The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 28 May 2022 | |
29 May 2022 The ten Mowi Premiership sides entered the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup at the second round stage on Saturday 28 May 2022.
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup – Second Round Southern Section Lochaber 0 Oban Camanachd 9 The tie between Lochaber and Oban Camanachd at Spean Bridge was brought forward to Friday 27 May 2022. This 6.15 pm throw up was delayed by 10 minutes and was Lochaber manager Ally Ferguson’s third game in charge - after winning the first two – since returning to the Spean Bridge hot season. Oban Camanachd boss Gareth Evans was still without Garry Lord, who could miss the remainder of the season, but he otherwise had a full squad to choose from. Scott Robertson, Daniel Madej, Connor Howe and Scott MacMillan made up a strong bench. It took the Oban side a few minutes to settle into the early throw up but they took the lead after 8 minutes when Daniel MacVicar won possession and made space to shoot from the left following a corner on the same side of the field and his effort dropped by keeper Stuart Mathieson on his left side. Following the restart, Craig Easton won possession and Ross Campbell chased David Cameron’s cross-field ball out to the left before getting by Brenan MacDonald and running into the D. The ball came to Louie MacFarlane on the right and he wriggled free of his marker and running in on goal, sending a bouncing ball past the keeper to make it 2-0. Again from the restart, Daniel MacVicar broke down the left and his backhand shot was saved by keeper Mathieson but Malcolm Clark was onto the rebound and Ross Campbell forced the ball home from a tight angle on the left. The visitors added a fourth on 23 minutes when Blair MacFarlane sent a free-hit to the back post where Louie MacFarlane bustled his way into the D and Ross Campbell was quickly in to sweep his second goal home from close range. Oban Camanachd went back on the attack from the restart and Daniel Madej punished some slack defending when flicked the ball home from close range at the second attempt to make it 5-0. The goals kept coming and on 36 minutes, Ryan Gunn didn’t take the chance to clear David Cameron’s corner from the right and Louie MacFarlane shot goalwards with the ball going into the net off the keeper. Oban Camanachd broke up the left a minute later and Daniel MacVicar saw his low shot saved but Connor Howe was quickly in to turn the round home from close range to make it 7-0 at half-time. Ross Campbell completed his hat-trick on 51 minutes when the home defence didn’t deal with Daniel Madej’s free-hit and the ball came back to Madej who found Campbell to the right of the D and he scored. Oban Camanachd’s ninth and final goal came after 77 minutes when, after some nice passing, Daniel MacVicar shot goalwards from the right. Daniel Madej and Scott Robertson were quickly in and whilst Robertson was credited with the goal, Madej seemed to get the all-important touch.
Kyles Athletic 3 Fort William 0 Kyles Athletic scored three times in the second half to beat Fort William 3-0 in their 3pm throw up at Tighnabruaich. Scott MacDonald got the opener on 64 minutes and when referee Des McNulty awarded the hosts a penalty on 71 minutes, Ross MacRae stepped up to score from the spot. Finan Kennedy completed the scoring with just 5 minutes remaining.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 5 Bute 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll beat Bute 5-0 in their 1pm throw up at Peterson Park. GMA settled into the game with Ewen Fraser scoring on 4 minutes and again on 19 minutes. Calum McLay made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time and Brian Slattery added a fourth 5 minutes into the second half. Ewen Fraser completed his hat-trick on 54 minutes to round off a good afternoon for the Glasgow side.
