The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 26 March 2016 | |
27 March 2016 With half the scheduled shinty programme postponed because of the wet weather, the shinty focus turned to cup action with the RBS MacTavish Cup and the Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup first round ties taking place on Saturday 26 March 2016.
RBS MacTavish Cup – First Round Newtonmore 3 Lovat 0 The tie of the RBS MacTavish Cup first round looked to be the meeting between Marine Harvest Premiership champions Newtonmore and Camanachd Cup holders Lovat at the Eilan. Newtonmore had to make a change in goal as Owen Fraser’s red card in the 2-2 draw with Kyles Athletic the previous weekend meant he started a two-game ban. Boss Paul John MacKintosh persuaded Michael Ritchie to come out of retirement to deputise. Conor Jones was still out with a knee injury whilst Michael Russell, Jamie Robinson and Chris Sellar were also missing so Craig Ritchie started in defence. Lovat’s Lorne MacKay was free of his two-match suspension and he started in attack. Lewis Tawse and Craig Mainland were missing as was longer-term absentee Calum MacAulay. With a wind blowing across the park, and the surface a touch slippy, Newtonmore settled well into the game and they took the lead after just 4 minutes when Fraser MacKintosh scored with a shot from wide on the right which beat Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald. Greg Matheson had a chance to level on 6 minutes but his shot, at the second attempt, was saved with his feet by Michael Ritchie. Lovat knew they were in trouble when ‘More buckshee forward Evan Menzies made it 2-0 with only 9 minutes played. The home side had a shy on the right and Menzies stayed out of the goal area to leave space for full forward Glen MacKintosh. The shy was half-cleared with the ball falling kindly for Menzies who struck it on the run from around 35 yards out. The ‘More hit-man caught the ball really well and it flew high into the net, giving Stuart MacDonald no chance. Fraser MacKintosh met a ball in from the ‘More left first-time on his back-hand but Stuart MacDonald made a good save with his foot, just inside the post. A poor clearance from Stuart MacDonald on 28 minutes was controlled by Evan Menzies who played in Neil Stewart but the Scotland keeper redeemed himself with a superb close-range reflex save with his hand, low down to his left. Newtonmore continued to stretch the Lovat defence and Evan Menzies crossed from the left on 33 minutes. Again, Fraser MacKintosh met the ball first-time on his back-hand but his strike went just wide of the base of the post. The Lovat forwards were coming really deep in search of the ball. So much so that a Callum Cruden clearance out of defence on 35 minutes was swept clear unchallenged by Michael Ritchie around 20 yards from his goal. There was still time in the first half for Ritchie to make a good save to deny Lovat and for ‘More to add to their lead. The third goal came on the stroke of half-time when Fraser MacKintosh sent a ball in from the right to Glen MacKintosh. The Scotland forward, with his back to goal, jockied with Drew Howie before making just enough space to turn and he hit a low bobbling shot which beat the keeper to make it 3-0. Newtonmore were strong in the tackle and they took more than their share of 50-50 challenges. Their centre line of the dominant Norman Campbell, flanked by the speedy Drew MacDonald and the accurate passing of Paul MacArthur, had a grip of the game and their high-intensity first half performance didn’t allow Lovat to play their usual passing game and they could have led to an even greater margin at the interval. The home side withdrew Fraser MacKintosh, who has been nursing a groin problem, at the break with Darrin Fowler taking his place. The lack of goals in the second half was a combination of a better Lovat performance coupled with Newtonmore taking their foot off the gas. Graeme MacMillan replaced Euan Ferguson for Lovat on 70 minutes with Connal MacIllechiar taking over from Lorne MacKay 6 minutes later. Newtonmore also made further changes as Iain Robinson was introduced in place of Evan Menzies on 75 minutes and Neil Stewart was withdrawn in favour of David Fraser with 10 minutes remaining. Callum Cruden and Kevin Bartlett were best for Lovat although the former was given a tough time by Evan Menzies and the latter was well-policed by Andy MacKintosh. Newtonmore were well-served by Norman Campbell who won tackles and distributed the ball superbly all afternoon. He seems to be revelling in his new midfield role. Steven MacDonald also impressed at full back where he is an excellent reader of the game and a big hitter. Rory Kennedy turned in another stylish performance at buckshee back and he snuffed out the threat posed by Lorne MacKay. Fraser MacKintosh is also worthy of mention for his first half performance where he was involved in all his side’s attacking moves. Newtonmore now await an away day against the winners of the tie between Skye Camanachd and Kilmallie.
