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The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 27 August 2016 | |
28 August 2016 Lochaber Ladies and Lovat Ladies were the winners on Women’s Cup Final Day and the North U21 came from a goal down to beat the South U21 and retain the Caol Cup following the shinty action on Saturday 27 August 2016.
Caol Cup South U21 1 North U21 3 The North recovered from losing an early goal to beat the South 3-1 in their 2pm throw up at Jubilee Park. With Scotland U21 manager Allan MacRae taking a keen interest, the South were managed by Ian MacDonald and, with Callum McLeod unavailable, Lovat defender Drew Howie looked after the North squad. Oban Celtic’s Ally McKerracher captained the South with Lovat’s Michael MacKenzie captaining the North. The South got off to a great start when Daniel MacVicar put them ahead after just a couple of minutes. MacVicar capitalised on a slip in the home defence to crash a backhand shot into the roof of the net to make it 1-0. The closest the North came to a first half leveller was a Charlie MacDonald strike which came back off the crossbar. The second half was just 10 minutes old when Craig Morrison pulled the North level. Morrison was first to react to a rebound and he just managed to tap the ball home to make it 1-1. Two goals from Charlie MacDonald late in the match gave the North the win. MacDonald put the North ahead for the first time in the match on 77 minutes when he got onto a cut-back to send a low backhand drive into the net to make it 2-1. Inverness forward MacDonald sealed the win on 81 minutes to ensure the North retained the Caol Cup. Inveraray's Lewis Montgomery faces an operation after suffering a hand injury in the match which could rule him out for the rest of the season. North U21 captain Michael MacKenzie was presented with the Caol Cup by Camanachd Association Director Keith Loades. The match was useful preparation ahead of the Shinty / Hurling international between Scotland U21 and Ireland U21 at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 22 October 2016. South U21 from: Scott MacLachlan (Inveraray); Andrew MacDonald (Oban Celtic), Ross MacRae (Kyles Athletic), Michael MacKinnon (Oban Celtic), Ally McKerracher (Oban Celtic) (captain); Ryan Gilles (Taynuilt), Jamie MacVicar (Col Glen), Lewis Montgomery (Inveraray); John MacNulty (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Daniel Madej (Oban Celtic), Fraser Watt (Inveraray), Daniel MacVicar (Oban Camanachd); subs Cameron Sutherland (Ballachulish), Ross MacMillan (Oban Camanachd), Kyle Macmartin (Kyles Athletic), Jack Mitchell (Aberdour), Angus Thorburn (Aberdour), Arran Dunn (Bute) North U21 from: Callum MacDonald (Lochaber); Ewen Campbell (Beauly), Rory MacKeachan (Kingussie), Blair Morrison (Caberfeidh), Michael MacKenzie (Lovat) (captain); Barry MacDonald (Lochaber), Danny Kelly (Lovat), Innes Blackhall (Kilmallie); Craig Morrison (Caberfeidh), Neil Stewart (Newtonmore), Oliver MacRae (Kinlochshiel), Charlie MacDonald (Inverness); subs Duncan MacKinnon (Lochaber), Euan Lloyd (Glenurquhart), Will Cowie (Skye Camanachd), Rory MacGregor (Kingussie), Calum Morrison (Beauly) Match Referee - Iain Kennedy
Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final Lochaber Ladies 4 Skye Camanachd Ladies 2 Lochaber won the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup for the first time when they beat Skye Camanachd 4-2 before an enthusiastic crowd at An Aird. There were some concerns that the match wouldn’t go ahead following the heavy rainfall in Fort William during the previous 24 hours which led to the postponement of the Friday evening MacMaster Cup semi-final tie between the Oban Camanachd and Kingussie U14 teams. However these concerns were cast aside on Saturday morning and the pitch, which will host next month’s Camanachd Cup Final between Oban Camanachd and Newtonmore, was in excellent condition. The players were piped onto the field before being introduced to Steve Bracken from sponsors Marine Harvest and Women’s Camanachd