The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 4 June 2011. | |
06 June 2011 The top teams entered shinty’s premier competition, the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup, as the second round of the competition took place on Saturday 4 June 2011. Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Second Round Newtonmore 8 Fort William 1 The Camanachd Cup has taken pride of place in the Fort William trophy cabinet for the last four years but the holders are out of this year’s competition as they were floored by a devastating performance from Newtonmore at the Eilan. The sides had already met twice this season with each winning the away fixture. It was an under-strength Newtonmore side which beat Glenorchy 3-0 at Dalmally last week but manager Norman MacArthur had absentees Danny MacRae, Norman Campbell and Glen MacKintosh back in his line up although a hip injury still ruled out David Cheyne. The Fort had Gary Innes back after he missed the last two matches due to work commitments. The influential John MacDonald also returned but midfield power-house Niall MacPhee was absent as he is working abroad. Duncan Rodger started in attack. No one predicted that Norman MacArthur’s side would run out such convincing winners and there was little evidence of what was about to unfold when all that separated the sides at the interval was a good Steven MacDonald strike from distance on 26 minutes and this came after the Fort had enjoyed some early pressure. However ’More stamped their authority in the second period and Glen MacKintosh made it 2-0 on 54 minutes when Danny MacRae knocked down a free hit from the middle of the park. Newtonmore tried using Danny MacRae at left wing forward against Lovat earlier in the season and they used this tactic again and it paid off as MacRae struck a double in 56 and 57 minutes to make it 4-0. His first was a back-hand shot from a free hit on the left and the second came when he ran at the visiting defence straight from the throw up. Gary Innes pulled a goal back a minute short of the hour mark, again from a set piece, but there was to be no come-back. Paul MacArthur made it 5-1 on 64 minutes when he rammed home a rebound after Paul MacKay saved a Danny MacRae penalty. Danny MacRae then took his personal tally to five goals when he shot home on 65, 75 and 87 minutes to make it 8-1 with the impressive Ackie MacRae involved in all three goals as he ran riot down the ‘More right. The Newtonmore support enjoyed their afternoon but Fort William’s run of eight consecutive finals is over and the men from the Eilan are two games away from their first final appearance since 1997. Taynuilt 1 Kingussie 8 Taynuilt’s reward for a first round win over Inverness was a home match against last year’s runners up Kingussie. Taynuilt fancied a home draw against one of the big sides following their impressive first round victory and they don’t come much bigger than a visit from Kingussie. However there was to be no fairy-tail ending as the Kings ran out 8-1 winners. Taynuilt are coached by Fraser Inglis who enjoyed considerable success at Kingussie when he joined them as a player from Oban Camanachd so he was fully aware of the challenge which faced his side. The Kings’ influential defender Lee Bain picked up an injury against Kyles last week and he and Iain Borthwick were left on the bench and weren’t risked. Louis Munro was also out having missed recent games whilst Ally MacLeod had a hamstring problem. Taynuilt started well and it took a couple of Andrew Borthwick saves to keep the sides level before Stuart Scott gave the home side a shock 15 minute lead. However their delight was short-lived as Ronald Ross levelled a minute later and he went on to net a first half hat-trick with goals on 21 and 45 minutes coming either side of a 26 minute Thomas Borthwick goal strike which gave the Kings a 4-1 lead at the break. Kingussie introduced young Jake MacPherson, who played in their U14 side last year, and he played the whole of the second half. The visitors racked up another four goals in the second half – Ross got another three on 55, 70 and 88 minutes to take his personal tally to six and Thomas Borthwick got his second on 75 minutes to complete an 8-1 win. Oban Camanachd 2 Kyles Athletic 5 Oban Camanachd and Kyles Athletic met at Mossfield for their first encounter this season. Kyles had Donald Irvine and Peter Currie back and Andrew King returned following a two match suspension. Scott MacMillan beat Kyle’s keeper Kenny MacDonald after just 3 minutes to put the home side ahead. However goals from Fraser MacDonald after 21 minutes and Roddy MacDonald on 38 minutes gave Kyles a 2-1 lead at the break. Roddy MacDonald added his second just 3 minutes into the second half to make it 3-1 but Lorne Dickie pulled a goal back for Oban Camanachd on 66 minutes. The tie remained finely balanced until Dunkie Kerr made it 4-2 on 81 minutes and Fraser MacDonald notched his second on the stroke of full time. Lochcarron 1 Kilmallie 5 Lochcarron knew they had a tough hurdle to overcome when Kilmallie visited Battery Park. Lochcarron’s cause wasn’t helped by the fact that boss Murdo John Fraser was forced to step down after he secured a new job which involves periods away from home. Kenny Ross has taken over the reigns until a new managerial appointment is made. Kilmallie lost 4-3 at the same venue on league duty last season but were boosted by Michael Rodger’s return from a one match suspension. Liam MacDonald got Kilmallie off to a great start with a goal in the opening minute. Peter McIntyre made it 2-0 before Kilmallie added a couple more goals in the opening 20 minutes. Iain MacKenzie pulled a goal back for Lochcarron before just one Kilmallie goal in the second 45 minutes gave them a 5-1 win. Michael Rodger and John Stewart were on target whilst Peter McIntyre’s second goal ensured there would be at least one happy person in the McIntyre household at the weekend. Inveraray 3 Lochaber 0 Inveraray beat Lochaber 3-0 in their 3pm meeting at the Winterton. The home side