The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 31 July 2021 | |
01 August 2021 There were plenty talking points following the shinty action on Saturday 31 July 2021.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – Quarter-Final Oban Celtic 1 Oban Camanachd 6 A clinical second half display gave Oban Camanachd a 6-1 victory over Oban Celtic at Mossfield on Wednesday 28 July 2021. The tie was arranged for midweek to allow the winners to face Kyles Athletic in the Artemis Macaulay Cup semi-finals as scheduled just 3 days later. A good crowd gathered for this 7pm throw up and it was a dry evening following rain earlier in the day. Oban Celtic were missing Andy MacDonald who was on holiday so George MacMillan was switched to half back. Injury ruled out Oban Camanachd’s Craig Easton and they started with a forward line of Daniel MacCuish, Malcolm Clark, Connor Howe and Daniel MacVicar. Daniel MacCuish gave Oban Camanachd a 17 minute lead, cracking the ball over the keeper with a slight deflection taking the ball high into the net. However Oban Celtic pulled level on 33 minutes with a corner routine from the training ground. Duncan MacDonald played the corner short from the left to Ross MacMillan, taking a return pass and then firing high into the net from a tight angle. The second half was just a couple of minutes old when Malcolm Clark put his side back in front. Clark evaded a challenge and scored from close in as the keeper and defender collided. Oban Camanachd made changes, introducing Scott MacMillan, Ross Campbell and Lewis Buchanan before turning the screw with four goals in the final quarter of the tie. First, Connor Howe lost his marker to force home a cross from the right to make it 3-1 on 66 minutes. Just 4 minutes later, Daniel MacVicar made no mistake as he fired past keeper Allan Duncan after getting the break of the ball. Garry Lord added a fifth on 82 minutes. With Neil Carmichael closing down Blair MacFarlane, no one tracked Garry Lord’s run forward and his 15 yard strike went hard and low into the net. Scott MacMillan rounded off the scoring with a nicely worked goal 5 minutes from time. Blair MacFarlane sent a good ball down the line to Ross Campbell who crossed for MacMillan to score. Whilst Oban Celtic were under a lot of pressure, especially in the second half when they had their backs to the wall at times, they did some possession in attack but the Oban Camanachd defence of Scott McKillop, Daniel Madej, Daniel Cameron and Daniel Sloss is as good as any in the league and were in no mood to give anything away. Oban Camanachd’s all-round superior fitness was evident.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – Semi-Final Oban Camanachd 0 Kyles Athletic 1 Kyles Athletic reached the Artemis Macaulay Cup Final with a narrow 1-0 victory over Oban Camanachd at Mossfield. The goal that separated the sides came on 50 minutes when Oban Camanachd fluffed a hit-in and Kyles earned a free-hit following a break forward. The set-piece was powered to the back of the D by Thomas Whyte and, one-handed, Ross MacRae managed to touch the ball to Robbie MacLeod who smashed a shot home. Oban Camanachd had a chance to level midway through the second half when referee Des McNulty awarded they a penalty, penalising a sliding challenge after consulting with the goal judge. Daniel MacCuish rocketed the spot-hit but the ball went above the keeper’s head and John Whyte made a good reflex save. Oban Camanachd’s Daniel Cameron went up front after feeling a tight hamstring and he twice went close. First, Cameron went one-on-one with keeper Whyte and as he tried to slip the ball under the Kyles custodian, his effort came off the keeper’s heel. Then a fierce Cameron strike came off the back of Andrew King’s head whilst substitute Lewis Buchanan saw his shot come back of the outside of the junction between post and bar. Kyles were well served by their midfield of Thomas Whyte, flanked by Conor Kennedy and Innes MacDonald with Neil MacVicar replacing Whyte when he suffered a knock soon after the goal. Andrew King covered a lot of ground at the back. There was a long 6 minutes of stoppage time for Kyles to endure before they claimed their place in the final.
