The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 11 February 2023 | |
12 February 2023 The preseason friendlies continued on Saturday 11 February 2023.
Oban Celtic 0 Lochaber 1 Oban Celtic were able to arrange a friendly against Lochaber at Mossfield after Kyles Athletic were unable to fulfil the original fixture. Referee Des McNulty got this 1.30pm throw up underway and a hard-fought encounter was heading for a goalless draw until Lochaber’s Ben Delaney grabbed a late winner. Oban Celtic had Ross MacMillan back in the side.
Newtonmore 0 Skye Camanachd 0 Neither Newtonmore nor Skye Camanachd could break the deadlock as the sides drew 0-0 in their 1pm throw up at the Eilan. Second team keeper Jason MacDonald played for ‘More as Kenny Ross was unavailable. Michael Russell, Iain Richardson and Fraser MacKintosh were also unavailable. Skye were at full strength other than new signing Kenny Cushnie who was working. Sam Stubbs made his full Skye debut, coming on for James Pringle midway through the first half. Jordan Murchison had Skye’s best chance of the first half with a low shot from 20 yards which went inches by the bottom right hand corner of the goal whilst, in the second half, Ross Gordon’s strike from outside the penalty area went just over the crossbar. Newtonmore, with youngsters Struan Ross, Arron MacBean and Charlie Ferguson across the midfield, came closest when they had the ball in the net near the end. Brodie MacBean was fouled but quickly got back to his feet to score but referee Graeme Irvine’s whistle had already gone for the infringement. Both full backs were excellent with neither Rory Kennedy nor John Gillies allowing much by them.
Caberfeidh 2 Kingussie 5 Kingussie ran-up a 3-0 interval lead before beating Caberfeidh 5-2 in their clash at Castle Leod. There were new managers in both dugouts; Garry Reid for Cabers and Iain Borthwick for the Kings. Ben MacDonald, Jamie MacKintosh and keeper Iain McCall were missing for Cabers so second team goalie John Ritchie started. Former Glenurquhart and Inverness player Connor Golabek debuted in attack with Blair Morrison lining up at full centre against James Hutchison. Robert Mabon missed out for Kingussie with a back problem whilst Ryan Borthwick, Cameron Bremner and Lee Bain were also unavailable. Alexander Michie and Thomas Borthwick are making progress with their bid to return from injury. Calum Grant played at full back with Liam Borthwick also in defence and Darren Hanlan in midfield. Sam Thain, Iain Fraser and Lee Riddoch were on the bench. Kingussie made a bright start with Ruaridh Anderson going close twice. The Kings took the lead on 12 minutes when good play at the back from Calum Grant and Kieran Macpherson saw the ball played up-field where the visitors were awarded a free-hit in a central position. The ball was knocked forward by James Falconer to Roddy Young who rolled his marker before sending the ball low across the keeper and into the net. Kingussie went straight back on the attack and James Hutchison’s ball down the middle found Roddy Young who slipped it to the left wing where Ruaridh Anderson fired it low into the far side of the goal to make it 2-0. Kingussie looked like they could score at will and James Falconer and Savio Genini combined to send Roddy Young though on goal, but John Ritchie did just enough to keep the ball out of his net as Young tried to lift it by him. Kingussie’s third was the goal of the match. James Hutchison spread play to the left where Savio Genini’s dangerous cross was smashed high by the helpless keeper by Ruaridh Anderson for his second and there was only 17 minutes on the clock. Fraser Munro was forced off with a thigh muscle injury midway through the half and Iain Fraser took over at wing centre. James Falconer picked out Roddy Young on the left but John Ritchie stretched to make a great save, keeping the ball out with his left foot. Any meaningful Caberfeidh attacks were rare although Rory McGregor did well to save with his legs from Craig Morrison’s snapshot. Kingussie went back on the offensive and keeper Ritchie twice used his legs to deny Roddy Young and then James Falconer. Garry Reid made changes at the interval with Blair Morrison reverting to