The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 21 November 2015 | |
23 November 2015 The Marine Harvest Premiership play-off is the only outstanding issue following the domestic shinty action on Saturday 21 November 2015.
Marine Harvest Premiership Kyles Athletic 1 Oban Camanachd 3 The final top flight match of the season was the encounter between Kyles Athletic and Oban Camanachd, scheduled to take place at Tighnabruaich. However a Friday pitch inspection ruled the Playing Field unplayable so the fixture was reversed to Mossfield. Oban Camanachd took the points with a 3-1 win to record their sixth league victory of the season. There were much changed line-ups on both sides. With the Scotland squad playing Ireland in the second Shinty / Hurling international at Croke Park on the same afternoon, Kyles were also minus full back Callum Miller and forwards Roddy MacDonald and Grant Irvine. David Zavaroni and Roberto Zavaroni were also absentees as were Robbie MacLeod and Dunkie Kerr. However defender Sandy MacVicar was back after a long absence and Andrew King returned from injury. Oban Camanachd were minus Daniel Cameron who was also on international duty. Gavin Stobbart and Scott MacMillan also travelled to Croke Park to cheer on the Scots. Youngsters Daniel MacVicar and Ross MacMillan were in action for the club’s U17 side against Newtonmore U17 in the London Shield Final. Robert Dunnings, who hadn’t played for the senior side since being replaced between the sticks by Gavin Stobbart at the end of June, took over in goal as second team keeper Brian Logan was also in London Shield action. There was also a call-up for Lochside Rovers forward Michael MacQueen. Andrew MacCuish remained on the Oban side’s injury list. Oban Camanachd went ahead after just 4 minutes. James MacMillan lofted the ball in on Kyles’ keeper John Whyte from around the half-way line. Whyte saved the initial effort but Michael MacQueen ran in on top of the keeper to knock the ball into the net to make it 1-0. Oban Camanachd doubled their lead just 3 minutes later. There was some nice inter-play between Connor Howe and Malcolm Clark as Howe played the ball to Clark who slipped a pass into the path of Lorne Dickie and he sent a good left-handed strike past the keeper to make it 2-0. Oban Camanachd took their two-goal advantage into the break. Iain Hay’s side went 3-0 to the good on 67 minutes and it was a neat individual effort from Connor Howe who picked up possession around 8 yards out and he turned his marker and took the ball past the full back and half-hit a shot into the bottom corner of the net. The goal was a nice way to sign off for Howe as the accomplished footballer is off to America in January for a four year football scholarship in Indiana. Oban Camanachd will miss his lively front-line play next season. Kyles pulled a goal back a minute later. Thomas Whyte switched from the wing to half forward and he dribbled the ball past a defender before having a shot at goal. The shot was blocked and Sandy Mackenzie quickly pounced to tap the rebound into the net to make it 3-1. The winning margin could have been bigger but John Whyte had several really good saves in the Kyles goal. Kyles finish the season in second spot in the league – ten points behind leaders Newtonmore. Newly promoted Oban Camanachd finish a their year in the top division, in which they were largely battling relegation, in a very respectable sixth place. In fact they trail fifth place Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup winners Lovat only on goal difference. The match brings the Marine Harvest Premiership programme to a close with just one matter to be decided as Kilmallie and Kingussie meeting at the Bught Park this coming Saturday with a place in the Marine Harvest Premiership next season at stake.
Marine Harvest National Division The Marine Harvest Premiership fixtures are complete.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 The Marine Harvest North Division 1 fixtures are complete.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 The Marine Harvest South Division 1 fixtures are complete.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 The Marine Harvest North Division 2 fixtures are complete.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Ballachulish P Aberdour P The match between the Ballachulish and Aberdour second teams was postponed for the third Saturday in four weeks as Jubilee Park was unplayable. With no improvement indicated in the weather in the weeks ahead, the teams agreed to share the points. The sides finish the season in the bottom to positions in the league with Balla’ ahead on goal difference. This completes the Marine Harvest South Division 2 programme.
(All throw ups were at 1.30pm unless stated differently) (These reports will be updated as more information becomes available) |