Kingussie 1 Fort William 0 Kingussie and Fort William met at the Dell for the second time this season. Kingussie came out on top in the league encounter with a 1-0 victory and they repeated that feat in this encounter. Kingussie keeper Craig Dawson remained sidelined so Rory MacGregor continued in goal. In fact Kingussie were five players short because of injury and illness with James Hutchison, Lee Bain, Rory MacKeachan and Fraser Munro also absent. Co-managers Russell Jones and Davie Anderson fielded a young midfield with Ryan MacWilliam at full centre and Jake MacPherson and Robert Mabon, who was particularly effective, on the wings. Their revamped defence saw Garry Munro switch to full back, Calum Grant and Darren Hanlan as wing backs and PE teacher Louis Munro, who was home from Stranraer for the school holidays, slotting in effortlessly at buckshee back. Fort William were without influential full centre Niall MacPhee who served a one-game ban for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. They were also missing Sean Cameron from their defence. The Kingussie defence dealt very well with the Fort William attack; so much so that there was an hour played before Rory MacGregor had to make a save of note, keeping the ball out with his feet by the post. The Kingussie forwards pace and movement caused problems for the Fort defence but visiting keeper Paul MacKay was equal to their efforts, making a number of good saves. With 20 minutes remaining, Kingussie replaced James Falconer with the more direct Chris Holleysong and put him to full forward. The switch paid dividends on 78 minutes when Holleysong was played in by Ryan Borthwick. The substitute had his back to goal and he held off Steven Stewart at the edge of the D before turning and drilling a low shot into the net to make it 1-0. Kingussie saw out the closing minutes and they will now travel to Cannich to face in-form Marine Harvest North Division 1 side Strathglass in the RBS MacTavish Cup quarter-finals.
Lochaber 4 Kinlochshiel 2 Lochaber sealed their place in the quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory over Kinlochshiel in a close contest at Spean Bridge. Although the pitch was heavy, Spean Bridge once again beat the wet weather with many matches in the surrounding area postponed. Lochaber boss Ally Ferguson had Zandz Ferguson, home for the Easter weekend, back in the squad and he started on the bench. Defender Jack Dignan was missing. Kinlochshiel manager Colin Fraser gave last year’s top scorer Jordan Fraser his first start of the season. Fraser joined the attack with Finlay MacRae dropping back to full back in a reshuffled defence which had Paul MacRae and David Falconer missing with flu although Falconer did start on the bench. An injured Conor Cormack only able to be listed as a third substitute after suffering an ankle knock in the defeat to Kingussie a week earlier. John Don MacKenzie and Duncan “DA” MacRae started in defence. Lochaber played with the wind at their backs in the first half and they took the lead after just 10 minutes. Brennan MacDonald played a cross from the right to the back post and Kevin Ferguson showed great anticipation to dart in and score from the edge of the D. ‘Shiel keeper Scott Kennedy denied the home side a second goal when he saved from Stuart Callison. At the other end, Lochaber number one Callum MacDonald kept out an Oliver MacRae effort with his feet. Lochaber suffered a blow when they lost buckshee back and captain Brian MacDonald midway through the half. MacDonald was hurt in an accidental coming together with ‘Shiel’s Gordie MacDonald which left the Lochaber man’s cheekbone fractured in four places after colliding with his opponent’s shoulder. Zandz Ferguson came on as a straight replacement for his first appearance of the season. A Shaun Nicolson effort went just wide and some good goalkeeping from ‘Shiel custodian Scott Kennedy restricted the home side to a single goal advantage at the end of the first 45 minutes and but was the visitors turn to have the wind in their favour after the break. Kinlochshiel equalised 8 minutes after the restart. ‘Shiel wing centre Gordie MacDonald picked up a clearance from Lochaber goalie Calum MacDonald and sent a shot into the postage-stamp corner of the net to make it 1-1. However Lochaber, with Martin Johnstone on for Brennan MacDonald, regained the initiative with three goals in a lethal 15 minute burst which effectively won the tie. Ben Delaney and Kevin Ferguson combined to set up a chance for Stuart Callison and he sent the ball across the keeper for what was a well-worked goal with 20 minutes remaining. Kinlochshiel had created a number of chances during the second half but a couple