There were some terrific matches in the leagues and the first rounds of the Balliemore Cup and Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup took place on Saturday 9 April 2011.
Balliemore Cup - First Round
Balliemore Cup holders Kinlochshiel made the long journey south to Kilmory where they safely negotiated their passage into the quarter finals following a 7-1 win. Shiel were without Fraser MacVicar who wasn’t risked because of a hamstring problem. Finlay MacRae grabbed a hat-trick whilst Neil Fraser got a double and Keith MacRae and Gordy MacDonald got the other Shiel goal. Denis McGarry was the Kilmory scorer. .
Lochcarron were another team faced with a long trek as they headed for Taynuilt. The home side, currently guidance of former Scottish international Fraser Inglis, gave a good account of themselves against their more experienced opponents. Taynuilt have made a decent start to the season and they sit third place in Marine Harvest South Division 1. Lochcarron boss Murdo John Fraser has been frustrated that the poor weather has meant his side has not been able to put together a run of fixtures and this was only their third match of the season. Lochcarron were without Dickie MacKenzie who has a hand injury. However it is Lochcarron who go through to the next round with a 2-0 win thanks to a Crisdean Finlayson double.
Skye Camanachd made it a good day for the west coast sides but it took a penalty shoot-out to eventually see off Strathglass at Cannich. Click on the following link to read a full match report Strathglass 2 Skye Camanachd 2 (Skye win 3-2 on penalties)
Inverness and Lochaber have been familiar cup opponents in recent seasons and they met at the Bught Park. Lachlan Campbell put the Spean Bridge men ahead with a 3 minute strike. Ben Delaney followed up his 8 second strike against Ballachulish last week with goals on 6 and 9 minutes to make it 3-0. Stuart Callison made it 4-0 on 23 minutes whilst Shaun Nicolson added a fifth on 35 minutes. Delaney completed his hat-trick 3 minutes before the break to give Lochaber an unassailable 6-0 interval lead. Shaun Nicolson added his second on 69 minutes and Brian MacDonald rounded off a comfortable 8-0 win just 4 minutes from time.
Glasgow Mid Argyll probably went into their tie with Ballachulish at Jubilee Park as favourites. Ballachulish’s cause wasn’t help through the loss of injured captain Darren Sutherland. Gary Young opened the scoring with a goal for Ballachulish on the half hour mark and Duncan MacDonald doubled their advantage a couple of minutes later. MacDonald added his second on 65 minutes and although Mark Bain pulled a goal back for Mid Argyll 10 minutes later, it is Ballachulish who progress into the next round.
Oban Celtic were unable to raise a team for their trip north to Castle Leod so Caberfeidh are given passage into the next round.
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup – First Round
Skye Camanachd produced the shock of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup first round with a 5-3 extra-time win over Fort William at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye make the short journey to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel in the next round. Click of the following link to read a full match report Skye Camanachd 5 Fort William 3
Glenurquhart beat Newtonmore for the second time in three weeks in their 12 noon throw up at Drumnadrochit. Gregor MacCormack put the home side ahead on 17 minutes and Calum Fraser made it 2-0 just 6 minutes later. ‘More’s Ross Aitken pulled a goal back on 28 minutes whilst Ross Ackie squared the tie 3 minutes into the second half. The Glen, roared on by Steve Henderson and Fraser MacKenzie on the touchline, went in front again on 68 minutes when Calum Fraser added his second. The home side were awarded a penalty by referee John Sloggie 5 minutes from time and Lewis MacLennan made no mistake from the spot. However a Chris Sellar goal a minute later ensured a nervy finish for the home support but their side saw out the closing minutes to clinch a second round tie away to Glengarry.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 leaders Glengarry showed their strength with a 9-0 win over Marine Harvest South Division 2 side Bute in Invergarry. Mathew Clark got the home side off to a great start with a goal in 2 minutes. Steven Cameron then went on to add goals on 7 and 15 minutes to make it 3-0. Mathew Clark added his second on 19 minutes before Ewan Brady got in on the act to make it 5-0 with just 29 minutes played. Steven Cameron completed his hat-trick 5 minutes before the break to give the home side a comfortable 6-0 interval lead. Cameron completed a great afternoon with his fourth and fifth goals on 54 and 64 minutes but Bute rallied in the last half hour and only lost one more goal to Arran Clark on 82 minutes which make it 9-0. Glengarry now host Glenurquhart in the next round.
Lochaber were too strong for Inverness in their 12.30pm throw up at the Bught Park. This was the first part of a double-header between the clubs as their senior sides clashed in the Balliemore Cup later in the day with Lochaber winning that one too. The match remained goalless until a couple of minutes before the break when Alan Knox put the visitors ahead. Scott Knox made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time and there was no way back for Inverness. Kenny Forsyth made it 3-0 on 57 minutes whilst Alan Knox completed his hat-trick with goals on 61 and 67 minutes. Connor Sweeny struck number six on 80 minutes and although Gary Lightbody scored a consolation goal for Inverness on 86 minutes, Alan Knox took his personal tally to four with a goal on full time to complete a 7-1 win. Lochaber’s reward is a home tie against Strathglass.
