The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 6 June 2015 | |
07 June 2015 The wet weather may have taken its toll but the remaining three SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter-finalists are now known following the shinty action on Saturday 6 June 2015.
SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Second Round Kingussie 1 Fort William 2 SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup holders Kingussie are out of this year’s tournament after they lost 2-1 to Fort William at the Dell. The sides had drawn 0-0 at An Aird a week earlier and Kingussie were along usual lines. Fort William had full centre Niall MacPhee back for this replay but the tie came too soon for Calum Shepherd who remained out with a sore hamstring. Fort William took the lead after 6 minutes when Ewan Campbell continued his good scoring run. However Louis Munro equalised for the Kings on 28 minutes when he turned away from his maker to get on the end of a free-hit from the wing and his shot which took a wicked bounce, wrong-footing Fort keeper Paul MacKay. The winning goal came on 39 minutes. Gordie MacKinnon was the architect as he ran at the Kingussie defence, taking on three players in the process. MacKinnon slipped the ball across goal from a tight angle and, with the Kingussie defence trying desperately to clear the ball, Ewan Campbell nipped in to make it 2-1 with his second goal of the afternoon. Kingussie had chances to draw level for a second time but they found Paul MacKay in good form. Fort William did just enough to win the tie over the two matches and they will now travel to Balgate to play Lovat in the quarter-final stage.
Beauly 0 Skye Camanachd 1 Skye Camanachd are through to the SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter-finals after they beat Beauly 1-0 in their 3pm throw up at Braeview Park. The tie was originally scheduled for Pairc nan Laoch, Portree but the heavy rain overnight left the Portree pitch unplayable and the tie was transferred to Beauly’s Braeview Park pitch. This tie had been scheduled to take place a week earlier after Beauly’s request for a postponement to allow several of their players to cheer on Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup Final was granted. The Braeview pitch was in great condition on a day that many games on the fixture schedule were either postponed or switched to other grounds. Skye were without the injured Shockie MacLennan and Iain Nicolson whilst forwards Danny Morrison and Kenny MacLeod were also missing. Skye started with a strong breeze in their favour and they created four excellent opportunities in the first 9 minutes but they were unable to score. The Skye forwards continued to move the ball about well and there was a degree of frustration that they couldn’t find a first half goal. The closest they came was a Jordan Murchison shot which rattled the crossbar. Skye faced a slightly weakened wind in the second half and Jordan Murchison forced a good stop from Beauly goalie Josh Grant on the hour mark. Skye pressed following the resultant corner and Allan MacKinnon, who has been threatening a goal for a few weeks now, found just enough space to drive a great strike home to make it 1-0 with 61 minutes played. Beauly fought back into the contest and they started to take the game to Skye. Visiting goalie Iain MacLeod pulled off a terrific save as he turned the ball over the top for a corner. Skye's Steven Morrison, who commanded the defence well, was fortunate not to find himself on the scoresheet for all the wrong reasons when he raised his caman to stop a Beauly shot only to see the rebound clatter off the Skye crossbar. Beauly finished the tie with a sustained period of pressure on the Skye goal and the final whistle was a welcome sound for the Skye support. Skye will now travel to Tighnabruaich on Saturday 11 July 2015 to play Kyles Athletic in the last eight of shinty’s top competition.
