The Shinty Round Up Saturday 26 February 2022 | |
27 February 2022 The weather was again the winner as the final round of pre-season friendlies took place on Saturday 26 February 2022.
Oban Camanachd 6 Fort William 0 Oban Camanachd warmed up for the new season by beating Fort William 6-0 in their noon throw up at Mossfield. Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans gave Jamie Anderson his senior team debut whilst Evan MacLellan made his first start of the season at wing centre. Scott MacMillan and Matt Rippon were both working whilst Ross Campbell was unavailable. Fort William co-managers Victor Smith and Adam Robertson had Bryan Simpson back in their side after a long absence from regular shinty and he played at wing centre. However the Fort were without Arran MacPhee, Calum Shepherd and Johnny Forster. Fort William started well in the match but it was the hosts who took a 13 minute lead with one of the earliest contenders for goal of the season. Evan MacLellan launched a huge hit-in from the stand side, just inside the Fort William half. The ball dropped towards the back post area where Daniel Madej ran in. Madej took the dropping ball first time and his volley-come-shy flew into the net. Oban Camanachd added a second on 21 minutes following good work between David Cameron and Louis MacFarlane. The ball was played across the edge of the box to Daniel MacVicar who took a great first touch before finishing well. A strong Blair MacFarlane run from midfield led to Oban Camanachd’s third goal a minute short of the hour. MacFarlane flicked the ball to Daniel MacVicar and although the keeper saved his effort, Daniel Madej slipped the rebound into the corner of the net. Gareth Evans and assistant Iain MacMillan had always planned to give youngsters Jamie Anderson and Innes Jackson a half each so the latter took over at the break. Oban Camanachd scored three more times during the final 20 minutes of the match. Another surging Blair MacFarlane run on 70 minutes saw him touch the ball to Daniel MacVicar whose half-hit effort on the turn went into the bottom corner of the goal to make it 4-0. With 5 minutes remaining, Innes Jackson won possession and he played the ball down the line to substitute Connor Howe who found Louis MacFarlane and he smashed the ball home for his first Oban Camanachd goal. And it was that man Louis MacFarlane again with a minute remaining. The Oban side put together some great first-time shinty with the ball going from Garry Lord to Daniel MacVicar to Innes Jackson who squared for MacFarlane to crash another great effort high into the net to make the final score 6-0. Speaking afterwards, Gareth Evans said: “After a sluggish start, I thought we played really well. Our defence is probably the strongest part of the team and Craig Easton was outstanding for the hour he was on the field; he was definitely the player of the first half. “Our young centre line did really well and in attack, we had Louis MacFarlane up top with Daniel Madej just off him and Daniel MacVicar and David Cameron in the half forward positions and you can’t argue with a six goals return.”
Kingussie 5 Glasgow Mid Argyll 2 Kingussie scored three times in the second half to beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 5-2 at Market Stance. Kingussie went into the game without Fraser Munro who rolled his ankle in training and Rory MacKeachan who was working. Ruaridh Anderson, James Hutchison, Calum Grant and Lee Bain were also unavailable. There was a debut for former Glenurquhart player Cameron Bremner whilst Savio Genini captained the side for the first time. Glasgow Mid Argyll, newly promoted to the Mowi Premiership, are now managed by ex-Lovat and Beauly boss and current Scotland Under-21 Head Coach Alan MacRae. Calum McLay was ruled out with a broken finger but there were places for former Newtonmore attacker Ewen Fraser and former Kinlochshiel duo Jon Don MacKenzie and Oliver MacRae. Kingussie took the lead through Dylan Borthwick’s well-struck shot from distance but GMA drew level when, following a corner, the ball broke Oliver MacRae and he shot low into the bottom corner of the net on his forehand. Another fine strike, this time from Savio Genini, restored Kingussie’s lead but the visitors drew level for a second time when Ewen Fraser turned and fired the ball into the top corner of the net from just outside the D to make it 2-2 at the interval. Kingussie took the chance to field some of their younger players with Eoin Baikie looking comfortable at wing back. Lee Riddoch and George Taylor Ramsay also got valuable game time with Pavel Nagle given a good run out in the second half. The Kings won the match with three goals in the final quarter of the contest. Kingussie’s good shooting from distance continued and Dylan Borthwick beat keeper Jonathon Oates twice more to complete his hat-trick whilst a superb Savio Genini shot sealed the 5-2 victory. Kingussie’s Alexander Michie turned in a dominant performance at buckshee back. GMA suffered a blow with the news that Ewen Fraser suffered a broken finger in the game and, like Calum McLay, he will miss the opening weeks of the new season.
Kilmallie P Lochaber P There was disappointment for both Kilmallie and Lochaber when the BSW Cup match between the sides at the Canal Parks was postponed because of the weather and pitch conditions.
Lochside Rovers P Fort William P The contest between Lochside Rovers and the Fort William colts at Ganavan didn’t go ahead.
Beauly P Glengarry P Beauly’s meeting with Glengarry at Braeview Park was postponed.
Ardnamurchan P Oban Celtic P Ardnamurchan’s meeting with the Oban Celtic second team was another postponement.
Lochaber P Lochcarron P The game between the Lochaber second team and Lochcarron at Spean Bridge was another call-off.
Skye Camanachd P Kinlochshiel P Skye Camanachd and Kinlochshiel looked at playing the George Michie Memorial Cup at both Pairc nan Laoch and Kirkton but the wet weather left both pitches unplayable.
Boleskine P Kinlochshiel P Boleskine’s meeting with the Kinlochshiel reserves at Smith Park was another weather casualty.
Col Glen P Inveraray P The noon throw up between Col Glen and the Inveraray first team at Dunoon Stadium was called off due to an unplayable pitch.
Glenurquhart P Strathglass P The annual MacDonald Cup clash between Glenurquhart and Strathglass was postponed as was the second team meeting between the clubs to contests the Ali Ban Cup.
Caberfeidh P Beauly P The Caberfeidh second team’s clash with the Beauly second team at Castle Leod was postponed because of an unplayable pitch.
Kingussie P Glasgow Mid Argyll P The friendly match between the Kingussie and Glasgow Mid Argyll second teams was called off on Friday when it became clear that Market Stance wouldn’t take two games.
Newtonmore P Caberfeidh P The meeting between Newtonmore and Caberfeidh was called off for the second successive Saturday due to an unplayable pitch. |