The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 21 June 2014 | |
23 June 2014 Lovat lifted the RBS MacTavish Cup as the Bught Park was the main focus for the shinty world on Saturday 21 June 2014.
RBS MacTavish Cup – Final Glenurquhart 1 Lovat 5 Lovat retained the RBS MacTavish Cup with a convincing 5-1 win over Glenurquhart in their 4.05pm throw up at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 21 June 2014. Glenurquhart co-managers Billy MacLean and Dave Menzies had Andrew Corrigan free of suspension and John Barr, who had been used sparingly in recent weeks, was fit to play. Ally MacKintosh, who has been dogged by injury problems all season, was given a place on the bench. Lovat boss Allan MacRae also had injury concerns ahead of the game. Defender Drew Howie had been involved in a motorbike accident a fortnight earlier but he started in defence. Greg Matheson was also passed fit to play but Michael MacKenzie did not make it back from holiday in enough time to play. Lovat’s gamble to play Drew Howie only lasted a couple of minutes when he had to come off and he was replaced by Fraser Gallacher. The early change didn’t faze the Balgate men though and they went ahead after 5 minutes when Greg Matheson won the ball following a Lewis Tawse on the right and he burst down the right before firing the ball across keeper Stuart MacKintosh into the net to make it 1-0. As the rain started to fall midway through the half, Stuart MacDonald made a great save from a low Kevin Bartlett shot on the right. Fraser Heath caught Greg Matheson across the leg inside the D in the ensuing scramble and Ryan Ferguson was booked for his complaint. Lovat were forced to make their second change as Matheson had to go off with Gavin MacAulay coming on in his place. A second Lovat goal was coming and it arrived on 28 minutes. Stuart MacKintosh saved with his legs from Lorne MacKay but Kevin Bartlett pounced to slot home the rebound which made it 2-0. After an even opening, it was now almost all one-way traffic and a third goal followed on 33 minutes. A Daniel Grieve ball from the right was deflected into the path of Graeme MacMillan on his left side and he beat Stuart MacKintosh in style, tucking the ball home inside the keeper’s right post and Lovat led 3-0 and had one hand on the cup. Lovat went further ahead on 64 minutes. A John Barr foul on Graeme MacMillan drew a free-hit and when MacKintosh saved Bartlett’s shot, Lorne MacKay held off Barr to smash the rebound low into the net to make it 4-0. Glenurquhart pulled a goal back with 5 minutes remaining. Lewis MacLennan got on the end of a Callum Smith pass and made space before firing low into the net on his left side to make it 4-1. Lorne MacKay was about to shoot on 90 minutes but Andrew Corrigan threw his stick into his patch. The resultant free hit was well-worked and saw the same players combine as Lewis Tawse found Lorne MacKay wide on the left and he sent a sweetly struck shot into the back of the net to make it 5-1. Lovat full centre Ryan Ferguson was named man of the match after dominating the middle of the park throughout the game. Lovat captain Stuart MacDonald lifted the MacTavish Cup in front of a delighted Lovat support.
Artemis Macaulay Cup - Quarter Finals Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 Kyles Athletic 3 Kyles Athletic made it through to the Artemis Macaulay Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker. GMA’s Andy MacAllister was banned as was David Zavaroni from Kyles. Grant Irvine gave Kyles a 29 minute lead with the only goal of the first half. Kyles sealed the win when talisman Roddy MacDonald struck on 65 and 78 minutes to make it 3-0. Kyles Athletic will now meet Oban Camanachd in the semi-finals.
Balliemore Cup - Semi Final Aberdour 1 Ballachulish 3 Ballachulish are through to the Balliemore Cup Final after they beat Aberdour 3-1 in their 2pm throw up at the Dell. Ballachulish were minus the services of John MacDonald. Angus Thorburn continued his good scoring run when he put Aberdour ahead on 20 minutes. They only held the lead for 8 minutes though when Lorne Brown equalised. Brown got his and Balla’s second on 33 minutes and David Grant added a third 3 minutes before the break. The only sour note for Ballachulish came when referee Ron Kennedy showed a red card to keeper David MacPhee following a goalmouth flashpoint which saw two other players booked. Balla’ had a late goal disallowed and they saw out the rest of the tie. Ballachulish will now face Skye Camanachd in the Balliemore Cup Final at the Taynuilt Sports Field on Saturday 12 July 2014.
