The Shinty Round-Up – Saturday 10 April 2010. | |
12 April 2010 A mixture of Premier Division and Balliemore and Sutherland Cup action caught the eye on Saturday 10 April 2010 as did a couple of veterans who bagged 11 goals between them.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division leaders Newtonmore remain the only unbeaten side in shinty’s top flight with their 3-0 triumph on Rothesay against Bute. Glen MacKintosh gave ‘More the lead on 10 minutes and it took a David Cheyne double on 75 and 85 minutes to finally see of Bute. The men from the Eilan continue their impressive start to the season and lead Fort William by a point.
Kingussie suffered a blow ahead of their match against Oban Camanachd at Mossfield when Scottish international defender Ally MacLeod was injured during the warm up. Stevie Borthwick, who was already without the injured James Hutchison and Iain Borthwick, had to reorganise his defence and he brought Ronald Ross back to the buckshee back position. The home side took advantage as the Kingussie players settled into their new positions and Scott MacMillan put them ahead after just 4 minutes. However Lee Bain continued his scoring run when he leveled on 10 minutes and a Fraser Munro strike gave Kingussie a 2-1 interval lead. There remained only a single goal in it until 6 minutes from the end when Munro added his second. Lee Bain also scored his second a couple of minutes from the end to win the points and seal a 4-1 win.
Lovat came out on top against Glasgow Mid Argyll when the league’s newly promoted sides met at Balgate. This was a dour affair which never reached the heights that both sides are capable of. James MacPherson scored the only goal of the first half to put Lovat ahead on 16 minutes. Mid Argyll thought they had equalised during the first period but referee Innes Wood, in consultation with his goal judge, ruled that their attempt had not crossed the line. James MacPherson scored his second on the hour mark and although former Skye Camanachd player Ben Simmister pulled a goal back for the visitors a couple of minutes later, a Greg Matheson strike 15 minutes from the end confirmed a 3-1 Lovat win.
Glenurquhart went 2-0 up against Inveraray at the Winterton through strikes from Eddie Tembo and Lewis MacLennan. However a Garry MacPherson penalty got the home side back in the game and they went on to win by 6 goals to 2 thanks to Ewan MacMurdo, Grant Griffin and a Russell MacKinlay hat-trick. That’s 3 home wins out of 3 for Inveraray which moves them into third place in the table. How they must wish they could reproduce their home form, and have full player availability, on the road.
The clash between Kyles Athletic and Fort William, a repeat of the 2009 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final, was switched to Kyles’ back up pitch at Ardlamont as the field at Tighnabruaich was unplayable. Gary Innes gave the Fort the lead on 20 minutes, and then, just as in the Camanachd Final, James Clark and Victor Smith found the back of the net on 39 and 75 minutes respectively to give their side a 3-0 win which keeps them hot on the tail of leaders Newtonmore.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 leaders Glenorchy made it 4 wins out of 4 with a 3-1 victory over Taynuilt. Alex MacPherson was the hero for the home side with a hat-trick whilst Duncan Gillies replied for Taynuilt.
The Balliemore Cup first round saw a repeat of the 2009 final when reigning champions Strathglass traveled west to play Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. Several injuries and call-offs left Strathglass with a weakened team. Shiel had Finlay MacRae back in their side following a 2 match suspension and he certainly made up for lost time. MacRae started the match in attack and put his side 2-0 up with goals on 5 minutes and 21 minutes. Gordy MacDonald and Keith MacRae also scored in the first half but Strathglass replied through Robert Geddes on 32 minutes and Josh Fraser 6 minutes later to leave Shiel leading 4-2 at the break. Finlay MacRae was moved back into the centre line in the second half but he still managed to push forward to complete his hat-trick on 74 minutes. Scott Douglas scored a consolation for Strathglass 5 minutes from the end to make the final score 5-3.
There was a North v South match at Braeview Park where Beauly hosted Oban Celtic. Kenny Wotherspoon gave Celtic the lead after 8 minutes but David Neilson leveled on 23 minutes. Beauly took the lead through Sean Stewart on 30 minutes and Jamie MacLennan made it 3-0 just 3 minutes later. Neilson added his second 3 minutes before the break to give Beauly a 4-1 half time lead. Marc MacLauchlan made it 5-1 on 56 minutes and Beauly full forward David Neilson completed his hat-trick 2 minutes from the end. Beauly youngster David MacLean required hospital treatment for a broken nose after the match. Kinlochshiel now enjoy home advantage against Beauly in the quarter finals.