Boleskine and Caberfeidh meet at Farr. The sides met at the same venue in Marine Harvest North Division 3 last weekend with Boleskine running out 1-0 winners thanks to a Raymond Robertson goal. However this time Arran Ross, Garry MacLennan and Graham MacGregor were on target as Caberfeidh ran out 3-0 winners. Cabers will now be at home to Taynuilt in round two.
David Arnott and Jamie MacDonald were on target as Tayforth were 2-0 winners in their 12 noon throw up at Taynuilt.
North Division 2 bottom side Kilmallie went down 5-1 to Marine Harvest South Division 1 leaders Lochside Rovers at the Canal Parks. Matt Rippon scored twice for the visitors on 14 and 16 minutes and goals from Brian MacCallum on 23 minutes and David Lafferty 3 minutes later made it 4-0 which ended the game as a contest. Robbie MacFadyen pulled a goal back for Kilmallie on 33 minutes but David Devine scored the only goal of the second half on 72 minutes to complete a 5-1 victory. Lochside Rovers now head for the Dell to play Kingussie.
A young Kingussie side eventually ran out 5-3 extra time winners against Strachur at the Dell. Kevin Thain was missing for the hosts whilst they also lost some players to the senior side for their game against Newtonmore. Rory Borthwick and young Rory MacGregor each scored twice for Kingussie whilst Brian Mabon got the other. Angus Campbell and a David Wilson double were on target for Strachur. The Kings now host Oban Camanachd reserve side Lochside Rovers in the next round.
Inveraray won 3-1 at Col Glen with John Slaughter scoring twice and Chris Crawford getting the other. Preston Shuttleworth replied for Col Glen. Inveraray now play Aberdeen University at the Winterton.
Aberdeen University won through to the tie at Inveraray when they were given a walk-over as travel difficulties prevented Lochbroom from travelling east.
It also took extra-time to separate Marine Harvest North Division 3 rivals Lochcarron and
Beauly. Both teams have made good starts to the season and it was predicted that this should be a close-fought affair and it turned out to be just that. David MacCuish put Lochcarron ahead after just 5 minutes but Conor Cormack made it 1-1 on 35 minutes. Gregor Cushnie continued his good scoring run when he restored Lochcarron’s advantage 5 minutes from half time but Dan Marshall scored to make it 2-2 at the break. Cormack was back on the scoresheet 5 minutes into the second half as he put Beauly ahead for the first time in the game but Iain Cameron netted for the home side to make it 3-3 just 4 minutes later. Conor Cormack completed his hat-trick on 72 minutes to put the visitors 4-3 ahead but Cushnie added his second strike just 3 minutes later to make it 4-4. Referee John Angus Gillies signalled an extra-time period and a Dan Marshall strike, his second of the game, settled the tie with only 5 minutes remaining. Next up for Beauly is a trip to play The SCOTS or Lovat.
The tie between the SCOTS and holders Lovat will take place at a later date.
Glasgow Mid Argyll, Kinlochshiel, Kyles Athletic and Strathglass have all received byes into the second round which takes place on Saturday 7 May 2011.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division
Kyles Athletic went four points clear at the top of the table with a 3-2 win over Fort William at An Aird. Fort William manager Peter McIntyre had the third of his three suspended players available for selection again as 2008 Marine Harvest Player of the Year John MacDonald followed Adam Robertson and Liam MacIntyre and back to the fold. Fort William were the only side in the top division yet to concede a goal this season but that particular record ended when Dunkie Kerr put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes. However veteran John MacLeod, who was restored to the Fort attack, levelled 60 seconds later with a great strike. Thomas Whyte put Kyles in front for a second time on the half hour mark and Grant Irvine scored a crucial third goal from 30 yards out for the visitors a minute before the break to make it 3-1. Gary Innes pulled a goal back to make it 3-2 on 53 minutes but some good goalkeeping from Kenny MacDonald helped the visitors hold on for another good win.
Lovat would have gained confidence from their draw with Fort William last weekend and they took the opportunity to build on that result when four Greg Matheson goals helped them to a 6-0 win against bottom side Glenorchy at Balgate. Home bosses James Gallagher and John MacRitchie were without injured wing back Drew Howie and suspended buckshee back Lorne MacKay. To add to Lovat’s defensive woes, injury also ruled out full back James Grieve. Scotland U21 forward James MacPherson was asked to take up a defensive role whilst youngster Martin Mainland was also drafted in. Lovat were also without former Skye Camanachd player Iain Nicolson. Glenorchy also had selection problems with at least half a dozen first team regulars missing. Indeed they were forced to register a couple of players on the morning of the game to supplement their squad. Greg Matheson put Lovat ahead on 30 minutes before completing a first half hat-trick with goals on 40 minutes and another on the stroke of half time. Craig Mainland fired past Glenorchy keeper John Smith to make it 4-0 a minute into the second half and Lewis Tawse added another on the hour mark. Matheson completed a productive afternoon when he netted his fourth and Lovat’s sixth goal on the ninetieth minute. The win lifts Lovat out of the relegation zone at the expense of Kilmallie.