Inverness 0 Oban Camanachd 6 Oban Camanachd were 6-0 winners over Inverness at the Bught Park outside pitch. There was a switch of venues on Saturday morning as Mossfield was deemed unplayable so Oban Camanachd headed for the Bught Park for a 2pm throw up. This tie had also been put back a week after the Inverness club’s request for a postponement to allow several of their players to cheer on Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup Final was granted. Ironically, after agreeing to their ties being delayed a week, both Oban Camanachd and Skye Camanachd were forced to give up home advantage on the rescheduled dates and travel to their opponents ground. Davie Glass was suspended for Inverness who were also without Craig Nicolson who was on holiday and former Oban Camanachd player Matt Rippon. Somhairle MacDonald was suffering from a hamstring injury so he played in goal in place of the unavailable Adam MacMaster. Oban Camanachd led 3-0 at half-time with Lorn Dickie putting them ahead on 38 minutes. Aidan MacIntyre made it 2-0 on 44 minutes with Lorn Dickie getting his second on the stroke of full time. It was hard luck on Inverness who had defended well for most of the half. There was no hold back Oban Camanachd though and the Oban side scored three more times in the second half. Andrew MacCuish added a fourth just 3 minutes after the restart and he also got the fifth before Aidan MacIntyre got his second to make it 6-0. Oban Camanachd will now host Newtonmore at Mossfield in the last eight of this year’s competition.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – First Round Kilmallie 4 Kinlochshiel 1 Marine Harvest National Division side Kilmallie are the last team through to the Artemis Macaulay Cup quarter-finals after they beat Kilmallie from the Marine Harvest Premiership 4-1 at Blairbeg. The match was originally scheduled for the Canal Parks but an unplayable field led to the venue switch. Defender Alan MacDonald and forward Liam MacDonald both missed out for Mark MacPherson’s Kilmallie side as they were on holiday for this 3pm throw up. Peter Carmichael was a last minute call off too so boss Mark MacPherson named himself on the substitutes’ bench. Injury deprived Kinlochshiel of the services of play-maker Keith MacRae and full back Paul MacRae. Calum MacLean was also missing as was keeper Scott Kennedy so reserve keeper Iain Cameron was between the sticks. ‘Shiel’s Oliver MacRae was free of his one match suspension. Kilmallie, who hadn’t played in three weeks, suffered an early blow when Seb Macmillan had to go off for treatment to face knock. Bryan MacKay, who was a late call up since the Kilmallie second team game was off, replaced him. MacKay made an early impact when his 16 minute corner found Michael Rodger free at the back post and he finished well from 10 yards, giving ‘Shiel keeper Iain Cameron no chance. Jordan Fraser sent a shot wide for ‘Shiel whilst his team-mate John MacRae forced Kilmallie keeper Shane Gillies to turn one effort away for a corner and with no further scoring, Kilmallie took their 1-0 lead into the break. The Canal Parks side doubled their advantage with the second half just 3 minutes old. Michael Rodger was again the scorer and with a defender either side of him as he made his way into the D, he produced a great flick to send the ball into the top corner of the net to make it 2-0. Bryan MacKay, who had a great game, gave Kilmallie breathing space when he made it 3-0 on 55 minutes. MacKay collected a through ball and he rounded the keeper and finished well. ‘Shiel knew they were now up against it and their manager Colin Fraser introduced Gordie MacDonald and Fraser MacVicar in place of Duncan “Ach” MacRae and Alasdair Nixon. They did manage to get the ball in the net but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside as the ball had gone out of play prior to being crossed into the D. Duncan “Ach” MacRae, who was now back on in place of Jordan Fraser, pulled a goal back on 72 minutes to make it 3-1. However it was to be Kilmallie’s day and John Stewart rounded off the win 5 minutes from time when he stopped a goal hit from the ‘Shiel full back and hit a low shot past keeper Cameron into the net to make it 4-1. In the end, Kilmallie took their chances and that made the difference. ‘Shiel had a lot of possession, and their fair share of pressure but they were unable to convert this into goals. Kilmallie will now host Newtonmore in the quarter-finals.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – Quarter Final Inveraray P Kyles Athletic P The derby last eight tie between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic was postponed as the Winterton was unplayable and switching the tie to Tighnabruaich was not an option. The tie will be rescheduled for a later date.