of great stops from Callum MacDonald – in particular when he stretched low to keep a John MacRae strike out by the foot of his post - and a solid defensive play, in which young wing-backs Barry MacDonald and Duncan MacKinnon shone, kept the Kirkton side at bay. As the home side broke forward, Stuart Callison got his second goal of the afternoon to make it 3-1 on 76 minutes. This was the goal of the match as Callison sent a blistering, well-struck 25 yard drive from the left high into the back of the net. And Kevin Ferguson, now fighting back to full fitness with the help of club physio Jemma Docker, got his second to make it 4-1 just 5 minutes from time. Ben Delaney flicked the ball past his marker to Ferguson who buried the ball in the far corner of the net from 12 yards out. The visitors pushed took David Falconer on in defence and pushed Finlay MacRae into attack in the closing stages of the game and he narrowed the deficit on 87 minutes when the home defence were unable to clear a high ball which dropped into a muddy goal area and MacRae took advantage to make it 4-2.
Inverness 0 Beauly 4 Two goals in each half gave Beauly a 4-0 win over Inverness at the Bught Park Inverness were five players short when they travelled to Bute last weekend and the injured Craig Nicholson was still out for this one whilst former Newtonmore and Ballachulish player David Campbell started a two-game ban for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. Ryan MacKay was free to play for Beauly but he will miss his team’s next outing as his booking against Glasgow Mid Argyll a week earlier means he passes through the disciplinary points threshold. It only took Beauly’s Jack MacDonald 10 minutes to record his tenth goal of the season. MacDonald sprinted onto a long ball over the top of the full back and he hit it first-time, low and hard past Inverness keeper Allan MacLeod to make it 1-0. Sandy Elrick made it 2-0 from close range with a low strike following a tussle involving four players inside the D on 37 minutes and the Braeview Park took this lead into the break. There was no respite for Inverness as Connor Ross added a third with a well-worked goal on 58 minutes. All four Beauly forwards linked up and Ross finished off the move taking the ball on the volley from a tight angle. With just 8 minutes remaining, Beauly substitute Robbie Brindle, who had made an immediate impact following his introduction, rounded off the 4-0 win with a low, well-struck shot into the corner of the net. Beauly’s reward is a home meeting with Lochaber in the quarter-finals.
Skye Camanachd P Kilmallie P Heavy rain on Friday evening caused the postponement of the tie between Skye Camanachd and Kilmallie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The match has been rescheduled for this coming weekend. The prize for the winners is a home tie with free-scoring Newtonmore in the quarter-final stage.
Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Cup – First Round Col Glen 3 Ballachulish 1 The meeting between Ballachulish and Col Glen was the only Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society first round tie to beat the weather and that took a fixture switch from an unplayable Jubilee Park to Col Glen’s Otter Ferry. And it was Marine Harvest South Division 1 side Col Glen who secured a place in the quarter-finals thanks to a 3-1 win over their Marine Harvest National Division opponents. . Ballachulish’s Scott MacDonald was still on the suspension list. A difficult surface made for tricky playing conditions but it was Col Glen who took advantage to race into a 2-0 lead. Their first goal came following a darting Conor Kennedy run with the ball. Kennedy was stopped by two defenders but Steven MacKellar followed up and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0. Col Glen doubled their advantage when Iain Wilson ran onto a lovely lay-off at the penalty spot and he drilled the ball low and hard into bottom corner of the net. Balla’s chances suffered a severe blow when talisman John MacDonald was sent off by referee John Wood for a second yellow card. Balla’ pulled a goal back following a David MacPhee free-hit from the half way line. The Col Glen keeper allowed the ball to drop into the net but it had clipped a defender’s caman on the way through so the goal stood. It mattered little though as Hamish Harrison clinched the win when he made it 3-1. A direct ball from the wing dropped to Harrison on the edge of the D and he pushed it past the last defender before flicking the ball past Balla’ keeper Cameron Sutherland. Col Glen now have a home meeting with Marine Harvest Premiership high-fliers Oban Camanachd to look forward to in the last eight of the tournament.