Association president Lisa MacColl. This 10-a-side match was played for 40 minutes each way. Lochaber made the better start and they attacked the Skye goal from the throw up. Lochaber took the lead on 7 minutes. They were awarded a free-hit on their left wing. Christy MacIntyre played the set-piece wide to Kirsty Delaney who sent a dangerous, ball bouncing into the D and, with the Lochaber forwards rushing in, the ball ended up in the net. Skye came more into the game and, after a period of pressure, it took a superb save from Lochaber goalie Aileen Campbell from Lorna MacRae to keep her side in front. MacRae hit a rasping shot from the left which Campbell did superbly well to save above her head with her caman. Skye went close again when Caitlin MacLean got into a good position following a flowing move but Regan Porter made a superb challenge and the Islanders had to settle for a corner. However Skye did level on 27 minutes and it was Lorna MacRae who collected an Ilana Paterson pass from the left and ran in on goal. Her initial shot from just outside the D was saved with her feet by Aileen Campbell but MacRae ran in to force the rebound over into the net from almost on the goal line. It only took Lochaber 3 minutes to get themselves back in front and it Kirsty Delaney, who had gone close a minute earlier, again on target. Amy Disher took the ball out of the air in midfield and played it forward to Delaney and she held off her marker before blasting the ball home to make it 2-1. Skye pinned Lochaber back from the start of the second half. However a combination of some great defending from Hannah Dougan, Regan Porter and former Ardnamurchan player Mairi Duncan, aided by the impressive Aileen Campbell in goal, and some near misses from the Skye forwards of Caitlin MacLean, Lorna Macrae and Jenna Beaton denied The Marine Harvest National Division 1 winners a second leveller. The nearest they came was a blistering drive from Caitlin MacLean which came back off the frame of the goal and Jenna Beaton sent the rebound just past the post. Skye substitute Abby MacLean made an immediate impact as she forced a magnificent save from Aileen Campbell, who turned the ball away with her caman just under the crossbar with almost an hour played. Skye had been pressing hard but they were hit by a sucker-punch when Lochaber worked the ball down the right side on 69 minutes and Kirsty Delaney was again on hand to complete her hat-trick to make it 3-1. Skye didn’t let their heads drop though and a lovely passing move saw Caitlin MacLean and Abby MacLean combine to set up Lorna MacRae who ran directly at the Lochaber defence and she beat Aileen Campbell with a low shot to the keeper’s left to make it 3-2 with 74 minutes played. Skye needed another goal in the remaining 6 minutes to force extra-time but, when the goal came, it came at the other end just a couple of minutes later. Skye were unable to fully clear a corner and Kirsty Delaney took advantage to send the ball high into the net. Skye keeper Sarah Jane Ferguson got her hand to the ball but she was unable to keep it out of the net. There was still time for Aileen Campbell to make a superb stoppage time save from a back-hand shot from Caitlin MacLean. Referee Evan MacRae’s final whistle sparked joyous scenes in the Lochaber camp whilst there was disappointment for Skye who played their part in an enthralling final. A four-goal haul would normally have secured Kirsty Delaney the player of the match award. However the number of fantastic saves made by Lochaber goalie Aileen Campbell meant that she was the deserved recipient of the coveted accolade. The red and white ribbons were tied on the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup and the trophy and a presentation caman were handed over to a delighted Lochaber captain Rebecca Masson by sponsor Peter Gow from www.petergow.co.uk Skye captain Jenna Beaton was then presented with their first ever Marine Harvest National Division 1 title which they secured with a 9-0 win over Aberdour a couple of weeks earlier.