Northern Section Kinlochshiel 7 Caberfeidh 0 Holders Kinlochshiel brushed aside Caberfeidh 7-0 as they opened their Camanachd Cup defence at Rèaraig. The likes of Conor Cormack and Jordan Fraser returned for ‘Shiel who named Keith MacRae and the returning Duncan “WD” MacRae, now free of injury, on the bench. Caberfeidh lost Kieran MacPherson, who returned to Kingussie ahead of the game, whilst top scorer Craig Morrison played despite nursing a slight hamstring injury. Jordan Fraser almost gave ‘Shiel a 45 second lead. Ali Nixon and Archie MacRae were involved with Fraser’s 25 yard strike going just over the bar. It was perhaps a sign of things to come. With Nixon and MacRae again playing their part, Jordan Fraser gave the hosts the lead after 2 minutes. When MacRae’s cross from the left found Fraser in space 15 yards out, he scored to the delight of the large home support. Caberfeidh responded and Blair Morrison’s measured free-hit from the centre line found Craig Morrison who took the ball on the volley but it went marginally past keeper Josh Grant’s right post. Cabers went close again on the half-hour when Blair Morrison’s looping ball on the goal was saved by Josh Grant and Kevin Bartlett volleyed the rebound wide. Play was stopped when Blair Morrison suffered a head knock and when the tie restarted, a corner from Jordan Fraser went over the defence and John MacRae calmly volleyed home a brilliant goal, inside the keeper’s right post to make it 2-0 on 34 minutes. ‘Shiel started the second half well with Jordan Fraser finding space before firing over the top. Keith MacRae was introduced on 52 minutes, and, just a couple of minutes later and with his first touch, MacRae lost his marker on the D to make it 3-0. From the restart, Donald Nixon found his brother Ali Nixon in the buckshee forward position and he picked out an unmarked Keith MacRae who scored again. Indeed Keith MacRae could have had a hat-trick on 58 minutes but shot wide. John MacRae went on a solo run from 40 yards out on 67 minutes, dribbling past several players before slotting the ball past a helpless Iain McCall in the visiting goal to make it 5-0. MacRae was fouled more than once during his run but referee John Angus Gilles played good advantage. Jordan Fraser’s second arrived on 78 minutes, a 20 yard shot, and Archie MacRae got the goal he deserved for all his tireless work on 82 minutes. MacRae won possession before going by his marker and scoring from 15 yards. ‘Shiel were convincing winners and they controlled the midfield where man of the match Donald Nixon was flanked by the Duncan “DA” MacRae and David Falconer who were both excellent. Blair Morrison was best for Cabers.
Newtonmore 2 Lovat 3 Lovat came from behind three times to eventually beat Newtonmore 3-2 at the Eilan. Both sides were changed from the previous week’s 2-2 league draw as Struan Ross joined Darrin Fowler and Drew MacDonald on Newtonmore’s long-term injury list whilst veteran keeper Michael Ritchie continued to deputise for the injured Owen Fraser. However, attackers Fraser MacKintosh and Max Campbell both returned. Lovat were minus Greg Matheson and the injured Lorne MacKay whilst Callum Cruden was only able to take a place on the bench. Newtonmore started with the wind in their favour and they took the lead on 24 minutes. With Fraser MacKintosh and Declan Brannan putting them under pressure, the Lovat defence failed to clear a long free-hit and Max Campbell took the ball to the left before shooting low by keeper Stuart MacDonald by his right post. Lovat levelled on 39 minutes when Fraser Heath ran onto a short corner from the left and his brilliant backhand strike from the tightest of angles squeezed past keeper Michael Ritchie. However Newtonmore gained an interval lead when Max Campbell scored his second goal of the game on 44 minutes. Following a high ball forward, Campbell worked hard to make enough space to turn and send a glorious shot high into the net past a diving Stuart MacDonald. Lovat made the most of the wind advantage in the second half and Fraser Heath equalised for a second time on 63 minutes. The ‘More defence failed to clear Bailey MacKay’s corner from the left and Fraser Heath darted in and his backhand strike beat keeper Ritchie by his right post. Fraser Heath was a constant threat and Fraser Heath completed his hat-trick on 76 minutes with the game’s decisive goal. Danny Kelly clearance up the Lovat right was controlled and played on by Marc MacLachlan. Heath won possession before racing in on goal and he stretched to touch the ball past the advancing keeper to make it 3-2. Max Campbell faces a spell on the sidelines after being sent off by referee Graham Cameron following a second booking on 83 minutes.