Marine Harvest National Division Newtonmore 4 Lochaber 0 Newtonmore and Lochaber met for the second successive Saturday, with Newtonmore winning 4-0 in their 2pm throw up at the Eilan. Newtonmore’s Glen MacKintosh was back in the side after missing last weekend’s 4-0 win at Spean Bridge and he made up for lost time by opening the scoring after 19 minutes. Glen MacKintosh got his and Newtonmore’s second on 40 minutes with Fraser MacKintosh making it 3-0 on the stroke of half time. Paul MacArthur made it 4-0 with 5 minutes remaining and the win gives Newtonmore a two-point cushion at the top of the table. They also have two games in hand over second place Lovat. Kyles Athletic are three points behind ‘More in third place but they have played a game fewer than the reigning champions.
Marine Harvest National Division Glasgow Mid Argyll 6 Ballachulish 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll go top of the Marine Harvest National Division after they beat Ballachulish 6-0 in their 3pm throw up at Yoker. Ballachulish’s Scotland international John MacDonald was free from a four game ban’ However he picked up an injury playing football and will likely be out for a number of weeks. GMA made a great start to the game and they were 4-0 ahead within the first 20 minutes of the match. Andy Mathie gave them the lead on 6 minutes and Lewis Miller made it 2-0 on 14 minutes. Lewis Miller got his second goal on 18 minutes whilst Andy Mathie did like-wise a minute later to make it 4-0. Duncan MacDonald pulled a goal back a minute before the interval to make it 4-1. Late strikes from Mark Bain on 81 minutes and Jack Berg a minute from time completed the 6-1 win. GMA lead second place Kilmallie and third place Beauly by two points but the Canal Parks side have three games in hand whilst Beauly have played a game less than the Glasgow side.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Kingussie 3 Newtonmore 3 The reserve team Badenoch derby between Kingussie and Newtonmore ended 3-3 at the Dell on Friday 5 June 2015. A good-sized crowd gathered for this 7pm throw up. Newtonmore had the better of the first half and they led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Craig MacLeod and Iain Robinson. However Kingussie came roaring back in the second half and goals from Ruaridh Anderson, Kevin Thain and Russell Menzies turned the match on its head and gave them a 3-2 lead. The outcome was settled when referee Archie Ritchie awarded Newtonmore a penalty for a kick inside the D. Conor Jones’ low spot-hit was saved by Kings goalie Robert Shiells but Iain Robinson netted the rebound to make it 3-3. 16 year old Robert Shiells made some great saves throughout the game include a late stop from a blistering John MacKenzie shot. Newtonmore are now four points behind table toppers Fort William as the league approaches the half-way mark.
Lovat 1 Glenurquhart 3 Glenurquhart came out on top in the reserve team derby against Lovat; winning 3-1 at Balgate. Calum Smith gave the Glen the lead after 8 minutes with what was the only goal of the first half. Fraser Gallacher drew Lovat level on 54 minutes. However the home side only maintained parity for 60 seconds as Glen’s James MacPherson netted against his former side to make it 2-1 a minute later. Calum Smith got his second on 66 minutes to make it 3-1. The win means the Glen climb to third in the table.
Fort William P Strathglass P League leaders Fort William reserves missed out on the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table as their match against third place Strathglass was postponed on Saturday morning as An Aird was unplayable.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Aberdour 3 Taynuilt 3 Aberdour and Taynuilt shared the points in a 3-3 draw at Silver Sands. Taynuilt played with the win in their favour in the first half but Aberdour passed up some good chances to score, including a twice-taken penalty, and they were made to pay when Taynuilt rattled in three goals in the final 5 minutes of the half. Mark Begeant gave them the lead on 40 minutes. A Sam Evans own goal on 44 minutes and a Stuart Scott effort on the stroke of half-time gave the visitors a 3-0 lead. Aberdour didn’t let their heads drop though and Daniel Neilson got them back in the match with a terrific strike from distance which flew into the top corner of the net a minute after the restart. However it looked as if Taynuilt would take the points until Aberdour stuck twice in the last 3 minutes. Angus Thorburn made it 3-2 on 87 minutes and David Neilson got his second a minute later to make it 3-3. The point apiece sees Aberdour climb to seventh and Taynuilt move up to eighth in the league table.
