanders beat Glenurquhart 3-0 at Pair nan Laoch, Portree. Click on the link to read the match report http://www.skyecamanachd.com/news/skyecamanachd3glenurquhart0
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Lochside Rovers 3 Kyles Athletic 2 Kyles Athletic have opted to drop down a division after finishing sixth in Marine Harvest South Division 1 last season. Lochside Rovers finished third in Marine Harvest South Division 1 in 2011 but Tony Howlett’s side suffered relegation on the back of Oban Camanachd’s drop from shinty’s top division. This game was scheduled for Tighnabruaich but an unplayable pitch meant the venue was reversed and the match took place at Ganavan. Scott Dempster gave Lochside the lead after 34 minutes and Jonathon Will put them 2-0 up just 4 minutes into the second half. Kyles were given hope 10 minutes from time when referee Neil Ferguson awarded them a penalty and Roddy MacColl made not mistake from the spot. Roddy MacColl scored again 3 minutes later to make it 2-2 and he looked to have earned the visitors a point. However Brian MacCallum popped up 3 minutes from time to give the title favourites a 3-2 win. Ardnamurchan 0 Ballachulish 1 Ballachulish have decided to field just one side this season and they will compete in Marine Harvest South Division 2. They were to entertain Ardnamurchan at Jubilee Park but this game was switched to Ardnamurchan who are themselves new to the league after playing in Marine Harvest North Division 3 last season. Ardnamurchan have several of their players based in the south and they would have struggled to raise a team for games in the North this year. A Garry Young goal gave Ballachulish a 1-0 victory over a youthful Ardnamurchan side. Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Inveraray 3 Glasgow Mid Argyll had home advantage against Inveraray. The sides both finished on ten points last season so this was expected to be a close affair. In the end, Donald Colville’s goal for Mid Argyll was cancelled out as Inveraray struck three times through Lewis MacNicol twice and Ruairidh Graham to clinch a 3-1 win. Col Glen 3 Bute 1 David Kilpatrick took his Bute side to Glendaruel to play Col Glen. The match was originally fixtured for Rothesay but the pitch there was unplayable. Ally Carmichael’s opener on 25 minutes gave Bute the lead. However Norman MacDonald made it 1-1 at the break when he scored after 35 minutes. Steven MacKellar put the home side ahead with a goal on the hour mark and Iain MacKellar sealed a 3-1 win with a strike 10 minutes from time. Tayforth 2 Aberdour 0 Tayforth came up against the Aberdour second string at Musselburgh. Tayforth won 8-1 in the corresponding game last season when Stuart Ferrier netted five times. However this was a much closer affair. Jamie MacDonald gave Tayforth the lead with a goal in the opening minute. David Arnott scored a second on 78 minutes to give Tayforth a 2-0 win.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Strathspey Camanachd 1 Strathglass 3 There was an historic day at Freuchie Park as new-boys Strathspey Camanachd made their first appearance in senior shinty against Strathglass. Strathspey have prepared well and there was great excitement surrounding their maiden match. Ahead of the game, there was a presentation to Skye-man Robert MacDonald who allows the side to use his land for their home ground. Ross Balharry scored the only goal of the first period midway through the first half. Strathglass veteran Robert Geddes made it 2-0 but Andrew Hay got the biggest cheer of the day when he pulled a goal back for the home side. Robert Geddes got his second to clinch a 3-1 win although the home side did have a goal disallowed by Callum Duff who made a return to refereeing after a spell coaching at Beauly. Beauly 5 Lochcarron 0 Beauly took the runners up spot in the league last season and they are keen to go one better this term. Lochcarron visited Braeview Park and they had no answer to Beauly forward Marc McLaughlin who was the day’s top scorer with four goals. Marc McLaughlin got Beauly’s opener on 4 minutes and he completed an early hat-trick with strikes on 14 and 15 minutes. Scott MacLean made it 4-0 a couple of minutes before the break and Marc McLaughlin got his fourth on 70 minutes as Beauly ran out 5-0 winners. . Kilmallie 2 Caberfeidh 0 Following their relegation last year, Kilmallie started life in Marine Harvest North Division 3 with a tricky match against Caberfeidh at the Canal Parks. They ran out 2-0 winners with Nick Lavin claiming both second half goals. Boleskine 0 Inverness 0 There was a derby at Farr where Boleskine welcomed Inverness.Allan MacLeodhas been persuaded to stay in charge of the Inverness second team and he has added Kenny Loades and Stuart MacRae to his pool of players. The sides shared the points following a 0-0 draw. Lochbroom 4 Lewis Camanachd 2 Ullapool was the venue for the game between Lochbroom and Lewis Camanachd. The teams were recently forced to call off their pre-season Minch Cup clash. James Rolfe, Jamie MacFadyen, an own goal and Ruairidh Hughes gave Lochbroom a 4-2 win. Will Church and former Skye Camanachd cult hero Eoghan Stewart replied for the visitors.
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