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Quarter Final Lochbroom v Fort William W/O Lochbroom were scheduled to meet Fort William in a 2pm throw up at Inverlael. However the pitch was deemed unplayable so the tie was reversed to An Aird. Lochbroom were unable to make the trip so Fort William were given a free passage into the semi-finals.
Strathdearn Cup – Quarter Finals Kilmallie 2 Skye Camanachd 5 (after extra-time) It took extra-time to separate Kilmallie and Skye Camanachd in their keenly contested 3pm throw up at the Canal Parks. Both sides benefited from the rule which allows youth players to play in this competition even although they are first team regulars. Craig MacIsaac was in the Kilmallie line-up after playing the whole of the first team match earlier in the day whilst Will Cowie started at full centre for Skye. Craig MacIsaac put Kilmallie ahead on 12 minutes and they took their one goal advantage into the half-time interval. Skye had some late call-offs and their revamped side took time to settle. However they drew level on 50 minutes through Iain MacLellan. Kilmallie went back in front just 60 seconds when Craig MacIsaac notched his second goal of the game to make it 2-1. Skye drew level for a second time thanks to a goal from substitute Alan Palmer. With no further scoring, referee Alex MacVicar took the tie to extra-time. It seemed it was going to take something special to separate the sides and that came during the second period of extra-time when a magnificent 35 yard drive from Will Cowie flew into the top corner of the net to make it 3-2. A late second from Alan Palmer and an Angie MacDonald goal rounded off the scoring. The 5-2 win earns Skye a Strathdearn Cup semi-final meeting with Strathspey Camanachd on Saturday 5 July 2014.
Orion Group Premiership Lochaber 2 Inveraray 2 Lochaber collected what could yet prove to be a valuable point with a 2-2 draw against Inveraray in their 2pm throw up at Spean Bridge. Lochaber boss Robert Johnstone remained without long term injury victim Neil MacDonald, Zandz Ferguson and Shaun Nicolson started on the bench. Martin Johnstone served the second game of a two match ban for a points accumulation but Barry MacDonald was free of his ban. Inveraray travelled without co-player / manager Garry MacPherson who made his return from a broken hand for the Inveraray reserves at the Winterton. Lochaber looked up for the match and they edged a scoreless first half during which their forwards showed quick movement but the Inveraray defence and keeper Graham MacPherson kept them at bay. At the other end, Chris Crawford twice went close for Inveraray during the first 45 minutes. It was Inveraray who went in front early in the second half through Neil Campbell. When Chris Crawford added a second around 15 minutes from time, it looked like Lochaber were to be consigned to another defeat. However they never gave up and, prompted by the excellent Barry MacDonald in midfield, they pulled a goal back through Stuart Callison. That’s the way it stayed until the fifth minute of stoppage time when substitute Shaun Nicolson scored to the delight of the home support. This was arguably Lochaber’s best performance of the season. The Spean Bridge side are now just two points behind second bottom Kinlochshiel - although they have played two games more - and the sides are still to meet at Spean Bridge.
Marine Harvest National Division Kilmallie 4 Beauly 1 A powerful second half performance saw Kilmallie come from a goal down to beat Beauly 4-1 in their noon throw up at the Canal Parks. Sean Stewart put Beauly ahead on 10 minutes with the only goal of the first half. Seb MacMillan made it 1-1 just 7 minutes into the second half. When referee John MacGregor awarded Kilmallie a 65 minute penalty, Michel Rodger stepped up to convert from the spot. Late goals from Brian MacKay on 82 minutes and Craig MacIsaac on the stroke of full time made it 4-1 and gave Kilmallie the points. Kilmallie now go second in the table.
