The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 5 March 2016 - UPDATED! | |
06 March 2016 The new shinty season got off to a flying start on Saturday 5 March 2016.
Marine Harvest Premiership Glenurquhart 1 Oban Camanachd 3 Oban Camanachd, who spent most of last season battling the threat of relegation, got off to a winning start as they beat Glenurquhart 3-1 at Blairbeg. Glenurquhart bosses Billy MacLean and Dave Menzies were without injured pair Euan Lloyd and James Hurwood as well as Andrew Corrigan who was working abroad. Forward James MacPherson served a one match suspension for passing the disciplinary points threshold. Michael Fraser started in attack alongside the returning David Smart, Fraser Heath and Neale Reid. Connor Golabeck, Billy Urquhart and David MacLennan were on the bench. Oban Camanachd are looking strong this season and Willie Neilson, their new signing from Taynuilt, was given a starting slot. Andrew Maccuish was back in the side after missing the end of last season with a broken hand. Scott MacMillan, David Lafferty and Robert Alexander gave manager Iain Hay good options from the substitutes’ bench. There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up to mark the passing of Kilmallie President and long-time sponsor Ewen Bowman who also sponsored the Camanachd Association Referees Association. This minutes silence was observed at all shinty matches throughout the country. Oban Camanachd had the chance to go in front on 21 minutes when referee John Angus Gillies awarded them a penalty. A shy into the D was missed by Lewis MacLennan and his swing caught Daniel MacVicar on the hand. Willie Neilson took the penalty and sent it into the top right-hand corner of the net. Daniel Cameron made it 2-0 just 3 minutes later when he finished off a good flowing move, beating keeper Stuart MacKintosh at his near post. Glenurquhart’s Neale Reid reduced the deficit a couple of minutes before the break. Reid was around 27 yards from goal when he took a shot which hit an Oban defender on the back. The ball dropped straight in front of the Scotland forward and he hammered a waist-high strike inside the left-hand post to make it 2-1 at half time. Glenurquhart had chances to draw level and Oban Camanachd keeper Gavin Stobbart saved well from Neale Reid before keeping out a Fraser Heath penalty. Oban Camanachd’s Malcolm Clark sealed the win when he made it 3-1 on 74 minutes. Clark took the ball down at the back of the penalty spot before placing the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of Stuart MacKintosh’s net. This was a really entertaining match but Oban defended well and their speedy forwards gave them the advantage.
Kingussie 1 Lochaber 1 Kingussie and Lochaber shared the points following a 1-1 draw in their 3pm throw up at the Dell. Kingussie had the better of the first half hour but they couldn’t turn their pressure into shots on target. Lochaber, who were without Zandz Ferguson and Martin Johnstone, finished the half well though and Pat Toal did well to beat Kingussie keeper Craig Dawson to a fine through-ball and he tapped the ball home to put Lochaber ahead a couple of minutes before the break. Kingussie came close to levelling when Lochaber keeper Callum MacDonald produced the first of a number of fine saves when he kept out a Thomas Borthwick piledriver, high above his head. Whatever Lochaber boss Ally Ferguson said to his players at the break; the Spean Bridge side had their best spell in the match after the restart. And it took some good saves from Craig Dawson to prevent his side falling further behind. However Kingussie regained the initiative during the final quarter of the contest but Lochaber goalie Callum MacDonald pulled off a string of first class saves to keep the Spean Bridge men ahead. Eventually the pressure told though and Kingussie drew level on 74 minutes with Ryan Borthwick crashing home a backhand drive from the angle to make it 1-1. Kingussie pressed for a late winner but man of the match Callum MacDonald kept them at bay.
Kyles Athletic 5 Fort William 3 The match between Kyles Athletic and Fort William was originally scheduled for Tighnabruaich but an unplayable field meant the match was transferred to Strachurmore. The game swung one-way and then the other before Kyles finally ran out 5-3 winners. Fort William were unable to call on the services of Cal Brown, who has featured for the firsts pre-season, as he served a suspension for passing the disciplinary points threshold. A Roddy MacDonald double on 18 and 22 minutes gave the home side a cushion. However Fort William finished the half in devastating fashion as a back-hand Daniel Stewart shot from the left of the D beat Kyles’ keeper John Whyte just under his crossbar on 40 minutes. Then a Bryan Simpson brace on 44 and 45 minutes left them 3-2 ahead at the break. First Simpson cut in from the left to slam a rebound into the net. Then the Kyles defence were unable a long ball into the middle of their defence and Simpson cracked the ball home on his left side. Ross MacRae drew Kyles level 5 minutes after the restart and the Tighnabruaich men went on to dominate the remainder of the game. Roddy MacDonald completed his hat-trick on 63 minutes to put Kyles back in front. Dunkie Kerr made it 5-3 just 5 minutes from time to make it 5-3.
