The opening rounds of the Co-operative MacTavish Cup and Celtic Society Cup took centre stage on Saturday 26 March 2011.
Co-operative MacTavish Cup - First Round
Marine Harvest North Division 1 side Kinlochshiel pulled off the result of the Co-operative MacTavish Cup first round when they beat Scottish Hydro Premier Division side Lovat 1-0 at Balgate. The home side had Euan Ferguson and Iain Nicolson back in their line up after they missed the defeat to Kyles Athletic. Kinlochshiel were once again without the injured Graham Morrison whilst full centre Steven Callander and defender Zander Grant were unavailable because of work commitments. Shiel were 3-0 winners when the sides met at the same venue in a pre-season friendly however neither side were at full strength that day. Shiel’s Scottish international Finlay MacRae’s put the visitors ahead after 10 minutes when he burst through the Lovat defence and knocked the ball past keeper Stuart MacDonald. 'Shiel then suffered a blow when Fraser MacVicar was forced to leave the field with the recurrence of a hamstring injury. Duncan "Ach" MacRae came on in his place. Lovat had a great chance to get back in the game when they were awarded a first half penalty by referee Innes Wood. However Greg Matheson's effort went straight at 'Shiel keeper Graham Kennedy and the chance was gone. Kinlochshiel enjoyed more than their share of pressure in the second half and they almost increased their lead when a David Falconer shoot hit the post. Lovat pressed for an equaliser and the Kinlochshiel fans had to endure a nervy final 5 minutes but their side held on to earn a trip to the Dell to play holders Kingussie in the next round.
Kilmallie won the only all Scottish Hydro Premier Division clash of the first round when they beat Glenurquhart 4-2 after extra time at the Canal Parks. A Neale Reid strike 2 minutes from time cancelled out Michael Rodger’s 36 minute opener for Kilmallie. However an extra time double from Scottish internationalist John Stewart on 98 and 103 minutes put the 2010 runners-up 3-1 ahead. Liam Girvan made it 3-2 a couple of minutes later. Ross Lavin was in excellent form in midfield for Kilmallie and a late Peter McIntyre effort 2 minutes from the final whistle made it 4-2 and sent Kilmallie through to the quarter finals when they will be at home to Lochaber.
Newtonmore were too strong for Skye Camanachd at the Eilan. ‘More eventually ran out 11-0 winners with all their goals shared between forwards Steven MacDonald, David Cheyne, Glen MacKintosh and Danny MacRae. Click on the following link to read a full match report
Beauly won 5-0 at the Highland Capital against Inverness. An own goal put the Greens in front after just 5 minutes whilst teenage striker Jack MacDonald made it 2-0 on 12 minutes. Conor Ross made it 3-0 on the hour mark and Sean Stewart also got on the scoresheet just 6 minutes later. Beauly rounded off a good day when Conor Cormack marked his first team return from a leg break with a goal in the final minute. This was Cormack’s fourth goal in 4 consecutive games after scoring for the second team in each of the last 3 weekends. Beauly now host the Newtonmore at Braeview Park in the quarter finals.
Fort William had defender Adam Robertson available again following suspension for their trip to Cannich to play Strathglass. However John MacDonald and Liam MacIntyre were still suspended whilst forward Drew Ferguson is still injured. However forward Bryan Simpson was back in the squad following injury. Gordie MacKinnon put the Fort ahead after 13 minutes and he added a second on 34 minutes to give the visitors a 2-0 interval lead. A Gary Innes double and strikes from Bryan Simpson and Ewan Campbell took Fort William’s tally to six whilst Gordie Fraser and Les Fraser replied for Strathglass. Strath’s Scott Douglass and Fort William’s Kyle Grant were both sent off by referee Graham Cameron. Douglas had reacted to a challenge from Grant which left the Strathglass man with a badly injured ankle. Strathglass suffered further blows when Andrew Fraser had to leave the field with a nasty head knock and Ally MacAdam also required several stiches to a head cut. The 6-2 win means Fort William will now host Caberfeidh at An Aird in round two.
Stewart Krysanowski put Caberfeidh ahead after 20 minutes against Lochcarron at Castle Leod. Cabers forward Kevin Bartlett netted 4 times the previous weekend and he was back on the goal trail when he netted after 36 minutes. Bartlett got his second on 56 minutes before Ally MacLennan made it 4-0 just 3 minutes later. This was only Lochcarron’s second game of the season and they found it difficult to get into a rhythm. Cabers will now look forward to a trip to An Aird to play Fort William in the quarter finals.
Holders Kingussie and Lochaber had byes into the second round and the 2011 Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final takes place at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 18 June 2011.
