With the shinty season coming to a close, there were still a few fixtures on Saturday 4 October 2014.

Orion Group Premiership

There were no Orion Group Premiership fixtures scheduled.

Marine Harvest National Division

There were no Marine Harvest National Division fixtures scheduled.

Marine Harvest North Division 1

Beauly 0 Skye Camanachd 0

The Beauly second team became the first side to take a league point off champions Skye when the sides drew 0-0 at Braeview Park. Beauly resisted the temptation to load their side with first team players and they included eight of their promising U17 players in their squad. They also called on the experience of first team manager Roger Cormack at full back with Jack MacDonald at buckshee back and David MacLean at full centre also starting. Second team player / manager Steven MacLean missed out through injury. Skye went into the match without keeper Jamie Gannon so reserve stopper Iain MacLeod was given a debut in goal. Full back Steven Morrison was at the Scotland Shinty / Hurling international training at Spean Bridge whilst Will Cowie was with the Skye Camanachd U17 squad for the London Shield semi-final against Kingussie U17. Shockie MacLennan was working, Kenny MacLeod was injured and Iain Murray was a late call-off. Aonghas MacDonald’s absence left Skye seven players down from their regular squad. Beauly had the best chances in the first half and Skye had goalie Iain MacLeod to thank for some fine saves. Skye came more into it after the break but their forwards found it hard going on a heavy pitch and when they did conjure up a chance, home keeper Kyle MacDonald kept out their attempts. Beauly came closest to breaking the deadlock when a David MacLean rocket shot looked set to go into the net just under the bar but Iain MacLeod stretched to brilliantly turn the ball away with his caman. The match completes Beauly’s season and move into fourth place in the table. Skye complete their league programme with a trip to the Eilan to play the Newtonmore second team this coming weekend and they then have a two week wait before the Marine Harvest National Division play-off against Ballachulish.   

Lovat 0 Newtonmore 4

Second top Newtonmore beat second bottom Lovat 4-0 in their reserve meeting at Balgate. Lovat started Martin Mainland at full centre and were otherwise along usual lines. John MacKenzie was still out for ‘More so Martin Ivil took over the full back slot. The match was preceded by the London Shield semi-final between Newtonmore U17 and Lochcarron U17 which the ‘More youngsters won 4-2. However it took extra-time to separate the sides so throw up for the second match was slightly delayed and with many on the Newtonmore U17 youngsters forming part of their second team, their plans were somewhat disrupted. However four players from the U17 side were able to take the field and Newtonmore also started Jamie Robinson in midfield and Glen MacKintosh in attack. And it was MacKintosh who put the visitors ahead after just 4 minutes when he took the ball through the home defence to score. Indeed MacKintosh went on to complete a first half hat-trick with goals on 19 and 22 minutes. His second was a shot from distance whilst the third was netted from close-range after he beat his opponent. As well as grabbing the goals, MacKintosh was also a good influence on his younger team-mates, offering wise words throughout the game. Youngster Duncan Gorman scored the only goal of the second half after 62 minutes to make it 4-0. There was more action when referee Martin MacLean pointed to the penalty spot with Duncan Collings penalised for a foul inside the D. Glen MacKintosh stepped up to take the penalty but put the ball high over the bar. Lovat had the chance of a consolation goal late in the game when they were awarded penalty after Mark Kelly, who had earlier come off the bench, was impeded inside the D. Sandy Tulloch initially seemed set to take it but a call from the touchline saw Mark Kelly step forward but his effort went just the wrong side of the post. The win means Newtonmore extend their advantage over third place Strathglass to four points and they play their final league match against league winners Skye Camanachd at the Eilan this coming weekend.   

Marine Harvest South Division 1

Ballachulish 2 Kyles Athletic 2

Champions Ballachulish and second place Kyles Athletic shared the points in a 2-2 draw at Jubilee Park. The home side were still without suspended keeper David MacPhee so U14 goalie Cameron Sutherland continued to deputise between the sticks. Scotland u21 defender Zac Coley travelled with Kyles. The first half ended goalless but Balla’ went in front a couple of minutes after the restart through Duncan MacDonald. Ballachulish’s David Campbell has made timely return from a broken hand and the substitute tucked the ball low past Kyles‘ keeper John Whyte to make it 2-0 on 58 minutes. Kyles got back into the game a couple of minutes when the ball went into the net off young defender Cain MacPhee to make it 2-1. And that’s the way it seemed set to finish until a couple of minutes from time when Kyles youngster Connor Giudici cracked the ball high into the net to ensure a share of the points. Ballachulish captain David MacPhee was presented with the Marine Harvest South Division 1 trophy by Camanachd Association Director Charles Young after the game. This match completes the Marine Harvest South Division 1 league programme with Balla’ finishing three points ahead of second place Kyles.    

Marine Harvest North Division 2

The Marine Harvest North Division 2 league programme is complete.

Marine Harvest South Division 2

Bute 3 Glenorchy 3

Bute came from 3-1 down to earn a point against Glenorchy in this reserve clash at the Meadows. The home side went 1-0 in front thanks to a cleanly-hit Craig Fisher shot on 8 minutes. Glenorchy had not one but two great chances to level when referee Ewen MacDonald awarded them two penalties in the space of 5 minutes. First Robert McKechnie in the Bute goal made a great save to deny Martin MacKillop and then Kieran Gallagher put his spot-hit wide of target. However goals late in the first half saw the visitors turn the match on its head and lead at the break. Martin MacKillop redeemed himself for his penalty miss by making it 1-1 on 41 minutes and a couple of minutes later, Roddy Cairns made it 2-1 following a goalmouth scramble. When Martin MacKillop got his second to make it 3-1 on 55 minutes, the visitors seemed incontrol. However when referee Ewen MacDonald awarded the third penalty of the game on 69 minutes – this time for Bute – for a kick inside the D, the Islanders U14 player Scott Harvey showed great maturity to step up and convert from the spot to make it 3-2. Bute went all-out for an equaliser and they got their reward 6 minutes from time when Graham Fisher set up James Craig who scored from close range. The game ends both sides’ league campaigns and Bute finish fourth with Glenorchy in seventh place.

Glasgow Mid Argyll P Ballachulish P

The meeting between the Glasgow Mid Argyll and Ballachulish reserve sides was postponed at the pitch at Yoker was unplayable.

Marine Harvest North Division 3

The Marine Harvest North Division 3 league programme is complete.