Three of the top four sides won in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division and the Kingussie and Kyles Athletic reserve sides will meet in the final of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup following the shinty fixtures on Saturday 9 July 2011.
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Semi Final
Skye Camanachd 2 Kingussie 6
Kingussie are through to the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final in Aberdeen on Saturday 30 July 2011 following their 6-2 win over Skye Camanachd at Craigard, Invergarry. Click on the following link to read a full match report (link to follow)
Glenurquhart 1 Kyles Athletic 4
Kyles Athletic beat 2010 Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup runners up Glenurquhart 4-1 in their semi final meeting at the Playing Field, Taynuilt. Glenurquhart beat Tayforth 3-0 in the quarter finals with Fraser Heath grabbing a brace. Roddy MacColl and Innes MacDonald also both scored twice as Kyles won their place in the last four with a 5-0 win over Lochaber. Peter Mobeck put Kyles ahead after 10 minutes but Fraser Heath made it 1-1 just 10 minutes later. Kyles won the tie with three goals in a 15 minute second half burst. Fraser Williamson restored their lead on 50 minutes and Roddy MacColl made it 3-1 just 4 minutes later. Kyles took the chance to seal the win when they were awarded a penalty by referee Daniel MacRae on 65 minutes. Roddy MacColl stepped up and he made no mistake from the spot to give his side a 4-1 win.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division
Lovat 0 Kyles Athletic 2
There was much interest as to how Kyles Athletic would react to the disappointment of their Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup exit to Inveraray last weekend. However the Tighnabruaich returned home from their game against Lovat at Balgate with both points following a 2-0 win. Lovat had Jamie Matheson back as he was cup-tied for last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup defeat at Kilmallie. Fraser Gallacher also returned to boost managers John MacRitche and James Gallacher’s options. Kyles were once again without the services of Donald Irvine as he sat out the second game of a two match suspension. Grant Irvine put the visitors ahead 5 minutes before the break and he added a second on 74 minutes. Irvine was in terrific form throughout the game and Lovat’s Calum Cruden was sent off 11 minutes from time by referee Graham Irving for a second booking following a trip on the Kyles front man.
Newtonmore 2 Glenorchy 0
An early strike from John MacKenzie and a late Fraser MacKintosh goal gave Newtonmore a 2-0 win over Glenorchy in their 3pm throw up at the Eilan. The winning margin wasn’t as great as many would have expected but Glenorchy will have taken heart from their performance against Fort William last Saturday when they only went down 3-1 despite playing the last half hour with only eleven players. John MacKenzie put the reigning champions in front after 9 minutes with the only goal of the first half. Glenorchy held out until 11 minutes from the end when a Fraser MacKintosh strike made it 2-0.
Fort William 3 Inveraray 1
Gary Innes made a goal-scoring return to the Fort William line-up for their 3pm throw up against Inveraray at An Aird. Fort William were under-strength for last week’s win at Glenorchy but they had Gary Innes back for this one following an operation on his nose. John MacDonald again missed out through suspended. Inveraray came into the match brimming with confidence following last weekend’s convincing Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup victory over Kyles Athletic. Gary Innes scored the opener on 6 after being set up by Bryan Simpson. Innes beat Inveraray keeper Graeme MacPherson again on 35 minutes when he made it 2-0. Garry MacPherson gave the visitors hope with a goal a minute before the break. Inveraray tried hard to get back on level terms and the Fort defence survived a couple of scares before a last minute Daniel Stewart effort gave his side a 3-1 win which was enough to keep them in second place in the table.