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup – Second Round Northern Section Skye Camanachd 0 Lovat 2 (after extra-time) It took extra-time to separate Skye Camanachd and Lovat in their 3pm throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye were missing Will Cowie and Martin Pringle but Ross Gordon and John Gillies returned. Lovat’s only notable absentee was Martin Mainland and they started with Lorne MacKay at centre, flanked by Drew Howie and Lewis Tawse. Lovat had the better of the first half but Skye were on top after the restart. Both goalkeepers were key with Skye’s Ryan Morrison keeping out a Greg Matheson piledriver with his face whilst Lovat’s Stuart MacDonald made an outstanding double stop to deny both Jordan Murchison and then William MacKinnon. Skye claimed a Sam MacPhee free-hit had come off a Lovat stick before being allowed to enter the Lovat net but the referee waved away their claims. The goals that made the difference were both good strikes from Lorne MacKay on 110 and 114 minutes. The first came following a Lovat hit-in on the left whilst the second was a smart drive from the right. Lovat now go through to play 2019 Camanachd Cup finalists Oban Camanachd in the quarter-finals.
cottages.com MacTavish Cup – First Round Kinlochshiel 8 Lochaber 0 Kinlochshiel were too strong for Lochaber, recording a resounding 8-0 triumph in their 3pm throw up at Rèaraig. John MacRae got onto David Falconer’s long ball down the left before beating keeper Calum MacDonald at his near post on 12 minutes whilst Keith MacRae doubled their advantage with a shot from the right which deceived the goalie, creeping in at his near post on 20 minutes. John MacRae got his second on 36 minutes. MacRae was left of centre when the ball broke out to him and he fizzed a shot over the keeper. Jordan Fraser sent a penalty low to the keeper’s right on 40 minutes to make it 4-0 at the break. Jordan Fraser then went on a scoring spree, getting his second on the hour. Donald Nixon’s long ball into the D wasn’t dealt with and Fraser touched the into the net. It was Jordan Fraser again on 70 minutes, driving the ball home from around the penalty spot and he took his tally to four just 4 minutes later when he was left unmarked in front of goal and he forced the ball home at the second attempt. There was no respite for Lochaber and Finlay D MacRae made it 8-0 with a couple of minutes remaining. Duncan “DA” MacRae and Jordan Fraser combined on the left to set up the youngster, who was unmarked at the front of the D, and he swept the ball home on his backhand. Kinlochshiel play their Artemis Macaulay Cup quarter-final tie against Lovat at Blairbeg on Wednesday 4 August 2021. Kingussie await the winners in the semis.
cottages.com MacTavish Cup - Second Round Kingussie 3 Newtonmore 1 Kingussie beat Newtonmore for the third time this month, winning 3-1 at the Dell. Kingussie were along usual lines with the exception of Thomas Borthwick whose knee ligament injury could keep him out for the rest of the season. Injury ruled out Newtonmore’s Max Campbell although Iain Richardson made an early return from his hand injury. Owen Fraser returned in goal with Kenny Ross unavailable. Ruaridh Anderson gave the Kings a 4 minute lead. Calum Grant found James Falconer wide on the right. Falconer sent the ball low into the danger area and Anderson capitalised on a defensive slip before running in to score. Roddy Young made it 2-0, on 58 minutes, getting on the end of James Falconer’s low corner on the right. Steven MacDonald converted from the penalty spot on 82 minutes after Iain Robinson had been brought down inside the D to give ‘More hope. However Ruaridh Anderson scored the goal of the match with just 4 minutes to go. Kieran MacPherson sent the ball long from the Kingussie right to Savio Genini in a central position with his back to goal. Genini spread play out to the Kingussie left where Ruaridh Anderson ran wide with Rory Kennedy before quickly taking a touch backwards to completely change direction, losing his marker in the process and then shooting across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Alvance British Aluminium Balliemore Cup - First Round Bute 4 Oban Celtic 2 Scott Harvey’s hat-trick helped Bute beat Oban Celtic 4-2 at the Meadows. Bute played a high three-one forward line and they are always difficult opponents on their own pitch. Oban Celtic’s Andy MacDonald was still unavailable whilst Dylan Cooke and David Hill called off on Friday afternoon. Keeper Allan Duncan was also missing so Jack Hill came in between the sticks. Scott Harvey put the Islanders ahead on 22 minutes, making a short run to the front post to get onto a ball from the right and his clean strike flew into the net. Daniel MacMillan cut inside on 34 minutes and when the ball broke to him, he finished well to make it 1-1 and it stayed that way to the break. Oban Celtic suffered a double blow when they were forced to replace influential duo Neil Carmichael and George MacMillan at half-time. Scott Harvey got his second to put Bute back in front on 51 minutes but the Oban side levelled for a second time just 5 minutes later. A ball out of defence was played on by William MacEwan and then to Ross MacMillan and substitute Ewen Campbell before Lennon Campbell finished from 20 yards out to make it 2-2. Oban Celtic had a period of pressure but couldn’t get the goal that would have given them the lead for the first time in the contest. Bute regained the lead when the referee allowed a quick free-hit with 15 minutes remaining. The ball was rolled short to Aaron McKirdy and although Jack Hill got his hand to McKirdy’s 35 yard drive, he couldn’t keep it out of the net. Bute sealed the win when they were awarded a penalty 3 minutes from time when Jack Hill was penalised for a foul with the visitors feeling the decision should have gone the other way as an attacker was on the ground, over the ball. Scott Harvey hit the ball well to complete his hat-trick, rounding off the 4-2 win.