Doubles from Dougie Rankin and Kenny Campbell put Skye 4-0 up against Kilmory at Lochgilphead. Hal Jones pulled a controversial goal back for the home side with the Skye defenders claiming the ball had not crossed the line. Skye keeper Jamie Gannon was booked by referee Dougie Cameron for his protests. Jones added his second to make it 4-2 but strikes from brothers Somhairle and Gilleasbuig MacDonald ensured Skye made it through to the quarter finals with a 6-2 win. Skye Camanachd will host Taynuilt, who received a first round bye, in the last eight. The tie of the round took place as Canal Parks between Marine Harvest North Division 1 sides Kilmallie and Caberfeidh. The home side went into the game minus Michael Rodger, Peter MacIntyre and brothers Martin and Mark Graham who were all unavailable. However they got of to a great start when Liam MacDonald scored after 4 minutes and Fraser Massie made it 2-0 just 3 minutes later. Kevin Bartlett got Cabers back in the game with a 22 minute strike but MacDonald netted his second to restore Kilmallie’s 2 goal advantage just 3 minutes before the break. Kilmallie’s Donald Lamont scored the only goal of the second half on 78 minutes to complete a pleasing 4-1 win for his side. Kilmallie now travel to Dalmally to play Glenorchy, who received a first round bye, in the quarter finals.
Lochaber and Inverness met for the third consecutive Saturday. This encounter went ahead at Spean Bridge and the sides were only separated by a 27 minute Lachlan Campbell strike at the break. Ben Delaney eased home nerves with a goal on the hour mark and Campbell added his second on 75 minutes from the penalty spot. A Shaun Nicolson goal in the last minute completed a 4-0 win. Lochaber are increasing their selection options with the introduction of some good young players and they will be pleased with fine performances from youngsters Danny Delaney and Stuart Callison.
Lochcarron came away from Jubilee Park with a welcome 1-0 win over Ballachulish A Darren Sutherland own goal was all that separated the sides. Lochcarron now travel to Spean Bridge to play Lochaber in the next round.
The Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup first round paired holders Fort William with Marine Harvest North Division 2 leaders Glengarry. A solitary strike from Fort William’s James Cameron 10 minutes from the end was all that separated the sides in a tight match at Invergarry.
Strikes from Ewen Forsyth, Donald Colville and Andy McGhee gave Glasgow Mid Argyll a 3-0 win over Bute at Yoker. Mid Argyll’s reward is a trip to An Aird to play Fort William in the second round.
After a goalless first half in the 12 noon throw up at Kirkton, Kinlochshiel took the lead against Kilmallie thanks to a 55 minute Stephen Isles strike. David Falconer made it 2-0 on 70 minutes. Kilmallie had chances but couldn’t convert them into goals. They pushed full back Graham Mitchell into their attack and he pulled a goal back 10 minutes from the end. However the home side held on to win through to the second round.
There was expected to be a close tie at Balgate where Lovat met Newtonmore in the 12 noon throw up. An under-strength Newtonmore side eventually went down 6-2 to the 2009 Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup finalists. The visitors even took Evan Cheyne out of retirement to play full back in the tie. Jamie Matheson gave Lovat the lead after 16 minutes and Jimmy MacKenzie made it 2-0 on 39 minutes. Owen Ferguson virtually ensured Lovat’s path into the next round when he made it 3-0 just a couple of minutes before the break. Ferguson added his second a minute into the second period to make it 4-0. ‘More’s Mark MacDonald pulled a goal back on 58 minutes but Owen Ferguson went on to complete his hat-trick just after the hour mark. David Wilde pulled another goal back for the visitors but Ferguson scored his fourth and Lovat’s sixth goal 4 minutes from time. Lovat now travel to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel.
Tayforth were unable to raise a team for their trip to play Skye Camanachd in Portree. Therefore the Islanders go through to the second round.
It took extra time for Col Glen to win through against a Taynuilt second team who have only entered the cup competitions this season. Innes Clark gave Taynuilt the lead but Peter Shuttleworth leveled. Kenny MacKinnon restored the visitors lead which they took into the half time break. Peter Shuttleworth scored his second during the second 45 minutes to take the game into extra time. A Jamie Sutton strike put Col Glen ahead for the first time. The home side had introduced 13 year old Jamie MacVicar, son of Col Glen stalwart Ronnie MacVicar, for his debut in the senior side and young MacVicar earned the biggest cheer of the afternoon when he fired the ball home to make it 4-2. Shuttleworth completed his hat-trick to finally extinguish Taynuilt’s resistance and give Col Glen a 5-2 win. Col Glen will now make the long journey north to play Skye Camanachd at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree in the second round.