Kinlochshiel P Newtonmore P The match between Kinlochshiel and champions Newtonmore at Kirkton was postponed at the start of the week. The Newtonmore players and officials attended the funeral of Carole MacKintosh, wife of first team manager Paul John MacKintosh who sadly passed away last weekend.
Skye Camanachd P Lovat P The match between newly promoted Skye Camanachd and Lovat at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree was postponed. The Portree pitch was playable on Friday and passed an early morning Saturday pitch inspection. However there was a heavy fall of snow just after 10am and a further inspection by referee Calum Girvan and Skye Camanachd officials deemed the field playable. There were no alternative fields available to relocate the game.
Marine Harvest National Division Inveraray 0 Bute 0 There were no goals at the Winterton where Inveraray and Bute shared the points. New Inveraray boss Ruaridh Graham had to sit this one out as he was suspended. Full centre David Robertson was injured whilst top scorer Euan McMurdo was also missing. Bute were without the influential James Craig, also through suspension. Keeper Kevin Queen was also missing so boss Ted MacDonald took over between the sticks. Scott MacLachlan had a great game in the Inveraray goal whilst the home side rarely troubled stand-in keeper MacDonald as shots whistled wide of target. Ruaridh Graham has a committed Inveraray squad training well but they lacked composure in front of goal. The young Bute team were very determined and showed great promise for the season ahead.
Inverness 2 Beauly 5 New Beauly boss Stephen MacLean got off to a winning start as his side defeated Inverness 5-2 at the Bught Park. Inverness had Mark Sproule back after he missed last season whilst Calum MacKay has joined from Lochcarron. Dougie Rankin was at full back. Beauly were without the injured Barrie MacDonald whilst Sean Stewart is unlikely to play this year and Conor Cormack has left for Kinlochshiel. Beauly took the lead after 4 minutes when Ross Forbes turned a Robbie Brindle cross into the net from inside the D. Beauly doubled their lead on 12 minutes when Jack MacDonald got on the end of a free-hit from the excellent Calum Morrison. Inverness keeper Adam MacMaster saved MacDonald’s original effort but David MacLean was on hand to slam the rebound into the net. Inverness fought their way back into the game and when Beauly full back Andrew Morrison hauled down James Cameron inside the D on 25 minutes, referee Archie Ritchie pointed to the penalty spot. James Cameron dusted himself down before tucking the spot-hit low inside Beauly keeper Josh Grant’s left post to make it 2-1. Inverness went all out for a leveller and Josh Grant made a superb save from James Cameron to preserve his side’s lead into the interval. Inverness drew level a minute after the restart when a good through ball down the middle from Charlie MacDonald split the Beauly defence. A flick on from James Cameron put Somhairle MacDonald – who had been moved forward from wing centre - through and a half-swing on the run sent a hard shot goalwards which beat Josh Grant’s at his bottom left corner. Inverness then had a couple of good chances to go in front but they were unable to take them. However it was Beauly who would go back in front on 55 minutes when the Inverness back-line failed to clear their lines and David MacLean knocked the ball to his left to Jack MacDonald who drove a thunderous shot across the keeper into the net to make it 3-2. Jack MacDonald was giving Inverness wing back Liam Girvan a torrid time and he got his second and Beauly’s fourth on 67 minutes when he sent a rebound low into the net from just outside the D to make it 4-2. Beauly rounded off the win a minute from time when Jack MacDonald, who was really impressive throughout, fed Ross Forbes and he turned his marker before running in to send the ball low into the net to make it 5-2. Inverness defender Arran MacMaster turned in a fine performance but wing centre Craig Nicholson looks set for a time on the sidelines after sustaining a nasty hand injury with around half an hour remaining.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 4 Ballachulish 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll got off to a good start as they beat Ballachulish 4-0 in their 1pm throw up at Yoker. GMA were without new signing John McNulty who is serving a suspension from his time at Glenorchy. Ballachulish had to do without suspended trio Scott MacDonald, Kenny Michie and Pat MacLean. Calum McLay gave GMA the lead after 28 minutes when the ball broke to him at the edge of the D and he buried a shot in the bottom-right corner of the net. When referee Robert Baxter awarded GMA a 37 minute penalty, Craig Anderson stepped up and he sent the spot-hit into the top right corner of the net. Craig Anderson got his second and GMA’s third a couple of minutes later. Jamie McFadyen played a long ball from the middle of the park and Anderson ran on and collected possession at the edge of the D and he rounded keeper Cameron Sutherland before scoring. Calum McLay got his second on 43 minutes when he gathered a Euan Forsyth pass on the penalty spot before bulleting the ball into the top left corner of the net to make it 4-0. There were no goals in the second half and GMA’s winning margin would have been greater had it not been for some wonderful saves from Balla’ keeper Cameron Sutherland.
