The Saturday Shinty Snapshot – Saturday 20 July 2013 | |
21 July 2013 Bute won the Balliemore Cup Final, Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore will meet in the Artemis Macaulay Cup Final and Lovat will play Kinlochshiel in the Strathdearn Cup Final following the weekend shinty action on what was one of the hottest days of the year on Saturday 20 July 2013.
Balliemore Cup Final Bute 4 Beauly 2 (after extra time) Bute won the Balliemore Cup for the fifth time with a 4-2 extra time victory over Bute at sweltering hot Jubilee Park. Bute were the first winners of the Balliemore Cup when they beat Glengarry in 1985. They had also won shinty’s intermediate trophy on three other previous occasions in 2004, 2006 and more recently in 2011 when they beat Caberfeidh 2-1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Beauly had yet to win the Balliemore Cup. They had played in the final twice before; losing to Bute in Beauly in 2006 and they were defeated by Lochaber last year. Both finalists sat in second place in their respective regional leagues and are well placed to qualify for shinty’s new national second tier which comes into effect in 2014. The final was originally set for Saturday 13 July 2013 but Beauly sportingly agreed for the game to be put back a week as it clashed with Bute forward Robert Walker’s wedding. Bute manager Graham Fisher is in his first season at the helm for the Islanders and going into the final, his forward Robert Walker was the competition’s top scorer with seven goals to his name. Beauly co-managers Stephen MacLean and Calum Morrison’s main injury concern was former Scotland U17 full back Scott MacLeod who had been missing in recent weeks. Beauly could hardly have wished for a better start as they took the lead within the opening minute when Marc MacLachlan got on the end of a free hit to steer the ball into the net. Both sides had goals disallowed by referee Daniel MacRae before Bute equalised on 36 minutes when Gordon MacMillan nipped onto the end of a John MacCallum cross to score. Beauly went back in front on 52 minutes. A James Cameron shot cannoned off the frame of the Islanders goal and Sean Stewart reacted first to tuck the ball past Kevin Queen to make it 2-1. Beauly had their tails up but they were unable to get what would have been a killer third goal. They were punished when Bute again drew level 12 minutes from time when Robert Walker scored his eighth goal of the tournament to take the final into extra time. Bute went in front for the first time in the final on 94 minutes. Referee Daniel MacRae spotted a foul on James Craig inside the D and pointed to the penalty spot. Scotland international and Bute captain Iain MacDonald stepped up and made no mistake from the spot. Bute extended their lead on 111 minutes when a David Whitelaw shot from distance deceived Beauly keeper MacKay Murray and ended up in the net to make it 4-2. Beauly’s David Groat was sent off for a second yellow card in the closing stages and the Islanders stayed in front to win to take the Balliemore Cup back home. On interesting feature of the game was that referee Daniel MacRae wisely allowed a break at a suitable point midway through each half so that the players from both teams could drink water on what was one of the hottest days of the year. Camanachd Association Chieftain Jock Turner presented the Balliemore Cup to a delighted Bute captain, Iain MacDonald.
Artemis Macaulay Cup Semi Finals Inveraray 2 Kyles Athletic 4 (after extra time) Inveraray and Kyles Athletic met for the fourth time this season with the Tighnabruaich side running out 4-2 winners after extra time in their 2pm throw up at Mossfield. Chris Crawford was an injury absentee for Inveraray. Both teams had chances in the first half but it was a 54 minute goal from former Kilmallie player Peter McIntyre which put Inveraray ahead after 50 minutes. Robbie MacLeod levelled for Kyles on 54 minutes only for Russell MacKinlay to put Inveraray back in front a minute later. Dunkie Kerr made it 2-2 on 65 minutes and, just as in the AGJ Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final, the tie went into extra time. Roddy MacDonald put Kyles ahead for the first time in the tie on 100 minutes and Thomas Whyte made it 4-2 on 110 minutes to take his team into the final. David Mitchell was the match referee.
Newtonmore 4 Lovat 0 Newtonmore will face Kyles Athletic in the 2013 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final following their 4-0 win over Lovat in their 3pm throw up at the Bught Park. Lovat went into the game without the suspended Martin Mainland whilst his twin brother Craig Mainland missed out through injury. Glen MacKintosh fired ‘More into a 17 minute lead and Danny MacRae made it 2-0 on 32 minutes. Newtonmore had other chances but. once again. they found Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald to be a formidable barrier. However another two goals from Glen MacKintosh on 88 and 90 minutes completed his hat-trick and sealed the 4-0 triumph. Steven MacDonald turned in a man of the match performance for an on-form Newtonmore side who are still in the hunt for three national trophies. Innes Wood was the match referee.