his usual buckshee back position and Kevin Bartlett dropping back to full centre. Calum MacKinnon came off the bench to good effect. Kingussie surged forward and Ruaridh Anderson ran onto Savio Genini’s pass before cracking the ball off the crossbar. The Caberfeidh changes seemed to work though, and hosts looked more comfortable with Blair Morrison’s free-hit dropping for Craig Morrison who quickly shot goalwards, breaking his stick in the process, but Rory McGregor saved well with his body. However, there was little the Kingussie keeper could do when Cabers pulled a goal back 10 minutes after the restart. Craig Morrison and Roddy Young battled it out at the top of shinty’s scoring charts last season, and Morrison opened his account when he got to Calum MacKinnon’s ball from the left, which was misjudged by a defender, and Morrison swept the ball home to make it 3-1. Kingussie restored their three-goal cushion a minute after the hour. Savio Genini’s drifted the ball in from the right and Roddy Young took a touch before bundling the ball home at the second attempt. Craig Morrison got his second 5 minutes later when he gathered a long ball from Blair Morrison, who had won possession on the right, and he scored on the half-turn from around the penalty spot. Ruaridh Anderson hit the frame of the goal for a second time, this time pinging the post with a shot from the left following a free-hit. With 5 minutes remaining, James Hutchison ran forward to turn home a rebound to make the final score 5-2. The sides contested the Bill Macpherson Plate which Kingussie retained and their new skipper James Falconer came forward to accept the plate from Johnnie Macpherson, Bill’s son.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 Inveraray 3 Inveraray recorded an impressive 3-0 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll in their 11am throw up at Peterson Park. Fraser Watt, Campbell Watt and Allan MacDonald got the goals.
Lovat 3 Glenurquhart 0 Lovat beat Glenurquhart 3-0 in their 2.30pm throw up at Balgate. Lovat’s Premiership finishing made the difference and Greg Matheson put them ahead before getting a second from the penalty spot after he’d been bundled down just inside the D by Finlay Robertson. Matheson completed his hat-trick after the restart, beating stand-in keeper Tommy Ellis to make it 3-0. Stuart MacDonald in the Lovat goal wasn’t really tested.
Kinlochshiel Sixes Kinlochshiel held their in-house sixes at the Plockton High School astro pitch. Eight teams took part and the "Barely Athletics" beat the "Diamond Dogs" in a final following a penalty shoot-out. The winning team was: Owen MacKenzie, George Murphy, Duncan MacMillan, Taigen Bruce, Ian MacKenzie, Conor Cormack, Donald Nixon, Zander MacRae
Ardnamurchan 0 Skye Camanachd 4 The Skye Camanachd second team ran out 4-0 winners against Ardnamurchan at Ardnamurchan High School. Archie Millar gave Skye an early lead on 13 minutes with Iain MacInnes adding a second on 34 minutes. James Robertson made it three a minute before the break and Archie Millar, who started the scoring, rounded off the 4-0 victory on 77 minutes. Ardnamurchan manager Lyndsay Bradley reflected on the match. She said: “I’m quite pleased with how the boys played. We had four players missing but that gave others their chance with young Stuart MacLennan, who has come through the ranks at the club, making his debut. “It was end-to-end at times, but Skye took their chances.”
Lochaber 0 Kilmallie 3 The Kilmallie second team beat their Lochaber counterparts 3-0 at Spean Bridge. Scott Campbell scored the Kilmallie goals.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Col Glen 3 Col Glen continued their preseason preparations with a 3-1 win against the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team in their 12.45pm throw up at Peterson Park. The Glen included new signings Cluanie Fraser from Kingussie and Fergus Reid. There was also a return from Murray McClymont after a year away. Dan MacDonald, Scott MacVicar and Sandy Paterson gave the visitors a 3-0 advantage before GMA pulled a goal back near the end. The Col Glen players all wore black armbands as a mark of respect in memory of club legend Davie Edgar who passed away recently.