Mowi Senior League A Kilmallie 3 Glenurquhart 0 Kilmallie scored three first half goals to see off Glenurquhart at the Canal Parks. Daniel Stewart returned from injury for the hosts with Steven Stewart serving the second match of a two-game ban. U17 player Dylan Monk kept his place in the side following a fine performance the previous week and joined a backline of Robbie MacFadyen, Frankie Innes and Innes Blackhall at buckshee back with all four outstanding throughout. Lewis Birrell scored the opener on 19 minutes, firing a bouncing shot through a host of players on his left side with the ball going past an unsighted Stuart MacKintosh in the Glen goal. It was Lewis Birrell again with a great effort on 28 minutes when he sent the ball high into the net after some nice one-touch shinty. There was a melee on 31 minutes and when the ball broke to Craig MacIsaac on the left; his low shot deceived the keeper. The one down-side for Kilmallie’s was captain Innes Blackhall’s red card with 10 minutes remaining. Blackhall was order off by referee Alex MacVicar following a challenge with Kilmallie disputing the call. Blackhall faces a long period on the sidelines as he was already due to start a two-game suspension for a disciplinary points accumulation. Kilmallie don’t have fixture this Saturday so their next match is against Kingussie in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup.
Mowi Senior League B Caberfeidh 3 Beauly 4 Caberfeidh’s match with Beauly was played on Friday 30 July 2021 with a 7pm throw up. Caberfeidh’s Liam Symonds was free to play ahead of a one-match ban for a points accumulation. The influential Blair Morrison was still out whilst Scott Mclauchlan continued in attack. Beauly went into the match with confidence following a good recent run. It took a penalty shoot-out to separate the sides in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup a couple of weeks earlier before Beauly went through and this was another close encounter. Beauly made a strong start and they got their reward when they hit the front after just 5 minutes. Conor Ross found Robbie Brindle on the left and he cut past his marker before firing a rocket-shot past the keeper to make it 1-0. Both sides settled into a rhythm and Kevin Bartlett looked menacing up top for Cabers and he shot just wide on 24 minutes. Jack MacDonald made it 2-0 with a really well-made goal after 35 minutes. Conor Ross won possession in his own half and found David Maclean on the Beauly right. MacLean delivered an inch-perfect pass to Jack MacDonald on the left and he sent a shot high past keeper Iain McCall on his left side. Kevin Bartlett pulled a goal back a couple of minutes later. Craig Morrison sent the ball across from the left. Bartlett attempted a first-time shot but miss-timed his effort. The Scotland forward regained his composure and fired low past keeper Duncan Anderson on the goalie’s left side. Cabers equalised when a good ball forward found Craig Morrison around the penalty spot and he turned his marker before beating Anderson low on his left side to make it 2-2 on 40 minutes. An exciting first half came to an end when a good ball from Ryan MacKay found Robbie Brindle on the left. Brindle picked out the on-rushing David MacLean stabbed the ball past the keeper on 43 minutes to give Beauly a 3-2 advantage at the break. Cabers bounced back with an unmarked Craig Morrison getting his second from the edge of the D just 5 minutes after the restart and he hammered the ball past the keeper to make it 3-3. Bothe teams fought for the winner and Kevin Bartlett again fired past the upright on 54 minutes. However David MacLean made the difference with what proved to be the winning goal on 57 minutes. MacLean won the ball around the penalty spot and he turned his marker before sending an unstoppable shot past the keeper on his right side to make it 4-3. The game ebbed and flowed and the only surprise was that there were no further scoring during the final half-hour. Beauly did just enough to deserve the win, extending their recent good run. There were only two bookings for deliberate trips. Beauly’s Angus Renwick was a rock in defence whilst David MacLean turned in a man of the match performance at full forward. Caberfeidh are undoubtedly missing the injured Blair Morrison’s influence but his brother Craig Morrison was always a threat up front.