Strathdearn Cup Semi Final Newtonmore 0 Lovat 4 Lovat will meet Kinlochshiel in the Strathdearn Cup Final following their 4-0 win over Lovat in their noon throw up at the Bught Park. Jamie Matheson has missed a chunk of this season through injury but he seems intent on making up for lost time and he put Lovat ahead on 6 minutes. Lovat looked sharp in front of goal and former Skye Camanachd player Iain Nicolson made it 2-0 on 12 minutes whilst Rory Campbell added a third on 23 minutes. Fraser Gallacher made it 4-0 a couple of minutes into the second half and Newtonmore keeper JD MacLeod made some fine saves to prevent the more experience Lovat side from adding to their tally. Neil Ferguson was the match referee.
Orion Group Premiership Fort William 1 Lochaber 1 The 3pm throw up between Fort William and Lochaber at An Aird was many people’s match of the day as the derby rivals battled it out for priceless points in their quest to avoid relegation. Fort William will have to fight on without talisman Gary Innes who is likely to be missing for the rest of the season through work commitments. Lochaber were able to field Neil MacDonald pending his appeal against a two match to the Camanachd Association Disciplinary Committee. Lochaber full back Lachlan Campbell was free of suspension after serving a one match ban. Fort William had the better of the first half and Daniel Stewart gave them an 18 minute lead. However Ben Delaney levelled on the stroke of half time to make it 1-1. The Spean Bridge men had the better of the second period but they were unable to find a way past home keeper Paul MacKay with saves from Ben Delaney and Zandz Ferguson catching the eye. There was late controversy when Lochaber claimed that a Shaun Nicolson bullet shot had gone through a hole in the top corner of the net but referee Colin MacDonald ruled that the effort was wide of target. So the points were shared and the outcome leaves Fort William at the bottom of the table but they do have important games in hand.
Oban Camanachd 3 Kinlochshiel 1 Oban Camanachd moved off the bottom of the table following their 3-1 win over Kinlochshiel at Mossfield. Throw up was delayed to 5pm as the Artemis Macaulay Cup semi final between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic went into extra time. Garry Lord was free of suspension for Oban Camanachd and there was a first senior start for U17 forward Alasdair Nixon in the ‘Shiel ranks in the continued absence of the injured Gordie MacDonald and Fraser MacVicar. The home side hit ‘Shiel with an early goal blitz as they raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to strikes from Iain Campbell after 5 minutes, Lewis Cameron on 9 minutes and Gavin Stobbart just 3 minutes late. Iain Campbell’s opener was a blistering first time shot which left visiting keeper Scott Kennedy helpless. Lewis Cameron’s second was a sweet strike from a rebound and Gavin Stobbart’s third was a 20 yard drive which beat keeper Kennedy at his near post. Kinlochshiel came more into the game in the second half and they pulled a goal back after 54 minutes when Duncan “Ach” MacRae won possession and passed to John MacRae who set up his brother Keith MacRae to score. ‘Shiel tried hard to add to their tally and home goalie Robert Dunnings saved from Keith MacRae and John MacRae. However Oban Camanachd ran out 3-1 winners and took both points.
Kingussie 2 Glenurquhart 1 Kingussie go third following their 2-1 win in their 3pm throw up over Glenurquhart at the Dell. Kingussie were without Ronald Ross who had a knee injury and Barrie Dallas who had a hand injury. James MacPherson was in the Glen squad after missing out the previous week as he was getting married and Lewis MacLennan was free of suspension. Lee Bain put the Kings ahead on 22 minutes with what was the only goal of the first half. Kingussie’s second goal was something special with Rory MacGregor crashing home a volley with Glen defender Ally MacKintosh breathing down his neck. The games major flashpoint came around 20 minutes from time when a flare-up between Fraser Munro and Eddie Tembo saw both players red carded by referee Graham Cameron with the Glen’s Ewan Brady joining them for his part in the subsequent melee. James MacPherson pulled a goal back for Glenurquhart in the final minute but Kingussie took the points.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Caberfeidh 4 Inverness 3 Fourth place Caberfeidh closed the gap on third place Skye Camanachd to three points following their 4-3 win over Inverness in their noon throw up at Castle Leod. Connor Golabeck put Inverness ahead after 7 minutes but Ally MacLennan levelled on 16 minutes. A Scott Watson double on 23 and 29 minutes gave Inverness a 3-1 interval lead. Whatever Cabers boss Stuart MacLennan said to his players at half time had a major impact and the second 45 minutes turned into the Ally MacLennan show as he netted on 46, 53 and 69 minutes to take his own tally to four goals and put Cabers 4-3 in front. The win sets up a terrific showdown between Skye Camanachd and Caberfeidh at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree next weekend. Cabers trail Skye by three points and they have two games in hand as the teams battle it out to finish third and have a chance of winning a place in next season’s national second tier.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll 7 Kilmory 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll kept their noses out in front at the top of the league following their 7-0 win over Kilmory at Yoker. Former Scotland U17 forward Craig Anderson scored four times to take his personal tally to 25 goals for the season so far. Andy Mathie, Euan Forsyth and Garry Luke got the others for GMA.