Strachur-Dunoon 6 Uddingston 4 The heavy overnight rain led to the noon throw up between Strachur-Dunoon and Uddingston being transferred from Strachurmore to the astro pitch at Dunoon Grammar School. Sam Bulloch scored five times for Strachur-Dunoon with Steven Thomson getting the other in a 6-4 victory.
Beauly 2 Kingussie 0 The Beauly seconds scored a goal in each half to beat the Beauly seconds 2-0 in their 11.30am throw up at Braeview Park on Saturday. With their first team game called off the previous day, Beauly were able to include Jack MacDonald, Robbie Brindle and Finlay “Stork” MacLennan. Kingussie were without keeper Hayden Taylor Ramsay so first team goalie Rory McGregor played. George Taylor Ramsay, Scott McIntyre, Peter Dickson and Michael Slimon were also unavailable as was Darren Hanlon who was on first team duty. Kingussie created the game’s first chance when Calum MacKintosh’s low shot, following a ball from the right, was saved by Beauly keeper Lennox Stewart. Beauly responded when Robbie Brindle’s effort went by the keeper’s left post. Jack MacDonald’s strike from distance dropped just under Rory McGregor’s crossbar but the Kingussie keeper kept his eye on it to turn the ball away to safety. The game was flowing from end to end and Owen Reid’s ball into the danger area fell for Robert Shiells but the Kingussie full forward’s shot looped over the bar. Beauly’s Finlay MacLennan saw a strike well saved whilst Lennox Stewart made a good stop to foil Iain Fraser. After an even opening, Sean Stewart scored from close range, to the left of the D, to put Beauly ahead. The goal judge had singled for a “kick” but referee Martin MacLean allowed the goal to stand. Kingussie fought back and Robert Shiels saw his strike come back off the post with Calum MacKintosh’s drive saved by Stewart. Jack MacDonald burst down the right, beating a challenge before firing into the side netting to the keeper’s left and it remained 1-0 until the interval. Beauly made a bright start to the second half with Sean Stewart hitting the post. Kingussie’s Jack Nelson was on the wrong end of a nasty swing midway through the second half and had to come off with a rib injury. Beauly doubled their lead when Jack MacDonald found space on the right and his fierce strike across the keeper from the right made it 2-0.
Glenurquhart 3 Lovat 1 Glenurquhart seconds defeated the and Lovat seconds 3-1 in their noon throw up at Blairbeg. Both sides were missing several younger players who were on a school trip to the rugby international between Scotland and Wales at Murrayfield. Charlie Macleod gave the Glen the lead with a shot from the left wing and John Cameron beat veteran keeper James Gallacher to make it 2-0 at the interval. If Glenurquhart dominated the first half, then the second half was a more even affair. Fraser Gallacher pulled a goal back, but Bradley Sneddon made it 3-1.
Tayforth 1 Kilmory 2 With the match between Tayforth and Bute at Peffermill called off earlier in the week due to travel difficulties, Tayforth quickly arranged a friendly with Kilmory who travelled east for a 1pm throw up. And it was the visiting Kilmory side who ran out narrow 2-1 winners through a goal in each half from Bruce Johnston and Euan Gilmour.
Inverness 2 Boleskine 6 Boleskine were 6-2 winners against the Inverness second team at the Bught Park. Scott Knox grabbed a hat-trick with Callum Muir, Josh Macdonald and Michael Chisholm getting the others.
Aberdour 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 3 A Glasgow Mid Argyll young team won 3-2 in their 1pm throw up against the Aberdour second team at Silversands on Sunday 12 February 2023. GMA’s Cally MacLeod grabbed a hat-trick but Scott Craig faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken arm.
Fort William P Beauly P The match between Fort William and Beauly at An Aird was called off on Friday morning when the recent rainfall left the pitch unplayable. |