Kingussie 2 Beauly 2 (After Extra-Time – Kingussie won 5-4 on penalties) Kingussie, who host this year’s Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final in September, came within minutes of exiting the tournament at the second round stage before finally seeing off Beauly 5-4 on penalties in their 3pm throw up at the Dell. Kieran MacPherson re-joined Kingussie form Caberfeidh at the end of the week and he started on the bench but the game came too soon for James Falconer and Dylan Borthwick. Beauly’s David MacLean played having recovered from a hamstring injury. The afternoon started well for Kingussie with Ruaridh Anderson scoring after just 4 minutes. Iain Fraser’s corner from the right ended up on the Kingussie left where Savio Genini cut the ball back to Ruaraidh Anderson and his low shot went by keeper Martin MacDonald’s feet. Kingussie couldn’t get the second goal they craved and Beauly levelled following a quick break forward on 51 minutes. Substitute Jack MacDonald exchanged passes with David MacLean before running in from the right to touch the ball low past the keeper. With no further scoring, referee Calum Girvan took the tie to extra-time. This follows a rule change from last year as drawn Camanachd Cup ties were previously replayed. The tension was now palpable and major shock looked on the cards when Beauly took the lead with only a minute of the regulation two hours remaining. Ryan MacKay’s long ball sent Beauly up the park and when the ball came to Ross Forbes on the left, he took a touch inside before firing low into the corner net on the keeper’s left side. There was bedlam on the Beauly bench and little time for Kingussie to respond. Or so it seemed. Referee Calum Girvan had been mindful of time wasting by the visitors and added 4 minutes stoppage time which was coming to a close when Liam Borthwick, with a now anxious Beauly bench immediately looking on, launched a hit-in up the right. Robert Mabon touched the ball back to James Hutchison who drove it at the Beauly defence. Andrew Morrison cleared to Kingussie right where Robert Mabon continued to run and his cross took a horrible bounce, catching out defender Morrison, and Savio Genini raced in from the left before brilliantly lifting the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net. It was a terrific finish which transferred the bedlam to the home support who could hardly believe what they were seeing. It was now going to take penalties to separate the sides. Beauly went first but by the end of the opening eight spot-hits, Jack MacDonald, Robbie Brindle, David MacLean and Ross Forbes had all scored for the Green and Whites whilst Kieran MacPherson, Ruaridh Anderson, Roddy Young and Savio Genini all converted for the Kings. We were now effectively at sudden-death with no margin for error. Conor Ross went next for Beauly but, left sided, he struck the ball agonisingly wide of Rory MacGregor’s right post. Kingussie, without regular penalty taker Andrew Michie, entrusted their final penalty to keeper Rory MacGregor. MacGregor later admitted he hadn’t struck the ball as cleanly as he’d have liked to, but it didn’t matter as it beat keeper Martin MacDonald, waist-high on his right side, to keep Kingussie’s Camanachd Cup dream alive.
Skye Camanachd 5 Strathglass 1 Skye Camanachd ran out 5-1 winners over Strathglass in their 12.30pm throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Hamstring injuries ruled out Skye pair John Gillies and Martin Pringle so manager Kenny Macleod added Connor Gilpin and Jamie Gillies to the squad with both starting on the bench. Neil MacVicar started at full back in a revamped defence. Strathglass boss Donald Fraser played well at full centre and he travelled with Lewis Douglas as his only substitute. The visitors made a bright start but it was Skye who took a 7 minute lead when James Pringle crashed the ball past keeper Adam Todd from wide on the left following Somhairle MacDonald’s free-hit. Will Cowie saw an effort ruled out for an earlier infringement before Skye lost Somhairle MacDonald after suffering a heavy blow to the back of the leg. Jordan Murchison came on in his place and he took a Will Cowie pass to score with his first touch on 43 minutes so Skye led 2-0 at the turnaround. Scott Douglas spurned a great chance to pull a goal back early in the second half, tugging the ball wide from in front of goal before Skye went up the park and added a third. Jordan Murchison finished a move as he took the ball to the left before lifting it, one-handed, across the keeper to make it 3-0 with 50 minutes played. Penri Jones pulled a goal back on 58 minutes when Skye failed to deal with Innes Hood’s corner from the right. There was to be no comeback though as Scotland under-17 player Taylor Matheson added a fourth Skye goal with a bullet-shot from the left with Ross Gordon, Jordan Murchison and Will Cowie all involved in the lead-up play. Taylor Matheson got his second and Skye’s fifth on 85 minutes with a shot from wide on the left following a corner.
