The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 2 October 2010. | |
08 October 2010 Three league titles were settled on Saturday 2 October 2010 as shinty fans enjoyed a feast of shinty. Newtonmore are the 2010 Scottish Hydro Premier Division champions following their 1-0 win over Fort William at An Aird. To read a full report on the match, click on the following link Fort William 0 Newtonmore 1 Elsewhere in the league, Kingussie pressed their case for a third place finish with an exciting 4-3 win over Kyles Athletic at the Dell. The Kings were without Ronald Ross who served the first of a 2 game ban following his sending off against Fort William last weekend. An early double from Thomas Borthwick on 4 and 20 minutes put the home side 2-0 up before Kyles’ Mathew MacColl pulled a goal back 5 minutes later. MacColl then levelled the game from the penalty spot just a minute into the second half before he completed his hat-trick on 62 minutes to put his side 3-2 ahead. However a strong finish from Kingussie saw James Hutchison level the game with a well taken 70 minute goal before Fraser Munro scored the winner 3 minutes from time when he was first to a rebound after Kyles’ keeper Kenny MacDonald saved well from Thomas Borthwick. Kyles enjoyed the best of the first hour of the game but Kingussie certainly finished the stronger. Kingussie sit in third place on goal difference over Kyles Athletic. There was a derby match at the Winterton where Inveraray played Bute. This was a crucial match for the Islanders who held a one point advantage over second bottom Oban Camanachd at the start of the game. A win for Bute would have preserved their top division status and their goal difference is such that a single point would probably have sufficed. However Bute were unable to secure the required point when they went down 2-1. Inveraray went 2-0 up within the first 10 minutes with goals from Grant Griffin and Ewan MacMurdo. However a Robert Walker goal on the stroke of half time gave the Islanders hope. There was no scoring in the second half so Bute will now host Oban Camanachd in a match which will decide which of these sides will be relegated. Kilmallie clinched the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title and promotion to shinty’s top flight with a 6-0 win over Caberfeidh at Canal Parks. To read a full report on the match, click on the following link Kilmallie 6 Caberfeidh 0 Local pride was at stake at Kirkton where west coast rivals Kinlochshiel and Lochcarron clashed. The sides shared the points in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Battery Park earlier in the season. Kinlochshiel joint manager Keith Loades missed the match as he attended his son Kenneth’s wedding on the Friday before the game. Co-manager Johnston Gill took charge and saw his side run out comfortable 7-1 winners. Kinlochshiel fielded a strong line-up but Lochcarron were without several first team regulars including Ross Matheson, Gregor Cushnie and Angus Mackay. ‘Shiel were quick off the mark and raced into a 2-0 lead within the opening minutes. First Keith MacRae converted a Neil Fraser corner and Finlay MacRae netted their second – also set up by Neil Fraser. Finlay MacRae made it 3-0 on 25 minutes as Kinlochshiel pounded the make-shift Lochcarron defence. Finlay MacRae completed his hat-trick on 29 minutes following great lead up play from John MacRae and Neil Fraser who was racking up the “assists”. Kieran Murray blasted the ball home minutes before the break to some-what halt the tide but the home side were never in any danger of losing their grip on the game. The home side showed their strength when they were able to replace hamstring victim Fraser MacVicar with Gordie MacDonald. Keith MacRae netted his second goal minutes into the second half to make it 5-1. Keith MacRae then turned provider to set up both Finlay MacRae for his fourth goal. Keith MacRae then laid the ball off to Neil Fraser and when his shot was blocked, Finlay MacRae beat Craig Callaghan to make it 7-1 and score his fifth goal and his 30th strike in a season which has earned him a deserved place in the Scotland senior squad. Kinlochshiel now finish in third place in the league whilst Lochcarron finish fifth. Glenurquhart retained the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title for the second consecutive season following their 2-1 win against Lovat at Blairbeg. Full forward Gregor McCormack gave the Glen a 12 minutes lead whilst Kelvin MacKenzie made it 2-0 just 7 minutes later. Scotland U21 cap James MacPherson held his nerve to score a retaken penalty a minute from the break – the second time he has done so at the same venue this season. However the young Glen side held on to take their third successive league title after they won Marine Harvest North Division 3 in 2009 and the Division 2 title last season. Earlier in the day, Glengarry’s title challenge faltered when they were beaten 5-0 by Kingussie in the 12 noon throw up at the Dell. Kevin Thain grabbed a hat-trick and Rory Borthwick and an own goal completed the win. |