Glasgow Celtic Society Cup - First Round
Holders Inveraray were given a stiff test by Marine Harvest South Division 1 side Bute at the Winterton. Bute have made an emphatic start to the season following their relegation from shinty’s top flight but they were well aware that few sides take anything from the Winterton. Garry MacPherson gave the home side the best possible start with a goal in the opening minute. Hector Whitelaw levelled for Bute when referee Charles Young awarded them a 25 minute penalty. Stuart Strathie then put Bute ahead just 4 minutes before half time. However his side were unable to take this lead into the break as Garry MacPherson made it 2-2 on the stroke of half time. The match remained level until 15 minutes from time when Russell MacKinlay scored from the penalty spot. Garry MacPherson grabbed his hat-trick when he scored a couple minutes from time following the third penalty of the game awarded by referee Young. Holders Inveraray now travel to Jubilee Park to play Ballachulish in the second round.
Oban Celtic may have made a faltering start to the season but they certainly gave a good account of themselves against Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker. The first half ended 3-3 before a Fulton Ross goal on the hour mark gave Mid Argyll a 4-3 victory. The first half was a display of end to end shinty a Lee Askew gave Oban Celtic an opening minute lead. Andy Mathie made it 1-1 on 6 minutes but an Alan Duffy goal on 12 minutes restored the visitor’s lead. David Hill made it 3-1 on 23 minutes and things looked good for the Oban side. However Craig Anderson followed up his hat-trick last weekend with goals on 24 and 26 minutes to make it 3-3 at half time. Fulton Ross hit the only goal of the second half to take Mid Argyll through to the quarter finals. Oban Celtic’s Ian McKechnie was sent off 8 minutes from time.
Ballachulish, Glenorchy, Kilmory, Kyles Athletic, Oban Camanachd and Taynuilt all received a bye into the next round.
The Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final takes place on Saturday 25 June 2011.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division
Kyles Athletic extended their lead at the top of the Marine Harvest Premier Division with their second win of the league season over Glenorchy. Both clubs took advantage of their Glasgow Celtic Society Cup byes to bring forward their league fixture at Mart Park which was originally set for later in the season. It’s been a difficult start to the season for Glenorchy and they faced a Kyles outfit which are really on form. Roddy MacDonald put Kyles ahead after just 3 minutes but they didn’t score their second until Grant Irvine netted 3 minutes from the interval. Glenorchy’s Kenny MacDougall got his side back in the game with a strike a minute into the second half. However Thomas Whyte burst forward to make it 3-1 on 58 minutes and Kyles took control. Grant Irvine added his second on 62 minutes and Fraser MacDonald made it 5-1 just 3 minutes later. Grant Irvine completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes whilst Robbie MacLeod completed the scoring to make it 7-1 on 78 minutes.
Oban Camanachd collected both points with a morale boosting 2-1 win over Kingussie at the Dell. Kingussie had defender Lee Bain and forward Thomas Borthwick back in their starting line-up but veteran Kevin Thain, who was promoted from the second team last weekend, was unavailable. Ryan Borthwick put the Kings ahead with a goal after 16 minutes but an own goal in the heavy rain off home keeper Andrew Borthwick a couple of minutes later made it 1-1. Oban Camanachd’s Aidan MacIntyre put his side in front on the half hour mark and they held this lead until the break. Kingussie pressed visitors goal during the send half but they were unable to beat Oban keeper Gavin Stobbart. The King’s even moved Lee Bain into attack but Oban Camanachd held on to take the points. The match ended in controversy with Kingussie claiming that referee Davie Mitchell blew for time 5 minutes early. The win means that the Oban side now leap-frog Kingussie into fourth place in the table.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
A David Devine goal on 40 minutes gave Lochside Rovers a 1-0 win over newly promoted Aberdour. The win allowed the Oban side to take full advantage of Bute’s cup participation to go top of the table following their third consecutive victory.
A Roddy MacColl hat-trick gave Kyles Athletic a 3-1 victory over the league’s other newcomers Ballachulish at Tighnabruaich. Former Skye Camanachd Dougie Rankin scored for the visitors. Kyles go third, behind second place Bute on goal difference.
Willie Neilson scored for Taynuilt but goals from Hal Jones and Adam Johnstone gave visitors Kilmory a 2-1 win and their first points of the season.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
League leaders Newtonmore went down 5-1 to reigning champions Glenurquhart at Blairbeg. The sides have had contrasting fortunes so far this season with ‘More top of the table whilst reigning champions Glenurquhart were still to pick up their first point. However the home side quickly set about rectifying the position as Ewan Lloyd put them in front after just 5 minutes. Former Lovat striker Calum Macaulay put the Glen 2-0 ahead on the half hour mark before Ackie MacRae pulled a goal back for the visitors just 5 minutes later. Goals from Calum Fraser and Iain MacLeod on 38 and 43 minutes gave the Glen a convincing 4-1 half time advantage. Dave MacLennan added a fifth 10 minutes from time to make it 5-1.