Kilmallie P Inveraray P It was Kilmallie’s designated free-Saturday so their tie against Inveraray was put back a week to Saturday 4 June 2022.
Ferguson Transport & Shipping Balliemore Cup - Second Round Inveraray 5 Inverness 1 Inveraray turned in a clinical first half performance to beat Inverness 5-1 in their noon throw up at a warm Winterton. Inveraray got off to a great start with Campbell Watt scoring on just 2 minutes after playing a one-two with Allan MacDonald. Lewis Montgomery, back from suspension, found space to add a second on 24 minutes and, with Inveraray turning on the style, Campbell Watt added a third a minutes later before Fraser Watt collecting a ball forward before going on to score on 26 minutes. Campbell Watt went on to complete his hat-trick on 33 minutes following some good forward play to make it 5-0 at the break. The visitors scored the only goal of the second half Ruaridh Hughes on 75 minutes. Inveraray’s Ross MacMillan had an effort disallowed before Inverness player Charlie MacDonald was sent off by referee Graham Fisher a minute from time.
Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup – Second Round Section 1 Lewis Camanachd 0 Caberfeidh 3 Lewis Camanachd played their first match at Shawbost for almost three years when the Caberfeidh second team came to visit. Ruairidh MacLeman gave Cabers a 31 minute lead with the only goal of the first half. Billy Goodall made it 2-0 on 57 minutes with Stewart Krzyzanowski sealing the 3-0 win on 71 minutes.
Section 3 Glenurquhart 6 Skye Camanachd 1 The Glenurquhart second team beat the Skye Camanachd second team 6-1 in their rearranged tie at Blairbeg. James MacPherson scored on 2 and 10 minutes with David MacLennan completing a hat-trick with strikes on 19, 54 and 57 minutes to make it 5-0. Daniel MacLean added a sixth on 86 minutes with Allan MacLeod securing a consolation strike for Skye on the stroke of full-time.
Mowi North Division 1 Fort William 2 Lovat 1 The Fort William colts beat the Lovat colts 2-1 at An Aird. Jack Rennie gave Lovat a 25 minute lead with the only goal of the first half but Lachie Shaw’s brace on 65 and 80 minutes gave the Fort the win.
Kingussie 0 Newtonmore 3 Newtonmore came out on top in the reserve team derby; winning 3-0 against Kingussie in their noon throw up at the Dell. Tristan Ross put ‘More ahead after just 6 minutes when he flicked home a ball from the right from close range. Former Kilmallie player Craig MacIsaac has joined Newtonmore after moving to the village, adding to their attacking options, and he scored his first goal for the club on 35 minutes. Tristan Ross won possession on the right before Glen MacKintosh gathered a high ball in a central position around 22 yards from goal and MacIsaac lost his marker to make a great run out to the left. MacKintosh played a perfectly weighted pass and MacIsaac crashed the ball into the roof of the net on his left side. Glen MacKintosh added a third a couple of minutes into the second half when he controlled a free-hit from the left and made enough space to turn and send the ball high past Kingussie keeper Craig Dawson to seal the 3-0 win. Referee Calum Girvan sent off Newtonmore’s Daniel Craven on 81 minutes.
Mowi South Division 1 Col Glen 6 Cruachanside 1 Col Glen go top of the division after beating Cruachanside 6-1 at Glendaruel. A quick-fire double from Andrew MacVicar on 11 and 13 minutes gave Col Glen early control. Scott MacVicar made it 3-0 at the break with an effort on 38 and Chris Blair’s strike on the hour made it 4-0. When referee Deek Cameron awarded Cruachanside a penalty on 65 minutes, Alexander Kilmurray took responsibility to score. However Jamie MacVicar on 70 minutes and a hat-trick goal from Andrew MacVicar just 5 minutes later completed the 6-1 win.