Kingussie 1 Glenurquhart 2
Glenurquhart followed up last weekend’s win over Oban Camanachd by picking up a couple of great points against Kingussie at the Dell. Kingussie had players back for this game with Thomas Borthwick and Ryan Borthwick returning from holiday. However Craig Dawson and Barrie Dallas missed out and Kevin Thain, Hamish Anderson and Martin Dallas were on second team action in the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup semi final against Skye Camanachd. James Hutchison was working whilst Ally MacLeod (hamstring) and Louis Munro (broken collar-bone) are longer term absentees. Glenurquhart went into this game without Scottish internationalist Andrew Corrigan who was suspended following his red card against Oban Camanachd last week. Eddie Tembo and David Girvan are still some way off a return. Neale Reid put the visitors ahead after just 3 minutes and the Glen had some god goal-keeping from Stuart MacKintosh to thank for taking this advantage into the interval. Ronald Ross finally beat MacKintosh to make it 1-1 just 5 minutes into the second half. However Neale Reid beat Kings’ keeper Andrew Borthwick to score his second on 55 minutes and net what proved to be the winning goal. Glenurquhart now draw level on points with fourth place Kingussie although the Badenoch men have a game in hand.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Inverness 0 Kinlochshiel 11
Kinlochshiel remain on course for a first ever appearance in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division next season as they maintained their 100% record in the league with an 11-0 win over Inverness at the Bught Park. Inverness bosses Stevie Munro and James MacDougall were without the services of Davie Glass who was serving the second game of a two match ban and Craig Nicolson who missed out after his red card against Caberfeidh last weekend. Johnston Gill had Steven Callander back in his midfield whilst Graeme Morrison also returned but he started on the bench. Gordie MacDonald got the visitors off to a great start with a goal in the opening minute. When Finlay MacRae made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later, it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for Inverness. Keith MacRae was next to threaten for ‘Shiel and he grabbed an 8 minute hat-trick with goals after 17, 21 and 25 minutes. Neil Fraser also scored during this time and his 22 minutes effort contributed to a 6-0 lead. Inverness rallied though and some stout home defending meant there was no further scoring during the final 20 minutes of the first half. ‘Shiel started on the offensive again in the second period and Finlay MacRae notched his second to make it 7-0 on 50 minutes before Neil Fraser scored his second and his side’s eighth goal a couple of minutes later. Finlay MacRae completed his hat-trick on 72 minutes to make it 9-0 and Keith MacRae’s fourth goal of the afternoon 3 minutes later took his team’s tally into double winners. Finlay MacRae rounded off an emphatic 11-0 win for Kinlochshiel with his fourth goal in the final minute.
Lochaber 7 Skye Camanachd 2
Lochaber beat Skye Camanachd 7-2 in their 12 noon throw up at Spean Bridge. Click on the following link to read a full match report Lochaber 7 Skye Camanachd 2
Lochcarron 1 Caberfeidh 1
Lochcarron earned a creditable 1-1 draw with Caberfeidh at Battery Park. Lochcarron boss Andrew MacKenzie asked for a reaction from his players after they lost 10 goals to Skye Camanachd last weekend. MacKenzie was still without young defender Ben Dalgety. Cabers boss Robbie Taylor was boosted when influential full centre Ally MacLennan was passed fir and he enjoyed a great tussle with Lochcarron’s Peter MacKenzie in the middle of the park. Suspension ruled out Caber’s Martin MacDonald and Liam Mutch. The first half was goalless but the home side took the lead on 61 minutes when they awarded a penalty by referee John Angus Gillies. Young Kieran Murray stepped up to slam the ball into the net. However the home side only held the lead for 4 minutes scored for the home side as manger’s son and full forward Kirk Taylor netted to earn a point for the visitors.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Ballachulish P Oban Celtic P
The match between Ballachulish and Oban Celtic was postponed because of a bereavement.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Newtonmore 13 Kinlochshiel 2