Kilmallie P Caberfeidh P The encounter between Kilmallie and Caberfeidh at the Canal Parks was postponed because of the passing of Kilmallie President Ewen Bowman.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Fort William 3 Beauly 2 The Fort William second team opened the defence of their league title against their Beauly counterparts at An Aird and they took the points with a 3-2. Fort William’s Scott Knox was banned as he served a suspension for passing the disciplinary points threshold. Youngster Padraig MacNeil gave the Fort the lead with the only goal of the first half after 27 minutes. Neil Clark, back in the side, made it 2-0 on 65 minutes and although Coinneach MacDonald pulled a goal back for Beauly on 70 minutes, another Fort young gun, Seumas Gall restored their two-goal cushion 10 minutes from time. A rare Sandy Tulloch goal a couple of minutes from time made for a tense finish but Fort William took the points.
Lovat 1 Skye Camanachd 0 The Lovat and Skye Camanachd second teams at Balgate with the home side running out 1-0 winners. The winning goal came 15 minutes from time with Rory Campbell scoring. Skye’s Iain MacLeod was the busier of the two keepers and he made some fine saves. Lovat’s James Grieve was sent off a couple of minutes by referee Andy MacLean from time for appearing to head-butt Skye’s Ruairidh MacLeod.
Strathglass 3 Kingussie 3 Strathglass and the Kingussie second team drew 3-3 at Cannich. Josh Fraser, Steven Hyslop and Scott Douglass were on target for Strathglass but a Roddy Young goal and a Chris Holleysong brace earned Kingussie a share of the points.
Newtonmore P Kinlochshiel P The match between the Newtonmore and Kinlochshiel second teams at the Eilan was postponed at the start of the week. The Newtonmore players and officials attended the funeral of Carole MacKintosh, wife of first team manager Paul John MacKintosh who sadly passed away last weekend.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Lochside Rovers 6 Inveraray 0 Lochside Rovers missed out on the Marine Harvest South Division 1 title only on goal difference last season and they showed that they mean business this term with as they scored six without reply the Inveraray seconds at Mossfield. Lochside Rovers were without the suspended Euan MacCorquodale. The Inveraray seconds are now managed by former first team keeper Graham MacPherson and he had to do without Lewis Montgomery and Niall Shaw who were both suspended as they each served one match bans for passing the disciplinary points threshold. Lochside took control of the game in the first half and Aidan MacIntyre found the back of the net twice on 10 and 21 minutes before Keith Burnett on 33 minutes and Michael MacQueen on the stroke of half-time had them 4-0 to the good. Michael MacQueen got his second 3 minutes after the restart and Daniel Maccuish rounded off the 6-0 win on 70 minutes.
Oban Celtic 7 Col Glen 1 Oban Celtic were too strong for Col Glen, winning 7-1 at Ganavan to get new boss Kenny Wotherspoon off to the best of starts. Col Glen got off to the perfect start when Hamish Harrison gave them the lead in the opening minute. Neil Carmichael drew Oban Celtic level on 7 minutes and the home side led 3-1 at half-time thanks to a Daniel Madej double on 13 and 43 minutes. Fraser MacMillan added his name to the scoresheet on 48 minutes before Scotland U21 international Daniel Madej took his tally to four goals with strikes on 75 and 80 minutes to make it 6-1. Fraser MacMillan got his second on 82 minutes to wrap up the 7-1 win.
Aberdour 2 Kyles Athletic 2 Aberdour came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the Kyles Athletic second team at Silver Sands. Scott MacDonald on 24 minutes and Connor Giudici on 45 minutes had Kyles 2-0 ahead at the break. Alister Shaw got Aberdour back into the game with a 50 minute strike. The match marked Roddy MacColl’s competitive debut against his former club and he had the final say with a 55 minute equaliser to make it 2-2. The closest we came to a winner was an Alister Shaw shot which hit the post.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lochaber 2 Lochcarron 0 The Lochaber seconds beat Lochcarron 2-0 in what was an even contest at Spean Bridge. Lochaber’s James MacIntyre was sidelined through suspension. There were no goals in the first half but Danny Delaney made the difference after the break. Delaney put Lochaber ahead 10 minutes after the break when he fired the ball into the top corner of the net following a free-hit. Lochcarron suffered a blow when captain Peter MacKenzie had to leave the field with a shoulder injury immediately after the goal. Lochcarron’s Kieran Murray was next to succumb to injury after taking a blow to the hand. And it was Danny Delaney who got his and Lochaber’s second around 10 minutes from time when he sent the ball low into the corner of the net from the edge of the D.