Marine Harvest Challenge Cup Final Lovat Ladies 7 Strathglass Ladies 1 Five goals in the opening 16 minutes helped the Lovat Ladies to a first senior success as they lifted the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup with a 7-1 win against Strathglass Ladies at An Aird. Lovat got off to the perfect start when Laura Gallacher put them ahead in the opening minute. Fiona Urquhart added a second on 5 minutes and a third on 11 minutes. Lovat’s explosive start continued as Laura Gallacher got her second on 15 minutes whilst Fiona Urquhart completed her hat-trick a minute later. It was a stunning start to the final but it’s to Strathglass’ credit that they didn’t fold and Chloe MacLeod pulled a goal back on 29 minutes to make it 5-1 at the end of the first 35 minutes. The second half was only 3 minutes old when Lovat’s Nicki Grant added a sixth. Lovat’s Laura Gallacher had by now dropped back into a deeper position to protect the Balgate side’s lead and Fiona Urquhart rounded off the 7-1 win with a goal a couple of minutes from time to give the Lovat Ladies their first senior triumph. Deek Cameron was the match referee. Four-goal Fiona Urquhart was selected for the player of the match award and Lovat captain Caroline MacLean was presented with the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup by Steve Bracken from Marine Harvest.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Aberdeen University 6 Kilmallie 1 Aberdeen University moved within a point of the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title and promotion to Marine Harvest North Division 1 when they beat the Kilmallie second team 6-1 at Smith Park, Farr. The Students did the damage in the first half, scoring four times through Stuart Cameron on 3 and 23 minutes and Alex Duncan, back in the side following suspension, on 31 and 36 minutes. Kilmallie’s Craig MacIsaac had pulled his side level on 8 minutes but it was Aberdeen who took a 4-1 lead into the break. Alex Duncan completed his hat-trick 4 minutes into the second half to make it 5-1 and it was a strike which took the Aberdeen side through the 100 league goals barrier for the season. Scott Murray made it 6-1 on 53 minutes. This was Aberdeen University’s sixteenth win in sixteen league fixtures. Their final two matches are away to Lochcarron and away to the Inverness second team. Although Lochcarron can still equal Aberdeen’s points tally, Jamie Beaton’s side’s goal difference is such that it would take a minor miracle to deprive them of the title and promotion.
WJ Cameron Final Lovat U17 3 Inveraray U17 1 Lovat U17 lifted the WJ Cameron trophy with a 3-1 win over Inveraray in their 11am throw up at the Jubilee Park. This competition is for development clubs and it was played 10-a-side on a full pitch. Lovat went in front on 39 minutes when Cameron MacMillan was first onto a rebound after a Mitchel Leslie shot was saved by the Inveraray keeper. MacMillan, who had been an injury doubt before the match, sent a low back-hand drive in to the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-0. Scott MacKenzie made it 2-0 on 43 minutes when he hit a long ball into the area from the half way line. The ball took a bad bounce, deceiving the keeper, and ended in the back of the net. Lovat added a third on 65 minutes when the ball came in from the right wing and Cameron MacMillan played in young Joe Embleton who slipped the ball wide to Ruaridh Buchan and he finished off the move with a low shot into the net from a tight angle. Campbell Watt gave Inveraray some consolation when he made it 3-1 on 68 minutes but it was Lovat’s day and their captain Cameron MacMillan was presented with the WJ Cameron trophy. Des McNulty was the match referee.
MacMaster Cup Semi-Finals Fort William U14 2 Skye Camanachd U14 4 Skye Camanachd U14 are through to the MacMaster Cup Final after they beat Fort William U14 4-2 at Braeview Park on Friday 26 August 2016. Ross Gordon on 3 minutes and Abby MacLean on 17 minutes had Skye 2-0 ahead at the break. Abby MacLean got her second to make it 3-0 on 49 minutes and although David Duncan pulled a goal back for Fort William on 52 minutes, Ryan Macaskill restored Skye’s three goal advantage when he made it 4-1 on 65 minutes. A Victor Smith strike a minute from time made the final score 4-2 but it’s Skye who go through to the final.
Oban Camanachd U14 P Kingussie U14 P Skye will have to wait to see who their MacMaster Cup Final opponents are as the semi-final meeting between Oban Camanachd U14 and Kingussie U14 was postponed as the heavy rain left An Aird unplayable on Friday evening. The MacMaster Cup Final will take place ahead of the Camanachd Cup Final between Oban Camanachd and Newtonmore at An Aird on Saturday 17 September 2016.
Friendly Match Oban Celtic 2 Kilmory 3 Oban Celtic and Kilmory, both riding high in their respective divisions, played a friendly match at Ganavan. The Oban side were eleven players short; seven of whom would have been in their starting line-up, but the game proved to be a good exercise for both clubs as they are both pushing for silverware this season. The game finished 3-2 in Kilmory’s favour. Kilmory’s scorers were Alex Cunningham twice and Hal Jones. Daniel MacMillan and Kenny Wotherspoon netted for Oban Celtic.
(The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available) (The picture of Marine Harvest National Division 1 winners Skye Camanachd Ladies comes courtesy of Tina Marshall) |