Glasgow Mid Argyll P Tayforth P The Glasgow Mid Argyll colts and Tayforth will have their game at Paterson Park rescheduled.
Kyles Athletic P Ballachulish P The game between the Kyles Athletic juniors and Ballachulish at Tighnabruaich will be played at a later date.
Mowi North Division 2 Aberdeen University 3 Beauly 1 Aberdeen University leapfrog the Beauly seconds to top the table after beating their rivals 3-1 at the Woodside Sports Complex. Willie Hunter gave the Students the lead from the penalty spot on 12 minutes and he made it 2-0 on 48 minutes. Stuart Cameron added a third on 57 minutes and although Scott Cameron gave Beauly hope with a goal on 70 minutes, the Aberdeen side took the points.
Lochaber 3 Boleskine 4 Liam Girvan and Scott Knox both scored twice as Boleskine beat the Lochaber seconds by the odd goal in seven at Spean Bridge.
Strathglass 1 Kilmallie 1 The Strathglass second team and the Kilmallie second team shared the points following a 1-1 draw in their 12.30pm throw up at Cannich. Ally McAdams put Strathglass ahead on 17 minutes but Seumas MacFarlane scored for the second successive Saturday on 51 minutes to make it 1-1.
Strathspey Camanachd 7 Inverness 4 Strathspey Camanachd eventually saw off a spirited Inverness second team to win 7-4 at Grantown Grammar School. Lawrence Bellini on 15 minutes and Peter Tinney on 17 minutes had the home side two up. Finlay Calder halved the deficit on 26 minutes and although Calum MacKintosh made it 3-1 on 34 minutes, Finlay Calder scored again on 42 minutes to reduce Strathspey’s interval advantage to a single goal. The end-to-end nature of the match continued with Calum MacKintosh getting his second on 56 minutes before Finlay Calder completed his hat-trick for Inverness on 62 minutes to make it 4-3. When James MacKenzie netted for Inverness on 63 minutes it was now 4-4. However Strathspey pulled away during the closing stages with Calum Kinstrey on 77 minutes and Lawrence Bellini completing his hat-trick with goals on 80 and 84 minutes to make the final score 7-4.
Mowi South Division 2 Aberdour 3 Bute 2 Joe Burns scored the winner 7 minutes from time as the Aberdour colts and the Bute colts met for the third time this season with this latest encounter played at Silversands. The Islanders were 4-2 and 4-1 winners on their home turf but Aberdour secured a 3-2 victory in this one. Half the Aberdour players played in an under-17 match in Glasgow the previous evening but the still went in front when Martin Cameron finished off a good passing move on 14 minutes. However Tom Morrison beat home keeper Roddy McColl to level just 5 minutes later. Aberdour made a good start to the second half and it was Martin Cameron again to put the home sides back in front on 53 minutes. The experienced Iain McDonald is a big influence on this young Bute side, which was missing several players to their first team, and he made it 2-2 on 73 minutes. However Joe Burns scored the goal that made the difference on 83 minutes.
Oban Celtic 8 Ardnamurchan 2 The Oban Celtic colts beat Ardnamurchan 8-2 at Ganavan. Lennon Campbell grabbed a hat-trick for the Oban side with Ewan Campbell scoring five times. Herbie Patterson countered twice for Ardnamurchan.
Inveraray 1 Kilmory 1 The Inveraray second team and Kilmory drew 1-1 in their 3pm throw up at the Winterton. Both goals were scored in the first half with Inveraray, who missed an earlier penalty, leading through Nicholas Crawford’s conversation from a second spot-hit award. This derby was tousy at times and goalscorer Crawford was sent off on 39 minutes. Scott Cameron levelled near the break but Kilmory were unable to use their one-man advantage to get a winner.
Uddingston 0 Strachur-Dunoon 9 Strachur-Dunoon were too strong for Uddingston, winning 9-0 at the Dunoon Stadium. Ross MacDonald helped himself to an early hat-trick with goals on 20, 26 and 32 minutes with Hayden Thomas finding the net in-between times on 29 minutes to make it 4-0. Cameron Middleton scored either side of half-time on 41 and 49 minutes to put Strachur-Dunoon out of sight. Mark Rooney on 69 minutes, Roddy Cairns on 82 minutes and Andrew Wilson on 86 minutes completed the 9-0 rout.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match reports states differently)
WCA Round Up Most of the national and regional Women’s Camanachd Association action took place on Sunday 29 May 2022.