Glenorchy P Oban Celtic P Glenorchy and Oban Celtic will try again this coming Saturday after their first round tie was postponed as Mart Park was unplayable and there wasn’t the option of switching the tie to a playable field in Oban.
Taynuilt P Aberdour P The tie between Taynuilt and Aberdour was postponed as the heavy rainfall left the Taynuilt Sports Field unplayable. This tie has also been rescheduled for this coming weekend. The Taynuilt Sports Field was confirmed during the week as the venue for the 2016 Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final.
Marine Harvest Premiership Glenurquhart P Kyles Athletic P The only scheduled fixture in the Marine Harvest Premiership was the Glenurquhart and Kyles Athletic clash at Blairbeg. On a cup weekend, RBS MacTavish Cup holders Glenurquhart were given a first round bye as were 2015 Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup winners Kyles Athletic so this top division fixture was arranged. However an unplayable field resulted in a Saturday morning postponement.
Marine Harvest National Division Bute P Caberfeidh P The only scheduled Marine Harvest National Division contest also fell foul of the weather as the game between Bute and Caberfeidh was postponed on Friday afternoon as the Meadows was ruled unplayable.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass 5 Newtonmore 1 Strathglass topped the Marine Harvest North Division 1 table going into a difficult encounter with the Newtonmore second team and they showed that they are the team to beat with a 5-1 triumph at Cannich. Newtonmore, who travelled without David Fraser and Neil Stewart as they’d been called up for the first team, made the better start and they pinned back their opponents in the opening minutes of the game. However Scott Douglas gave Strathglass a 12 minute lead with a low drive into the net in what was the home side’s first real attack of the match. Scott Douglass got his and his side’s second goal on the half hour mark when he smartly turned his marker before beating the stand-in Newtonmore keeper to make it 2-0 at the break. After Strathglass forward Josh Fraser smashed the crossbar early in the second half, it was Douglas again from 20 yards out who completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes to make it 3-0. It was a seventh goal in two games for the prolific striker. Some neat link-up play on 70 minutes allowed Darren Reid to latch onto a Josh Fraser through ball and Reid’s strike soared high into the net to make it 4-0 and effectively seal the win for Strathglass. Newtonmore battled to get back into the game and a customary John MacKenzie turn and shot beat Strath keeper Adam Todd to make it 4-1 on 75 minutes. To round of a satisfying day for the maroon and blues, the younger of the two Douglas brothers, Lewis, on from the bench, capitalised when Newtonmore failed to clear their lines and he made it 5-1 with 82 minutes played. Strathglass are the only non-reserve team in this division and they have made good progress over the last 18 months under the guidance of boss David Balharry.
Lovat 0 Kingussie 2 The Kingussie reserves continued their good start to the season with a 2-0 win over the Lovat reserves at Balgate Lovat boss Martin Bell had full back James Grieve free of suspension. Kingussie co-managers Jimmy Gow and Ally MacLeod were without some of their youngsters such as Chris Holleysong who had to cover for first team absentees. However they were able to field a strong spine to the side with Rory Fraser, Ronald Ross, Barrie Dallas and Kevin Thain all starting. After a goalless first half, youngster Dylan Borthwick gave Kingussie the lead on 55 minutes. Kevin Thain made it 2-0 with 15 minutes remaining so the Kings only trail league leaders Strathglass on goal difference.
Beauly 2 Glenurquhart 0 The Beauly second team beat the Glenurquhart second team 2-0 at Braeview Park. There were no goals during the first 45 minutes but Rory Campbell put the home side ahead on 56 minutes. Beauly full forward Martin Davidson sealed the win with a 72 minute strike. This was the Beauly colt’s first league win at the third time of asking.
