The Shinty Round-up. | |
06 April 2009 There was plenty of league and cup action on Glasgow Mid Argyll swept into the first round of the Camanachd Cup with a 2-0 win in Both MacTavish Cup ties carried over from the previous weekend were played. Kinlochshiel had to give up home advantage in their MacTavish Cup first round match against Kingussie as Kirkton was unplayable because of the heavy overnight rain. Shiel gave a good account of themselves, especially Finlay MacRae who is one of the few shinty players who can claim to have stopped Kingussie talisman Ronald Ross scoring for an entire 90 minutes. It was left to young Ryan Borthwick to grab the headlines for the Kings and he put the home side ahead after 25 minutes. They didn’t add to their lead until almost the hour mark when Kevin Thain scored. Neil Fraser struck to bring Shiel right back into the match after 70 minutes but Borthwick had the final say, with goals in 75 and 80 minutes to complete his hat-trick. Kingussie will now take on Glenurquhart at the Dell in the second round. Newtonmore were without injured defender Danny MacRae for their MacTavish Cup first round match against Kilmallie at the Eilan. However they were boosted by the return of forwards Glen MacKintosh and David Cheyne. The home side took the lead through an 18 minute John MacKenzie strike and David Cheyne doubled their lead on the half hour mark. Glen MacKintosh also celebrated his return with a goal on 59 minutes. John Stewart continued his recent good goal scoring record with a consolation strike in the last minute but it’s More who go on to face Lochaber at Eilan in the second round of the competition. Glenurquhart followed up last weekend’s victory over Inveraray by picking up a valuable point against Glenorchy at Dalmally. A Grant MacPherson penalty in 58 minutes gave the home side the lead but winger Billy Urquhart supplied the vital finish 20 minutes from the end to leave the battle of the Glens all square. This gives Glenurquhart three points from the last four and they certainly seem to have come to terms with life in the top flight. Skye Camanachd’s home match against Lovat in Marine Harvest North Division 1 was switched to Balgate at 12 noon on Saturday after the heavy rain in Portree left the Pairc nan Laoch pitch unplayable. The match threw up at the later time of Calum MacAulay’s speed and distribution was causing the away side problems and Skye keeper Jamie Gannon saved the Islanders from going further behind with two great stops. Skye started to have plenty possession around the Lovat goal but they were unable to convert this into shots on target. Skye manager Angie Murchison shuffled his pack, replacing Iain Nicolson with Norman MacLeod and then significantly replacing Jamie MacDonald with Alan Palmer. Kenny Campbell took MacDonald’s wing centre berth and Palmer immediately provided a more direct approach up front, firing a low show which Stuart MacDonald did well to save with his legs. With 5 minutes left, Somhairle MacDonald sent a crisp, low drive into the Lovat net to level the match. A Palmer shot just whistled past the post moments later but the match finished all square. Skye retain their place at the top of Marine Harvest North Division one with five points from three games. This is a considerable improvement on the start to their 2008 campaign when the lost their three opening matched. The shock of the day came at Both Marine Harvest North Division 1 matches were watched by the manager of the Beauly, minus the suspended Roger Cormack, took a 12 minute lead at Cannich against Strathglass. However the home side levelled through Lee Bain, just a minute later. Bain scored his second after 25 minutes and veteran Robert Geddes continued his good goal scoring form with a double of his own after 49 and 75 minutes to seal the points. In the only match played in Marine Harvest South Division 1, Kilmory won their first points of the season with a home victory over Ballachullish. Ali Cunningham and Duncan MacBrayne were their scorers with Darren Sutherland replying for the visitors. Kilmory’s Alastair MacArthur and Ballachullish’s David Grant were sent off by referee Jim Innes. The most stunning result in Marine Harvest North Division 2 was Glenurquhart’s 8-0 demolition of 2008 Sutherland Cup winners Kilmallie at Drum na Drochit. Glenurquhart won North Divison 3 last season and they have made a tremendous start to life in the higher league as they top the table with nine points from a possible ten. Veteran Stuart Morrison hit a first half double after 15 and 25 minutes. However the floodgates opened in the second half, led by a David Smart strike a minute after the break. Just 3 minutes later, two goals in two minutes from Ian MacLeod and Calum Fraser put the Glen in easy street. The Glen’s U14 playmaker Ewen Brady then bagged an eight minute hat-trick, his first coming 10 minutes from the end. Skye Camanachd secured their first points of the season with a hard fought 4-3 win against Caberfeidh at Castle Leod. The visitors took the lead after just 3 minutes through Kirk Taylor. Skye levelled when Angie MacDonald flicked the ball, high into the Cabers net. A sublime backhand strike from veteran Peter Gordon gave the visitors the lead and a 20 yard strike from Danny Morrison made it three. Declan Wilson pulled a goal back for the home side from a suspiciously offside position and there was no further scoring until 10 minutes from the end when Danny Morrison hit his second to wrap up the points. Lovat continued their recent good run with a 5-2 victory over Newtonmore at Balgate. Owen Ferguson got the home side of to a great start with a goal in the opening minute. Martin Anderson extended their lead after 10 minutes but Martin MacDonald pulled a goal back 5 minutes later. Lewis Tawse gave Lovat a 3-1 half time lead with a 20 minute strike and Steven Cameron made it four on the hour mark. Conor Jones gave More some hope with a goal after 82 minutes but Martin Anderson scored his second just 3 minutes later to put the match outwith More’s reach, leaving Lovat in second place in the league. In Marine Harvest South Division 2, Col Glen ran riot with an 8-0 win over a disappointing Glasgow Mid Argyll. Veteran Ronnie MacVicar scored four in a 35 minute burst and James Hamilton hit a hat-trick. Hamish Harrison scored their other goal. Col Glen go top of the table on goal difference. All the goals came in the last 15 minutes as Strachur had a 2-1 home win over In Marine Harvest North Division 3, Two early goals in 5 minutes gave Beauly and early lead over Ardnamurchan. Allan Bruce ended the match a s a contest after 22 minutes and the was no further scoring. Lochaber had a comfortable 4-0 win at Kincraig in a match that saw Skye’s John MacLeod return to refereeing after a break. This defeat leaves Kincraig rooted to the bottom of the table. Boleskine won 3-0 in the Highland Capital against |