A young Inverness side gave a good account of themselves before eventually going down 2-0 to Aberdeen University at the Bught Park, Inverness. There were no goals in the first half but a strike from former Skye Camanachd player Kenny MacLeod gave the students the lead on the hour mark, Inverness continued to battle until 2 minutes from the end when Steven MacKenzie doubled Aberdeen’s advantage.
Marine Harvest Division 3 side Lochcarron were always going to be up against it when they were drawn against Marine Harvest Division 2 reigning champions Glenurquhart at Battery Park. The home side went 3-0 down early in the match and their cause wasn’t helped when they lost the influential David MacCuish to an accidental head knock during this period. MacCuish later required several stitches and a hospital check-up but he is recovering well. Glenurquhart were too strong for the home side and eventually ran out 12-0 winners. David Smart was their top scorer with a double hat-trick whilst veteran Stuart Morrison scored twice. Youngsters Ross MacAulay and Ewan Brady also found the net and the visitors even pushed full back Gregor MacCormack forward later in the game and he helped himself to a couple of goals.
Lochaber were too strong for Strathglass when the sides met at Cannich and the visitors eventually ran out 13-1 winners. The Strathglass line-up was affected by call ups to their under-strength first team whilst Lochaber deployed a line up consisting of some exciting young talent and the evergreen former Scottish international Angus Morrison. U17 player Conner Sweeney gave Lochaber the lead after 8 minutes and Morrison made it 2-0 just 2 minutes later. Strathglass limited their opponent’s opportunities until the half hour mark when Sweeney netted his second. Even then Strathglass fought back and youngster John Stirling pulled a goal back on 33 minutes.
However Lochaber then began to press their dominance and Connor Sweeney took his personal tally to 4 goals with strikes on 40 and 43 minutes to take his first half tally to 4 goals and give the visitors a 5-1 half time lead. Lochaber and Angus Morrison in particular, began to turn the screw in the second half. Morrison made it 6-1 on 54 minutes and another Lochaber youngster Pat Toal netted on 58 minutes. A brace of goals in 2 minutes on the hour mark from Morrison made it 9-1 and Morrison again on 66 minutes took Lochaber into double figures. Pat Toal notched his second on 73 minutes and Angus Morrison took his personal tally to 6 when he scored 10 minutes from time. Alan Knox completed a 13-1 win with a goal a minute from time. As for Angus Morrison, his nose for goal must surely be attracting the attention of first team managers Ally Ferguson and Jason Latto.
Kingussie were too strong for Boleskine at the Dell. They were helped by having the experienced Kevin Thain in their side and he scored 5 times. Kevin Thain gave the Kings the lead on 10 minutes and Martin Dallas made it 2-0 just 5 minutes later. Thain added his second within 60 seconds but Darren MacLeod did pull a goal back for the visitors within another 60 seconds. Thain completed a first half hat-trick with a goal on 23 minutes to make it 4-1. Dave Borthwick made it 5-1 on 38 minutes although an Ian Grant effort for Boleskine ensured the home side’s half time lead was reduced to 5-2. Kevin Thain made it 6-2 on 63 minutes and he scored his fifth goal on 74 minutes to make it 7-2. Boleskine’s Ian Grant scored his second 6 minutes from the end but Kingussie’s Ryan Borthwick scored the final goal of the game as his side ran out comfortable 8-3 winners. Kingussie play Lochaber at the Dell in the second round.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 side Caberfeidh went down 3-1 to Marine Harvest South Division 1 reigning champions Lochside Rovers at Castle Leod. Ian MacDonald found the back of the net for the home side but strikes from Lewis Cameron, Brian MacCallum and young Craig MacDougall saw Rovers safely through.
Aberdour were 4-1 winners over Lochbroom in Fife. Ally Hutt, a brace for Alex Mitchell and a Ross Nicol effort sealed Aberdour’s place in the next round with Cameron MacRae scoring a consolation goal for Lochbroom. The reward for the Aberdour is a home match against Lochside Rovers game in the next round.
Inveraray are already through to the last 16 having beaten Lewis Camanachd. They will have home advantage against Beauly who received a first round bye.
Strachur and Kyles Athletic both also received first round byes and they have been drawn against each other at Home Farm in round 2. |