Strachur 1 Glenorchy 5 Glenorchy go fourth as they beat Strachur 5-1 at Dalmally. Kieran Gallagher got Glenorchy off to the best possible start with a goal in the opening minute. Finlay Ross made it 2-0 on 15 minutes and a Duncan Smith double on 39 and 48 minutes made it 4-0. Steven Bulloch pulled a goal back for the home side after 77 minutes but an Alex MacPherson strike on 81 minutes made it 5-1.
Oban Celtic 0 Lochside Rovers 3 Oban Celtic’s run of three consecutive wins came to an end when they suffered a 3-0 derby defeat to Lochside Rovers in Oban. Oban Celtic were without a string of regulars for this derby and U17 player David Martin was called in between the sticks. A David Lafferty double on 10 and 17 minutes put Oban Camanachd reserve side two goals to the good and a Scott Turnbull strike on the stroke of full time made it 3-0 as Andrew Pearson’s Lochside team go second in the table.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Kingussie 4 Glenurquhart 0 Kingussie were 4-0 winners in their noon throw up against Glenurquhart at the Dell. Rory MacGregor on 15 minutes and Chris Hollysong a couple of minutes later gave Kingussie a 2-0 lead. Chris Hollysong’s second strike of the afternoon on 68 minutes and a 72 minute Kevin Thain goal lifted Kingussie to seventh in the table.
Fort William 2 Aberdeen University 5 Aberdeen University moved off the bottom of the league following their impressive 5-2 win over Fort William in their noon throw up at An Aird. Ewen Campbell returned to Fort William earlier this season after a spell with Kyles Athletic and he gave the home side the lead after 12 minutes. Brian Slattery levelled for the Students 6 minutes later. Alexander MacMillan restored Fort’s lead but again the visitors fought back and a 35 minute Stuart Cameron goal made sure the sides finished the first half on even terms. Stuart Cameron’s second goal of the afternoon on 67 minutes put Aberdeen ahead for the first time in the game. Two goals in the last 10 minutes from Mark Fraser on 80 minutes and Jamie Beaton just 4 minutes later clinched the points for the visitors.
Skye Camanachd P Kinlochshiel P The game between Skye Camanachd and Kinlochshiel was postponed as ‘Shiel were unable to raise a team. Kinlochshiel will be deducted two points and the match will be rescheduled for a later date.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Col Glen 2 Kyles Athletic 1 Kyles Athletic went down to their first league defeat of the season as Col Glen beat them 2-1 at MacRae Park. Roddy Cairns and Jack Smith were on target for Col Glen with David Martin replying for Kyles. Second place Col Glen now trail leaders Kyles by five points but they have played a game more. However third place Ballachulish are eight points off the lead but they have four games in hand. An exciting finish at the top of the table seems guaranteed.
Inveraray P Glasgow Mid Argyll P The match between Inveraray and Glasgow Mid Argyll at Tighnabruaich has been rescheduled for Wednesday 7 August 2013.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Caberfeidh 4 Strathspey Camanachd 0 Caberfeidh beat Strathspey 4-0 at Castle Leod in their 7.30pm throw up at Castle Leod on Tuesday 16 July 2013.Trevor Innes scored twice for the home side whilst Calum MacCulloch and Colin MacLennan got the others.
Caberfeidh 0 Lochaber 2 League leaders Lochaber returned from Castle Leod with both points following a 2-0 win in their 3pm throw up against Caberfeidh. Both goals came in the first half with Conor Sweeney opening the scoring after 27 minutes and Pat Toal adding a second on 34 minutes. Lochaber are now three points clear at the top of the table.
Kilmallie 4 Boleskine 4 Third place Kilmallie and second place Boleskine shared the points following an eventful 4-4 draw at the Canal Parks. With Kilmallie not having a first team fixture, they took the opportunity to include Michael Rodger and Liam MacDonald who both missed the seniors win on Skye last weekend. Connor MacIsaac on 9 minutes and Michael Rodger on 12 minutes saw Kilmallie lead 2-0 at the interval. When Liam MacDonald made it 3-0 just 4 minutes into the second half, Kilmallie looked in control. However Ewan Fraser on 56 minutes and Lewis Smith 10 minutes later reduced Kilmallie’s advantage to s single goal. However Calum MacDougall put Kilmallie 4-2 in front and that’s how it stayed until a minute from time when Boleskine’s Craig Pirrie made it 4-3. The visitors made a final push and Craig Pirrie got his second goal of the afternoon to make it 4-4 on the stroke of full time. Given their late finish and Rodger and MacDonald’s inclusion in the Kilmallie squad, Boleskine will likely see this as a point gained rather than a point lost.
Strathspey Camanachd 1 Strathglass 3 Strathglass secured their second successive win as they beat Strathspey 3-1 at Freuchie Park. Robert Geddes got the visitors off to a great start when he scored in the opening minute. When referee Duncan Freshwater awarded Strathglass a penalty on the half hour mark, Darren Reid stepped up to score from the spot. Robert Geddes got his second on 67 minutes and although Strathspey’s Allan MacDiarmid pulled a goal back 3 minutes later, Strathglass took the spoils to draw level on points with sixth place Lochbroom.
|