With second place Glengarry not in action, league leaders Newtonmore took the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table as with a 13-2 win over Kinlochshiel in their mid-day throw up at the Eilan. Chris Sellar put Newtonmore ahead on 10 minutes and Owen Fraser made it 2-0 just 5 minutes later. Callum Stewart scored on 20 and 25 minutes to make it 4-0 whilst Chris Sellar added his second on the half hour mark. Callum Stewart completed his hat-trick 5 minutes later and Chris Sellar did like-wise 5 minutes before the break to give Newtonmore a 7-0 interval lead. Owen Fraser scored his second on the hour mark whilst Callum Stewart got his fourth 5 minutes after to make it 9-0. Ross Fraser found some consolation with a goal for ‘Shiel moments later. Cameron Binnie scored both ‘More’s tenth after 70 minutes and their eleventh 5 minutes later. Calum Binnie made it 12-1 on 80 minutes whilst Jordan Fraser scored a second ‘Shiel goal a couple of minutes later as Newtonmore ran out 13-2 winners. The winning margin could have been even bigger had visiting keeper Iain Cameron not saved a penalty
Fort William 3 Lovat 0
Fort William came out on top in their 12 noon throw up against Lovat at An Aird. Fort William boss Victor Smith has stuck by his principles this season and fielded a young side with player development his priority. His currently side trail leaders Newtonmore by ten points but they do have four games in hand. Lovat lost out by the odd goal in eleven in an exciting game against Lochaber last week with Connal MacIllechiar scoring twice. The first half in this game finished goalless but Sean Cameron opened the scoring after 51 minutes. Ewan Campbell added a double on 62 and 88 minutes to seal a 3-0 win.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Bute 3 Strachur 3
Third place Bute and league front-runners Strachur drew 3-3 in their 3pm throw up on Rothesay. An Angus Campbell goal was all that separated the sides when Bute won the corresponding fixture 1-0 earlier in the season. And it was Angus Campbell who opened the scoring in this one too with a goal on just 2 minutes put the visitors ahead and they took this lead into the half time break. Duncan Simpson made it 1-1 on 52 minutes and a Stuart Stirling strike on 67 minutes put the home side in front. An Alastair Mirlees double on 81 and 85 minutes put Strachur back in the lead but Duncan Simpson’s second goal of the game a minute from time earned Bute a point.
Tayforth 9 Col Glen 4
Stuart Ferrier scored a double hat-trick as second place Tayforth ran out 9-4 home winners against fourth place Col Glen. Tayforth were 4-3 winners when the sides met in an exciting encounter earlier in the season. Stuart Ferrier grabbed a hat-trick for Tayforth that day whilst young Jamie MacVicar scored twice for Col Glen but this was a more convincing win for Tayforth. As well as Ferrier’s six goals, Kenny Campbell was also on target in this one whilst Brendan Duggan bagged a brace. Willie MacVicar scored twice for visitors Col Glen and Neil Black and Steven MacKellar also found the back of the net. Former Newtonmore player Stuart Ferrier has now scored nine goals against Col Glen in the league this season.
Marine Harvest North Division 3
Strathglass 3 Caberfeidh 4
Caberfeidh edged out Strathglass by the odd goal in seven in their rearranged Marine Harvest North Division 3 match at Cannich on Tuesday 5 July 2011. Click on the following link to read the match report in full Strathglass 3 Caberfeidh 4
Aberdeen University W/O v Ardnamurchan
League leaders Aberdeen University received a walk-over as Ardnamurchan’s team raising difficulties continued and they are unable to raise a side for their trip to the Granite City. The win all but seals the Marine Harvest North Division 3 title for Aberdeen University and one more point from their last three games will man they cannot be caught in the league.
Caberfeidh 2 Beauly 2
Caberfeidh came back from 2-0 down to earn a share of the points with Beauly at Castle Leod. Beauly’s Jack MacDonald scored the only goal of the first half after 35 minutes and he added a second 6 minutes into the second half. Iain MacDonald pulled a goal back for Cabers on 69 minutes whilst Gary MacLennan made it 2-2 from the penalty spot on 84 minutes. Caberfeidh’s Ruairidh MacCreadie was sent off by referee Kevin Cheeseman.
Lewis Camanachd 2 Strathglass 8
Strathglass came out on top in their bottom of the table clash with Lewis Camanachd at Shawbost. The sides drew at Cannich earlier in the season but Strathglass ran out 8-2 winners in this one. With no first team game, the men from Cannich fielded a strong reserve side and Robert Geddes scored a hat-trick whilst Josh Fraser netted a double. Lewis Douglas also scored twice and Andrew Fraser got the other. Stuart Campbell and Ally MacKenzie scored for the Islanders.
Inverness R Lochcarron R
The match between Inverness and Lochcarron has been rearranged for Wednesday 13 July 2011 at the Bught Park. Throw up is at 7.30pm.