It took extra-time to separate Kilmallie and Glenurquhart when the sides met in the Co-operative MacTavish Cup a couple of with Kilmallie coming out on top. The Glen were without the injured David Girvan and Liam Girvan for their league meeting whilst Kilmallie suffered a blow before the game when Saturday morning fog left forward John Stewart left stranded in Stornoway. The Glen have one of the meanest defences in the league but scoring goals has been a problem with only one league goal in their three matches ahead of this game. However they hit target this weekend with a 5-1 win which takes them to fifth place in the league, equal on points with Newtonmore and Fort William who have a better goal difference. Ruairidh Cameron got the home start off to a great start with a goal after just 3 minutes. Former Lovat player Calum MacAulay’s performances in the second team won him a place in the starting line-up and he scored after 34 minutes to make it 2-0. It was Kilmallie who made a good start to the second half and Liam MacDonald continued his good scoring run when he pulled a goal back 3 minutes after the restart. Cameron added his second on 62 minutes to make it 3-1 whilst MacAulay did like-wise a couple of minutes later. Neale Reid rounded off the scoring with a 71 minute effort to complete a good day for the home support who saw their second string beat Newtonmore in the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup earlier in the day.
There was an interesting all-Argyll clash at Mossfield where Oban Camanachd hosted Inveraray. Oban Camanachd manager Diarmid MacMillan was looking for his side to bounce back following last week’s defeat to Kingussie after what had been a promising start to the season. However it was Inveraray who secured their second league win with a 3-1 win. A Grant Griffin double and a strike from Russell MacKinlay, who was making a rare away appearance, clinched the points. Daniel MacKinnon replied for Oban Camanachd.
And if all that wasn’t enough, there was the small matter of the first senior Badenoch derby of the season when fourth place Newtonmore and third place Kingussie clashed at the Eilan. Newtonmore were without long term absentee Fraser MacKintosh and Evan Menzies. Kingussie were once again without Ronald Ross whilst Kevin Thain, Martin Dallas and Ricky Grant were also unavailable. Then, after just 10 minutes, Iain Borthwick was forced to leave the field with a groin muscle problem. Craig Dawson started in attack along-side veteran Rory Fraser and it was Dawson who scored the only goal of the first half when he fired past Michael Ritchie after 22 minutes. Glen MacKintosh capitalised on slackness in the Kingussie defence to make it 1-1 just a minute into the second half after he was set up by Danny MacRae and he put ‘More into the lead on 65 minutes from the tightest of angles. However Paul Gow fired a spectacular 30 yard leveller 6 minutes from time to earn Kingussie a well-earned 2-2 draw. Newtonmore’s Paul MacArthur was sent off by referee Graham Cameron for lashing out at Rory Fraser during a fraught closing period of the game. Glen MacKintosh made a great contribution with his goals for Newtonmore whilst Lee Bain and Ryan Borthwick were excellent for Kingussie.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Bute went top of Marine Harvest North Division 1 with a 9-0 win over Aberdour at Rothesay. Roberto Zavaroni put them ahead after 9 minutes and James Craig made it 2-0 on 19 minutes. Zavaroni added his second just 3 minutes later and goals from Stuart Strathie on 28 minutes and Robert Walker on 23 minutes put the home side 5-0 up at the break. Strathie added his second on the hour mark and Robert Walker made it 7-0 with a 75 minute strike. Referee Robert Baxter awarded the home side a penalty on 79 minutes and Hector Whitelaw stepped up to convert the spot-hit. There was still time for Robert Walker to complete his hat-trick 3 minutes from time to make it 9-0. The Islanders now leap-frog Lochside Rovers to top spot in the table on goal difference in their in their quest to make an immediate return to top flight shinty.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
There was a rearranged match at Kirkton where Kinlochshiel welcomed an under-strength Lovat side. Shiel clinched their second league victory of the season with an impressive 7-1 win. Oliver MacRae put them ahead after just 8 minutes and Ross Fraser doubled their advantage on 17 minutes. Lovat’s Jimmy MacKenzie pulled a goal back after 25 minutes but Steven Isles made it 3-1 just 5 minutes later and ‘Shiel took this lead into the break. U17 player Donald Nixon made it 4-0 on 48 minutes and Fraser added his second 3 minutes later to make it 5-1. Isles on 65 minutes and Nixon 10 minutes from time each added their second goals of the game to complete a resounding 7-1 win. The result leaves Lovat second bottom of the table, still looking for their first point with three games played.
Marine Harvest North Division 3
Strathglass enjoyed a morale-boosting 4-3 win over Ardnamurchan in their noon throw up at Cannich. Ardnamurchan were without injured duo Stuart Cameron, who had a foot injury, and Craig Lindsay was also missing. Both sides’ points in the league prior to this game came against new boys Lewis Camanachd. Strathglass earned a point following a 2-2 draw whilst Ardnamurchan beat the Islanders 6-2 last weekend. Strathglass ran out 4-3 winners in this one following an exciting match. JD MacMaster got a hat trick for Ardnamurchan but Seth Jones did like-wise for Strathglass and former Skye Camanachd youth player Alex Latton got the other to seal a 4-3 win.