Mowi Senior League C Inveraray 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll 4 Glasgow Mid Argyll were 4-1 victors against Inveraray at the Winterton. A great individual effort from Ewen Fraser gave the Glasgow side the lead on 5 minutes before Craig Anderson, who earlier hit the post, made it 2-0 on 29 minutes. Fraser Watt took advantage of a poor clearance following a corner to pull a goal back a minute before the break. Matthew Young added a third on the half-volley for GMA on 54 minutes with Inveraray claiming for a foul hit-in in the lead up to the goal. Ewen Fraser got his second on 61 minutes, turning home a rebound from close-in after Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan had saved well from Craig Anderson. The low point for GMA was the loss of Garry Luke within minutes of throw up due to the recurrence of a hamstring problem.
HIS Sutherland Cup – Second Round Section 3 Kinlochshiel 3 Skye Camanachd 0 The Kinlochshiel colts scored three times in the second half to beat the Skye Camanachd colts 3-0 in their noon throw up at Rèaraig. Skye travelled with just thirteen players so a couple of early injuries left them up against it. ‘Shiel youngster Archie MacRae scored twice on 67 and 89 minutes, either side of Lewis MacVicar’s 74 minute effort. ’Shiel now travel to holders Lochside Rovers in the next round.
Section 4 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Kyles Athletic 4 The Kyles Athletic seconds won 4-1 against the Glasgow Mid Argyll seconds at Peterson Park. David Martin on 13 minutes and Scott Ferguson on 18 minutes gave Kyles an early advantage with Cairn Limbert making it 3-0 on 41 minutes. Former Skye player Angie Grant pulled a goal back a couple of minutes later but David Martin sealed the win a minute from time.
Kilmory W/O v Inveraray The Inveraray seconds were unable to raise a team for their meeting with Kilmory at MacRae Park so the hosts were given a walk-over.
Mowi North League A Lochcarron 2 Fort William 2 Lochcarron came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Fort William second team at Battery Park. The Fort settled into the match and Greg Kelly netted on 3 minutes with Cameron Stevens making it 2-0 on 35 minutes. Niall Arnott pulled a goal back 4 minutes before half-time. And it remained 2-1 until a minute from time when veteran Gregor Cushnie popped up to secure Lochcarron’s first point of the season.
Mowi North League B Inverness 1 Kingussie 2 The Kingussie second team were 2-1 winners against the Inverness first team at the Bught Park. Dylan Borthwick gave the Kings a 7 minute lead and Bobby Russell made it 2-0 on 16 minutes. Iain Hunter halved the deficit on 79 minutes but Kingussie ran out winners.
Lovat 1 Newtonmore 1 The Newtonmore seconds drew 1-1 with the Lovat seconds at Balgate This contest burst into life on 15 minutes when, against the run of play, Tristan Ross put ‘More ahead. Ronan MacMillan in the home goal saved a harmless shot from the right with his feet but couldn’t get the ball away. This allowed Tristan Ross to dart into the D and he rounded the keeper before knocking the ball into the empty net to make it 1-0. The youthful Newtonmore forward line were putting some good passing moves together and Ronan MacMillan had to be at his best to parry a great shot from Sorley Thomson before clearing the ball to safety. There was a great battle in the middle of the park between veterans Ryan Ferguson and Scott Chisholm with every ball contested. Lovat almost levelled when Raymond Rennie teed up Gary Marshall at the edge of the D but he shot wide of target. The visitors made a strong start to the second half and when Tristan Ross found Sorley Thomson whose effort whistled wide of the post. Lovat drew level on 65 minutes through a great Raymond Rennie strike. Ryan Ferguson won possession in a tackle with Scott Chisholm and picked out Raymond Rennie who was 30 yards out. Rennie’s shot seemed to be going wide of goal before swerving into the top corner of the net. A shinty equivalent of a Roberto Carlos strike! Lovat substitute Iain Nicolson had a chance to level on 76 minutes. Referee John Angus Gillies played advantage following an attempted trip on Nicolson as he got away from his marker but, with only the keeper to beat, Nicolson’s effort went the wrong side of the post. The visitors claimed for a penalty for a “kick” when Ronan MacMillan made a good stop but the referee dismissed their claims. A share of the spoils was fair with full back James Grieve and midfielder Mitchell Leslie doing well for Lovat whilst ‘More buckshee back Duncan MacPherson and forward Sorley Thomson shining for Newtonmore in what was a good, clean, competitive encounter.