Caberfeidh 2 Fort William 7 Fort William beat Caberfeidh 7-2 in their 1pm throw up at Castle Leod. Liam Symonds was back from suspension for Cabers however Blair Morrison and Jack Pilcher served the second game of their two match ban and Ally MacLennan and Ruairidh MacLennan both sat out this encounter because of a points accumulation. Gary Innes was still missing for the visitors whilst Niall MacPhee started a two game ban for a points accumulation. Iain MacColl got Cabers off to a great start with a goal after just 2 minutes. Alexander MacMillan levelled on 35 minutes but Liam Symonds put the home side back in front just a minutes later and they took their 2-1 advantage into the interval. Fort William hit their hosts with a goal burst early in the second half. Arran MacPhee struck twice on 50 and 52 minutes to put Fort William ahead for the first time in the match. Gordie MacKinnon made it 4-2 on 53 minutes and Daniel Stewart got in on the act with a fifth after 62 minutes. Gordie MacKinnon got his second on 72 minutes whilst Arran MacPhee completed his hat-trick just 5 minutes later to make it 7-2. Fort William have dropped just one league point from their four games played.
Glenorchy 3 Bute 1 Glenorchy were 3-1 winners against Bute as the bottom two met in a 2pm throw up at Mart Park. Glenorchy were without Duncan Smith, Fulton Ronald and Kieran Gallagher who were all sent off against Caberfeidh in their previous outing. However they had Findlay Ross back and he scored on 21 minutes to cancel out Stewart Stirling’s opening goal a couple of minutes later. Findlay Ross got his second a couple of minutes into the second half to put the home side back in front and Graeme MacKechnie added a third on 64 minutes. Glenorchy remain second bottom and Bute look ever more isolated seven points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Kyles Athletic 3 Kilmory 0 Kyles Athletic beat Kilmory 3-0 in their 2pm throw up at Tighnabruaich. It was a hard-fought win and Matthew MacColl, Roddy MacColl and Gordon Whyte got the goals. The win means Kyles go two points clear of Aberdour at the top of the table but they have played a game more.
Oban Celtic 1 Strachur 0 Oban Celtic recorded their second league win of the season when they beat Strachur 1-0 in at Ganavan. Oban Celtic’s Neil Carmichael missed out through suspension. Strachur were without the banned Ross MacDonald and David Wilson. The game seemed destined to end goalless until a dramatic final 5 minutes. First Oban Celtic’s Daniel Madej received a second yellow card for speaking out of turn to referee David Stafford. This didn’t deter the eleven man Oban side though as Kenny Wotherspoon popped up with the winning goal just 3 minutes from time.
Lochside Rovers 5 Taynuilt 2 Iain MacIntyre took full control at Lochside Rovers this week and his charges overcame bottom side Taynuilt 5-2 in their noon throw up at Ganavan. Scott Dempster gave Lochside a 9 minute lead but Stuart Scott levelled just 6 minutes later. The sides continued to exchange first half goals as Craig MacDougall put Lochside 2-1 ahead on 20 minutes but David Campbell equalised on 31 minutes. The second half belonged to the home side though. Craig MacDougall got his second a minute after the restart to make it 3-2. Lorne Dickie on the hour and Ross MacMillan just 3 minutes later made it 5-2 to round off the scoring.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Kinlochshiel 2 Lochcarron 3 Lochcarron twice came from behind to beat the Kinlochshiel second team 3-2 in their west coast derby at Kirkton on Friday 20 March. Kinlochshiel boss Willie MacRae named a strong line-up for this 7pm throw up. However he was without keeper Iain Cameron who was playing with his band – the Cast Ewe Ceilidh Band – on Mull so first team manager Colin Fraser stepped in between the sticks. John MacRae started in at buckshee back with Keith MacRae in attack. Gordie MacDonald and Paul MacRae – both back from injury – started on the bench. Lochcarron boss Ross Brown had most of his regulars with youth keeper Mathew Young continuing in goal which allowed Peter MacKenzie to start in attack. ‘Shiel hit down the