Lochside Rovers P Kyles Athletic P The meeting between league leaders Lochside Rovers and the Kyles Athletic reserves was postponed on Saturday morning as Ganavan was unplayable.
Kilmory P Inveraray P The match between Kilmory and the Inveraray second team was postponed on Saturday morning as MacRae Park was flooded.
Glenorchy P Oban Celtic P The 3pm throw up between Glenorchy and Oban Celtic was called off on Saturday morning as Mart Park was unplayable.
Bute P Strachur P The 3pm throw up between Bute beat Strachur was postponed as the Meadows was deemed unplayable on Saturday morning and Strachur’s home pitch at Strachurmore was also unplayable which meant the tie couldn’t be switched. This will have been a particular disappointment for Strachur who had rallied to gather together a good squad for the game.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Strathspey Camanachd 1 Aberdeen University 4 Aberdeen University were the victors as they defeated Strathspey Camanachd 4-1 in their 1.30pm throw up at Grantown Grammar School. Kenny Cushnie put the Students ahead in the opening minute and Stuart Cameron added a second on 34 minutes. However Strathspey’s Graham Shand pulled a goal back a minute before half-time to give the home side hope. However two goals in the final 20 minutes clinched the win as Stuart Cameron got his second on 70 minutes and Mark Fraser made it 4-1 with just 9 minutes remaining. The Aberdeen side leap-frog the Kilmallie reserves into fourth place.
Lewis Camanachd 4 Inverness 1 Lewis Camanachd notched their first home league win of the season as they beat the Inverness reserves 4-1 at Shawbost. Lewis had Seumas Charity, Innes Lamont and Peter Gomez back in their squad. The Highland Capital side travelled with just twelve players and club President Peter Gow played the full match and he wasn’t even the oldest player in their side as Clive Girvan also played. At the other end of the age-scale, they also included two 13 year olds and a 14 year old. It was also a difficult journey for Inverness as they experienced a choppy crossing an a road block en-route. Lewis went in front when Ally Lamont forced what appeared to be an own goal. And Duncan MacIntyre made it 2-0 with his first goal since coming out of retirement. Former Inverness first team manager Allan MacLeod pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 at the break. Paddy Sinclair made it 3-1 following a goal-mouth scramble and Duncan MacIntyre got his second late in the game to make it 4-1 following a flowing move involving Connor Chalmers and Paul Duke. MacIntyre scored on the rebound after Chalmers’ initial effort was saved. This is Lewis Camanachd’s second league win of the season and they draw level on points with Boleskine and Strathspey Camanachd.
Skye Camanachd P Boleskine P The match between the Skye Camanachd and Boleskine was postponed on Friday 5 June 2015 as Skye’s Pairc nan Laoch pitch was ruled unable to take two games.
Lochaber P Kilmallie P The reserve team derby between Lochaber and Kilmallie was called off on Saturday morning as Spean Bridge was ruled unplayable for this noon throw up.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 2 Col Glen 2 The top two met in a noon throw up at Yoker as the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team and league leaders Col Glen shared the points following a 2-2 draw. Ewan MacFadyen and Lewis Miller were on target for the home team with Willie MacVicar and Stuart MacKellar scoring for the visitors. Col Glen stay top of the table with GMA two points behind in second place.
Ballachulish P Tayforth P The match between the Ballachulish seconds and Tayforth was postponed on Saturday morning as Jubilee Park was unplayable.
Bute P Oban Lorn P The Bute reserves Oban Lorne had their noon throw up at the Meadows postponed on Friday evening in an attempt to give the Bute first team match the following day a chance of going ahead.
Glenorchy P Aberdour P There was also disappointment for the Glenorchy and Aberdour second teams as there their noon meeting was postponed on Friday evening to give the Glenorchy first team match the following day a chance of going ahead.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless stated differently) (These reports will be updated as more information becomes available) |