had Garry MacPherson back following suspension as boss John Smylie looked for “the Scottish” to help get his side boys back on track in what has been a slow start to the season by their standards. Lochaber boss Michael Delaney’s main problem this season is that he has been unable to field a settled side. Garry MacPherson gave the home side the lead after 22 minutes and Chris Crawford, who is returning to form after injury, made it 2-0 on the half hour mark. Garry MacPherson bagged his second goal on 68 minutes to secure a 3-0 win. Glenorchy 1 Lovat 1 Glenorchy have not had their injury worries to seek this season and they welcomed a Lovat side to Dalmally who have mounting injury problems of their own. Lovat defender Drew Howie is awaiting an operation whilst fellow defender Lorne MacKay is also out. Full centre Euan Ferguson has a back problem and Martin Mainland has missed the last two games. To add to their woes, full back James Grieve dislocated his shoulder against Kilmallie last week and he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Martin Bell deputised at full back whilst Euan Ferguson did play although he was not fully fit. Lovat’s Jamie Matheson was cup-tied having played for Inverness in the first round so Jimmy MacKenzie came into the side. Despite these problems, any side which can put Fort William out of the Artemis Macaulay Cup is not to be taken lightly and Lovat beat an understrength Glenorchy side lost 6-0 at Balgate on league duty recently with Greg Matheson scoring four. There was some confusion at the start of the game when Glenorchy did not have an available change strip so both teams played with white shirts and black shorts. There was also a dramatic start to the tie as Greg Matheson gave the visitors the lead after just 15 seconds when he netted after a Jimmy MacKenzie shot had been saved. However Duncan Smith made it 1-1 within a minute. The longer the game went on, the most likely outcome seemed to be a replay and that’s what the sides will do when they meet again at Balgate for a place in the quarter finals, likely in a fortnight’s time. Bute 5 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 There was another 3pm meeting on Rothesay in the all Marine Harvest South Division 1 clash between Bute and Glasgow Mid Argyll. These are the sides who were relegated from shinty’s top flight at the end of last season and they occupy the top two places in the league as they battle it out for a quick return to the Scottish Hydro Premier Division. Bute took the lead after 10 minutes when referee David Mitchell awarded them a penalty. Hector Whitelaw stepped up and made no mistake as he fired home. Fulton Ross levelled on 16 minutes when he shot past Kevin Queen as the Glasgow side fought back. However Roberto Zavaroni restored the home side’s lead after 35 minutes and they took this lead into the break. Robert Walker made it 3-1 on 55 minutes whilst Zavaroni netted his second just 3 minutes later. A Graham Fisher goal on 61 minutes completed a 6-1 victory and gave the Islanders a place in the last eight. Kinlochshiel 3 Glenurquhart 0 Many people fancied Marine Harvest North Division 1 side Kinlochshiel to do well against Scottish Hydro Premier Division side Glenurquhart at Kirkton and they did with a 3-0 win. This was Finlay MacRae’s first match back for ‘Shiel since a two week spell on a charity project in Guatemala. ‘Shiel are not a one man team but they did lose both matches played during his absence. Glenurquhart have been training hard under the watchful eye of Scotland Head Coach Drew McNeil and they enjoyed good periods of possession but they could not find a way past home keeper Graham Kennedy. Following a goalless first half, Fraser MacVicar put ‘Shiel ahead on 51 minutes and he added a second on 72 minutes. Kinlochshiel keeper Graham Kennedy injured a groin muscle whilst running from his goal in an attempt to get to the ball. Kennedy was forced to leave the field and defender John Don MacKenzie took in goal and he made a couple of good stops before Gordie MacDonald made 3-0 with a goal in the last minute. So Bute, Inveraray, Kilmallie, Kingussie, Kinlochshiel, Kyles Athletic, Lovat / Glenorchy and Newtonmore all go into the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter final draw which takes place in Pitlochry on Thursday 9 June 2011. Strathdearn Cup – Second Round Fort William 3 Kinlochshiel 0 Fort William and Kinlochshiel made it third time lucky as they finally played their Strathdearn Cup second round tie at An Aird. Victor Smith’s side went out of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup to a west coast side when they lost to Skye Camanachd in Portree but they made no such slip this time as they ran out 3-0 winners. Fort William were without the suspended Mark Grant but they took the lead on 15 minutes when referee John Angus Gillies awarded them a penalty. Ewen Campbell converted and the same player made it 2-0 just 10 minutes into the second half. Davie Duncan rounded off the scoring 10 minutes from time. Fort William’s prize is a second round tie against at home to 2010 runners up Lovat. Bullough Cup - First Round Lochside Rovers W/O Kilmory Lochside Rovers and Kilmory were to make a second attempt to play their Bullough Cup first round tie at Mossfield. However the Kilmory reserve side, which has been put together to play in cup competitions, were unable to field a team so Lochside received a walk-over. Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass 1 Inverness 1 Strathglass picked up a good point at Beauly last weekend and they followed this up with a 1-1 draw against Inverness at Cannich. Strathglass were without the suspended Colin Chapman and they went a goal behind to a James Cameron strike on 25 minutes. However the Strath levelled 4 minutes into the second half through a Ewan Weatherspoon strike. Skye Camanachd 1 Beauly 3 Skye Camanachd lead Beauly 1-0 at the break before going down to a 3-1 defeat. Click on the following link to read a full match report (match report to follow) (more to follow) |