slope in the first half and they went in front on 8 minutes when Alasdair MacRae scored following a corner on the right. Lochcarron had a difficult opening period but they were boosted by the introduction of player / manager Ross Brown and David Bauermeister in attack after half an hour. Peter MacKenzie - who had a hamstring problem - and Kenny Cushnie were withdrawn. Referee Deek Cameron awarded Lochcarron a penalty on 37 minutes when a David MacCuish shy into the ‘Shiel goal area was handled by Nathan Whear. Ross Brown stepped up and sent an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to make it 1-1. The first half ended all square although a Keith MacRae shot from the right on 44 minutes hit the junction between post and bar. Lochcarron, now shooting down the slope, created the first chance of the second half when Gregor Cushnie laid the ball off to Ross Brown but Colin Fraser palmed away Brown’s effort. The home side went back in front in bizarre circumstances on 54 minutes. Colin MacDiarmid played in a corner from the left and Gordie MacDonald ran to the near post and stretched to reach the ball before deflecting it looping into the Lochcarron net. It was a fortunate goal but Kinlochshiel led 2-1. Lochcarron levelled when on 62 minutes. There was a delay in play when Andrew Slaughter received treatment to a head cut. Play restarted with a Lochcarron free-hit deep in their own half. David MacCuish sent a long ball forward which found Ross Brown on the left. Brown did well to make enough space to loft a shoulder high shot across keeper Fraser into the net to make it 2-2. The winning goal came after 83 minutes. Colin Fraser saved a Nick Dalgety shot from distance but Ross Brown never gave up on the rebound and as the keeper tried to clear, Brown managed to turn the ball across goal where Gregor Cushnie gleefully slotted it into the net to make it 3-2. Kinlochshiel pushed full back Duncan “DA” MacRae into attack in the closing stages and they threw everything at the Lochcarron goal. However young keeper Mathew Young was in brilliant form and he made a series of super late saves to keep his side in front. He was ably accompanied at the back by defenders Alan MacKay, Doulas MacKenzie, Jonathon Stewart and veteran Andrew Slaughter.
Glengarry 3 Lochaber 2 Glengarry extended their lead at the top of the table when they beat Lochaber 3-2 in their 2pm local derby at Craigard. Conor Sweeney put Lochaber ahead on 41 minutes only for Daniel MacLennan to level a minute before the break. Daniel MacLennan went on to complete his hat-trick with goals on 59 and 85 minutes to make it 3-1. Martin Paterson reduced the deficit a minute from time but ‘Garry held on to take both points. They now lead Fort William by three points but they have played three games more.
Boleskine 4 Aberdeen University 1 Boleskine halted Aberdeen University’s recent revival when they beat Students 4-1 in their noon meeting at Farr. David Fraser was banned for the visitors as he served a one game suspension for a points accumulation. The Boleskine goals were netted by four different scorers – Lewis Smith, Ewan Fraser, Keith Nicolson and Neil Hope. Mark Fraser was on target for the visitors. Boleskine remain third in the table.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Inveraray 3 Tayforth 2 The league’s top two met in a 2pm throw up at the Winterton. Fraser Watt scored on 5 and 33 minutes to leave Inveraray 2-0 ahead at the break. However Tayforth responded in the second half when Magnus Bjerland pulled a goal back on 56 minutes. When former Newtonmore player Orsten Gardner made it 2-2 just 4 minutes from time, a share of the points seemed likely. However Inveraray won the day when Garry MacPherson, making his comeback after a broken hand, scored a minute later to make it 3-2 and give Inveraray the spoils. Second place Inveraray now narrow the gap on leaders Tayforth to a point and they also have a game in hand.
Bute P Glenorchy P The 2pm throw up between Bute and Glenorchy at the Meadows as postponed as Glenorchy were unable to raise a team. The sides are due to meet again in the league next week; this time at Mart Park. |