Caberfeidh 4 Glenurquhart 0 The Caberfeidh colts beat the Glenurquhart colts 4-0 at Castle Lead. The match remained goalless until 3 minutes before the break when Ruaraidh MacLeman continued his good scoring run. It was Ruaraidh MacLeman again on 53 minutes before Kyle Grant made it 3-0 on 60 minutes. Ruaraidh MacLeman completed his hat-trick a couple of minutes from time.
Mowi North League C Strathspey Camanachd P Aberdeen University P The meeting between Aberdeen University and Strathspey Camanachd was reversed to Grantown Grammar School. However the pitch failed a Friday inspection so the match was postponed.
Strathglass 3 Inverness 3 The match between the Strathglass colts and the Inverness colts at Cannich was brought forward to Friday 30 July 2021 with a 7pm throw up. Robbie Stokes put Strathglass ahead on 7 minutes but a Gavin Butler own goal a minute later made it 1-1. Things looked good for Inverness when Ruairidh Hughes put them ahead on 26 minutes and Iain Hunter made it 3-1 on 51 minutes. However the match finished 3-3 as veteran Darren Reid earned the hosts a point with late strikes on 71 and 88 minutes.
Mowi South League A Ballachulish 2 Col Glen 1 Ballachulish were 2-1 winners against Col Glen at the Jubilee Park. Balla’s Cian MacPhee served the second game of a two-match suspension. A Cally MacNaughton own goal after 7 minutes gave Balla’ the lead and Liam Fraser Stewart made it 2-0 on 32 minutes. Hamish Harrison pulled a goal back on the hour but the hosts stayed in front to take the points.
Lochside Rovers P Taynuilt P The game between Lochside Rovers and Taynuilt was postponed as Taynuilt were unable to raise a team. Lochside Rovers learned their HIS Sutherland Cup fate when the quarter-final draw was made during the week and the holders will host Kinlochshiel. The other last eight ties, scheduled for Saturday 14 August 2021, see the Lovat seconds welcome Aberdeen University, the Newtonmore seconds play their Kyles Athletic counterparts whilst the Beauly seconds are at home to Kilmory.
Mowi South League B Aberdour 2 Tayforth 3 Former Newtonmore player Duncan Gorman scored a couple minutes from time to give a more experienced Tayforth side a 3-2 victory over the Aberdour second team at Silversands. Tayforth opened playing down the slope and Duncan Gorman put them in front on 3 minutes but 15 year old Joe Burns levelled a minute later. Joe Burns finished off a good move to get his second and give the hosts the lead 5 minutes into the second half but Tayforth made changes and finished strongly. Brendan Duggan broke free before sending the ball high into the net, past keeper Kevin Latimer on 73 minutes and, with just a couple of minutes remaining, Duncan Gorman got his second as he found just enough space to execute a calm finish. The outcome could have been different with Joe Burns going close to completing his hat-trick just before Gorman’s winner with a smart volley but Tayforth took the points.
Mowi Central League Lochaber 0 Glenorchy 4 Glenorchy were 4-0 winners against the Lochaber seconds at Spean Bridge. Connor Sartain put the visitors ahead in the opening minute and he added a second on 7 minutes. It was a good afternoon for Sartain as he completed his hat-trick on 66 minutes with Ciaran MacKay making it 4-0 on 82 minutes.
Oban Celtic P Ardnamurchan P The match between Oban Celtic reserves and Ardnamurchan at Ganavan was postponed because of travel restrictions.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report states differently) |