Fort William P Skye Camanachd P The clash between the Fort William and Skye Camanachd second teams was postponed on Saturday morning as An Aird was deemed unplayable.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Kyles Athletic P Lochside Rovers P The Kyles Athletic reserves and Lochside Rovers were left idle as their meeting at Tighnabruaich was postponed because of an unplayable pitch.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Caberfeidh 4 Inverness 2 It was top versus bottom as the Caberfeidh colts beat their Inverness counter-parts 4-2 at Castle Leod. Caberfeidh went in front on 23 minutes when Colin MacLennan scored. However it only took Inverness, who now have former Boleskine full back Graham Black within their ranks, 60 seconds to level when Stuart MacRae set up former shinty referee Rab MacAskill, who was making his debut for Allan MacLeod’s side, in what was his first game in 3 years. Cabers regained the lead on 34 minutes with Gavin McLaughlan slotting the ball into the net. The home side took a two-goal advantage into the break with Callum Macculloch shooting home on 41minutes. Ben MacDonald made it 4-1 on 57 minutes and although Stuart MacRae made it 4-2 just 10 minutes from time, with Rab MacAskill providing the assist, Cabers notched their fourth straight win in four league games.
Aberdeen University 9 Glengarry 0 Aberdeen University maintained their 100% start to the season when they swept away Glengarry with a 9-0 win in difficult conditions at Balgownie. Aberdeen player / manager Jamie Beaton has put together an extremely potent forward line which has already netted sixteen times in the team’s opening two league fixtures, with all four forwards scoring in the previous weekend’s 7-0 win over the Lochaber seconds. Glengarry’s Scott Bremner was unable to play as he served the second game of a two match ban. It took the Students just 3 minutes to take the lead with former Fort William player Alex Duncan scoring. Stuart Cameron doubled their advantage on 15 minutes before Euan Fraser bagged a brace on 20 and 23 minutes to make it 4-0. Stuart Cameron got his second on 35 minutes and the visitors led 5-0 at the break. Stuart Cameron completed his hat-trick 5 minutes after the restart whilst Alex Duncan got his second on 65 minutes to make it 7-0. A fourth Stuart Cameron goal on 75 minutes followed and Euan Fraser completed the scoring, and his hat-trick, when he netted 4 minutes from time with what was his eighth competitive goal since his switch from Boleskine. The 9-0 win leaves Aberdeen University in second place in the table, a couple of points behind the Caberfeidh seconds who have played a game more. And the top two meet at Balgownie this coming weekend in what is sure to be a keenly fought affair. The match marked a return to the refereeing circuit for ex-Strathglass boss and former Camanachd Association Director Callum Duff.
Boleskine 2 Lewis Camanachd 1 Two goals from player / manager Jamie Matheson were enough to give Boleskine their first win of the season as they beat Lewis Camanachd 2-1 in their 1.30pm throw up at Farr. Scott MacLeod had an early chance to put Lewis in front but his effort went over the bar. Jamie Matheson got the opener on 33 minutes when he slammed home a rebound for what was the only goal of the first half. Matheson got his and Boleskine’s second on the hour mark when he crashed the ball into the roof of the net following good play down the left wing. Lewis boss Duncan MacIntyre sent on Ally Lamont and Peter Gomez for Paul Duke and Scott MacLeod in a bid to change his side’s fortunes. Eoghan Stewart also came on for an injured Conor Chalmers and whilst he has been relieved of his stand-in goalie duties since Graham Cay returned to the side and the substitute showed that he could make a contribution outfield when he slammed home a rebound to make it 2-1 after a Will Church effort had come back off the post with 10 minutes remaining. However there was to be no Boleskine slip-up and they went on to record their first league victory.
Kilmallie P Lochaber P The derby meeting between the Kilmallie and Lochaber colts was postponed early on Saturday morning as the Canal Parks was unplayable.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Tayforth P Bute P The whole Marine Harvest South Division 2 scheduled was wiped out. There was disappointment for league leaders Tayforth as ferry difficulties meant the Bute seconds were unable to travel for the sides’ meeting at Levenhall Links
Kilmory P Glasgow Mid Argyll P The encounter between Kilmory and the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team was postponed on Saturday morning as MacRae Park was ruled unplayable.
Oban Lorn P Dunoon P An unplayable pitch at Ganavan caused the cancellation of the Oban Lorn and Dunoon match.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently. The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available) |