Aberdeen University 9 Inverness 0 Aberdeen University beat the Inverness reserves 9-0 in their 1.30pm throw up in difficult weather conditions at Balgownie. Aberdeen boss Jamie Beaton has added strength to his squad with Scott Murray joining from Lewis Camanachd and Ewen Fraser signing from Boleskine. And it was Ewen Fraser who got the Students opening goal on 15 minutes. Alex Duncan made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later. The goals kept flowing and Kenny Cushnie on 24 minutes and Stuart Cameron on 26 minutes made it 4-0. Alex Duncan completed an impressive first half performance as he took his personal tally to four goals with efforts on 34, 35 and 42 minutes. Trailing 7-0 at the break, Inverness must have feared the worst but they rallied and a second Ewen Fraser goal on the hour and a second from Kenny Cushnie on 66 minutes made the final score 9-0.
Caberfeidh 9 Lewis Camanachd 0 The Caberfeidh second team were convincing 9-0 winners over Lewis Camanachd at Castle Leod. Declan Wilson was banned for Cabers whilst the visitors were still without Daniel Gallagher who is recovering from a broken hand. Gavin McLaughlan gave Cabers a 4 minute lead and Stuart Krzyzanowski made it 2-0 on 19 minutes. Lewis fought back and forced a series of corners but although Donald Lamont and Kenny Murray had shots on target, they were unable to beat the keeper. Gavin McLaughlan and Stuart Krzyzanowski combined to leave Cabers 4-0 up at half-time. McLaughlan got his side’s third goal on the half-hour mark when his shot took a wicked bounce past Eoghan Stewart in the Lewis goal. Stuart Krzyzanowski added a fourth on 43 minutes. Gavin McLaughlan completed his hat-trick a couple of minutes after the restart to make it 5-0 although the final touch may have come off Lewis keeper Eoghan Stewart. Colin MacLennan added two more goals on 54 and 60 minutes to complete his hat-trick and make it 7-0. Stuart Krzyzanowski then completed his hat-trick when he scored on 67 minutes. Colin MacLennan became the third player in this match to record a hat-trick with a goal 8 minutes from time. The match was refereed by former Strathglass boss Brian MacKay.
Boleskine P Kilmallie P The match between Boleskine and the Kilmallie second team at Smith Park was postponed at Kilmallie’s request because of the passing of their President Ewen Bowman.
Strathspey Camanachd P Glengarry P There was disappointment for Strathspey Camanachd and Glengarry as their 1.30pm throw up at Grantown Grammar School was postponed because of an unplayable field.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Bute 4 Oban Lorn 0 The Bute colts beat Oban Lorn at the Meadows. Oban Lorn were minus the suspended Calum MacLean and they played the match a couple of players short. The visitors cause wasn’t helped when they lost a second player, this time through injury, during the first half. Willie Lawrence on 28 minutes and Craig Fisher a minute before the break counted for Bute in the first half. Neil McKirdy scored twice in the second half. His first came a minute after and his second was notched 10 minutes from time to make it 4-0 and give Bute boss David Kilpatrick a winning start to the season.
Tayforth 6 Aberdour 0 Tayforth beat the Aberdour seconds 6-0 at Levenhall Links. Guy Berg got Tayforth off to a terrific start with a goal after just 4 minutes. Orsten Gardner made it 2-0 on 10 minutes and Conor Sweeney added a third just 60 seconds later. Tayforth were out of sight when former hurler Brendan Duggan made it 4-0 on 16 minutes and Orsten Gardiner made it 5-0 on 22 minutes. The young Aberdour side fared better after that and it was 3 minutes from time before former Newtonmore man Orsten Gardiner completed his hat-trick to make it 6-0.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 5 Dunoon 0 Dunoon and the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team were scheduled to meet in a noon throw up at the Dunoon Stadium. However the match was switched to Yoker with a 3pm throw up. The league’s new boys had a difficult start as Andy Mathie after 10 minutes and Connor MacLeod on 20 minutes had them 2-0 ahead at the break. When referee Robert Baxter pointed to the penalty spot on 50 minutes, Luke Thornton stepped up to convert. Connor MacLeod got his second and GMA’s fourth 10 minutes after the restart. A second Andy Mathie strike on 70 minutes made it 5-0 and completed a good day for GMA. Dunoon’s Jonathan Black was sent off by referee Robert Baxter.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently. The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available) |