Kingussie took advantage of their Badenoch rivals slip-up to snatch pole position in the division following their 8-1 triumph over Skye Camanachd at the Dell. Click on the following link to read a full match report Kingussie 8 Skye Camanachd 1
Glengarry continued their good start to the season with a 2-0 win over Kilmallie at Craigard. Andrew Paterson on 15 minutes and Martin Cameron 4 minutes later got the goals which take ‘Garry into third place in the table on goal difference.
Lochaber returned from Kirkton with both points following a 4-2 win over Kinlochshiel. The visitors added teenage defender Danny Delaney to their squad as they had no first team game and he played at full back. Steven Isles and Oliver MacRae scored for Shiel but an Alan Knox double, a Ryan Toal effort and an own goal helped Lochaber to a 4-2 win.
Fort William were awarded the points as Lovat were unable to field a team for their match at An Aird. Camanachd Association rules dictate that Lovat will be docked 2 points and the match be replayed at a later date.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Five goals from the prolific Stuart Ferrier helped Tayforth to an 8-1 triumph over Aberdour. In fact Aberdour must be sick of the sight of Ferrier as he grabbed a hat-trick when Tayforth were 5-1 winners when the sides met last term. Ferrier’s goals came on 3, 30, 53, 62 and 63 minutes. Shane Mason scored a double for Tayforth on 77 and 90 minutes whilst Calum Barton scored their other goal on 79 minutes. Connor MacPherson got a 38 minute strike for Aberdour. The win means Tayforth, who were league runners-up in 2010, go top of the table.
Bute had a good 2-1 win over Inveraray in their derby meeting at the Meadows. Stuart Murray and Ally Carmichael were on target for the Islanders whilst Lewis MacNicol replied for the visitors. Bute finished bottom of their league last season but this win takes them into second place on goal difference.
Doubles from Ross MacDonald and Angus Campbell and a Duncan MacNicol goal helped Strachur to a 5-0 win over last week’s league leaders Col Glen at Home Farm.
A Gary Young hat-trick gave Ballachulish a 3-1 victory over Glasgow Mid Argyll at Jubilee Park. This was the home side’s first points of the season. Lewis Miller replied for Mid Argyll.
Marine Harvest North Division 3
League leaders Aberdeen University made the long journey west to play Ardnamurchan. The Students top the table and they have started the season strongly, scoring 22 goals in their opening 3 games. They continued their good run by winning 7-0 with former Skye Camanachd player Kenny MacLeod grabbing a hat-trick to take his seasons tally to 11 goals. David Fraser scored twice and Stuart Cameron and Rory Campbell completed the scoring.
Beauly went down to their first defeat of the season when they lost 4-0 to Caberfeidh at Braeview Park. Beauly were without Conor Cormack who had returned to first team duty. An own goal gave Cabers a single goal advantage after 22 minutes but 3 goals in the final 10 minutes clinched victory. Scott MacLennan made it 2-0 on 80 minutes with other goals added by Craig Morrison on 87 minutes and an effort from Blair Morrison in the closing seconds.
Boleskine returned from Lochbroom with both points following a 5-0 win in a match refereed by former Kingussie captain Barrie Dallas. Raymond Robertson put Boleskine ahead after 38 minutes and Iain Grant made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time. Iain Grant added his second on 75 minutes to make it 3-0 and Raymond Robertson also grabbed a second 10 minutes from time. Michael Pirie got the final goal a minute later.
Lewis Camanachd secured an historic first league point following their 2-2 draw with Strathglass in the 12.30pm throw up at Cannich. Lewis Camanachd were without full back Daniel Gallagher who has a broken foot. The home side led after just 50 seconds thanks to a Ewan Wotherspoon strike. However Duncan Edwards raised Lewis spirits when he levelled after just 3 minutes. Ally Rothe put the home side ahead once again from the penalty spot when the goal judge highlighted an infringement to referee Iain Kennedy. However the visitors celebrated when Calum Stamper netted to earn his team their first ever league point. Barry John Phimister in the Strath goals made some good saves but Lewis also had to do their share of defending with wing back Eoghan Stewart a stand-out at the back.
Inverness were unable to raise a team for their clash with Lochcarron at Battery Park. The points have been awarded to the home side.