Mowi National Division Skye Camanachd 2 Aberdour 0 Skye Camanachd scored a goal in each half to beat Aberdour 2-0 in their rearranged fixture a Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 28 May 2022. Jenna Beaton gave Skye the lead on 11 minutes with Teri MacLeod doubling their advantage in the second half. Aberdour travelled with just eight players, two short of the starting ten players.
Badenoch 3 Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 Badenoch stay out in front in the Mowi National Division, maintaining their 100% record into the bargain, after beating Glasgow Mid Argyll 3-0 in their 3pm throw up at the Dell on Sunday. Rhona McIntyre scored twice with Hope Borthwick getting the other.
Mowi North Division 2 Badenoch B 6 Strathspey 0 Badenoch B consolidated their mid-table position after beating Strathspey 6-0 in their 1pm throw up at the Dell. Hope Borthwick’s hat-trick, a double from Orla Olds and a goal from Millie Brackenridge made up their goal haul.
Lovat 13 Strathglass 4 Lovat beat Strathglass 13-4 in their 2pm throw up at Balgate. Lovat’s Fiona Urquhart was the game’s top scorer with Alex Farquharson’s hat-trick and efforts from Jennifer Mair, Ruby Fraser and Laura Gallacher making up their count. The Strathglass scorers were Cassie Dorrian, Freya Strachan, Isla Strachan and Charlotte Graham.
Mowi South Division 2 Tayforth W/O v Dunadd Tayforth were awarded the points when Dunadd were unable to raise a team for their match at Peffermill.
Ardnamurchan B P Uddingston P Uddingston were unable to field a team for their meeting with Ardnamurchan B at Strontian.
Scottish Sea Farms Extends Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Sponsorship Scottish Sea Farms have agreed to extend their sponsorship of the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup for a further three years with the 2022 final between Glasgow Mid Argyll and Kyles Athletic taking place at Peterson Park, Yoker on Saturday 25 June 2022. This will be the first time the trophy, first played for in 1879 and the oldest of its kind in shinty, has returned to its historic home since 2010. Scottish Sea Farms have been main sponsors since 2018 and they contribute £3,300 annually to the cost of staging the event. The company will also offer a free leather shinty ball to the first 250 spectators through the gates, along with goodie bags and raffle prizes for those attending the pre-match lunch. Glasgow Mid Argyll make their first appearance in the final for 35 years, albeit on their own pitch, and they will be tested against the current holders Kyles Athletic. Scottish Sea Farms Managing Director Jim Gallagher said: “The game of shinty is woven into the very fabric of the communities in which we work and live, with the Glasgow Celtic Society Challenge Cup being the pinnacle of its sporting calendar. “Committing a further three years of support is our way of helping ensure both the much-enjoyed Cup Final and the wider game itself continue to thrive for generations to come.” Recent finals have been staged outside of Glasgow, most recently at Taynuilt Sports Field in Argyll. However, with a new centre for traditional field sports planned for Peterson Park, the 2022 Cup final will once again return to the city. This follows work by Glasgow Mid Argyll, Glasgow Gaels GAA and a local football club, in partnership with Glasgow Life which runs Glasgow’s culture and leisure services, to plan and secure the long-term future of Peterson Park as a centre for traditional field sports after covid-related budgetary cuts forced the closure of the facility in April 2021. Organisers expect the return to Glasgow will result in a significant uplift in the profile of what will be the 117th Glasgow Celtic Society Challenge Cup Final. Angus MacInnes, Vice-President of the Glasgow Celtic Society and President of Glasgow Mid Argyll, added: “Securing the final’s return to Glasgow is hugely significant in terms of raising the profile of shinty throughout the city itself, while live coverage of the event via BBC ALBA and, for the first time, BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, will ensure that shinty fans the world over can follow the action minute-by-minute.” |