The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 6 October 2018 | |
07 October 2018 Skye Camanachd are relegated after just one season in the top flight, Inveraray won promotion to the Marine Harvest Premiership, the Kyles Athletic seconds, Bute and Lochside Rovers are all in contention in the Marine Harvest South Division 1 title race and Skye Camanachd Ladies clinched a third successive Marine Harvest National Division 1 title following the shinty action on Saturday 6 October 2018.
Marine Harvest Premiership Oban Camanachd 4 Skye Camanachd 3 Skye Camanachd went into their meeting with Oban Camanachd at Mossfield knowing they needed a convincing win to boost their top flight survival chances. They battled hard throughout but it was Oban Camanachd who took the honours as a hat-trick from Scotland hopeful Andrew MacCuish helped them to a 4-3 win. Oban Camanachd’s Daniel Cameron suffered a knock in the defeat to Newtonmore two weeks earlier and he failed to recover in time for this one. Aidan MacIntyre and Scott MacKillop were both unavailable but Craig MacDougall was free of suspension and started on the bench whilst Keith MacMillan also returned. Connor Howe was missing and Gavin Stobbart was an outfield substitute. Skye keeper Iain MacLeod returned after missing the last two matches through work commitments which was fortuitous as second team goalie Ryan Morrison was on holiday. Kenny Campbell was unavailable whilst Daniel Morrison was out after suffering a broken thumb in the win over Caberfeidh a week earlier. Ross Gordon and Chris Rose were added to the travelling squad. Oban Camanachd took the lead on 14 minutes. A Scott MacMillan hit-in from the stand-side of the ground bounced to the back of the D where Willie Neilson caught the ball well, hammering it into the roof of the net from 12 yards out. Skye levelled on 21 minutes when James Pringle went on a 20 yard solo run right through on goal before tucking the ball home. The Islanders took the lead on the half-hour when Ruaraidh MacLeod and Daniel Sloss challenged for a ball in the air. Sloss slipped and MacLeod turned away and his 15 yard, head-high shot flew past Oban Camanachd keeper Cameron Sutherland on his right side. However Andrew MacCuish ensured the sides would go into the break on level terms when he steered a ball in the air, which had come off the keeper, into the net following a goalmouth scramble. Skye goalie Iain MacLeod made good saves from Andrew MacCuish and Willie Neilson in the first half whilst Oban Camanachd custodian Cameron Sutherland did well to prevent Ruaraidh MacLeod from getting a second. Andrew MacCuish got his second goal of the game on 53 minutes when he ran onto a Daniel MacVicar pass to the right of the circle. MacCuish struck the ball on his right side from 15 yards on the angle, sending it into the top corner of the net to make it 3-2. With Scotland manager Garry Reid finalising his international squad, Andrew MacCuish picked a good time to complete his hat-trick with the goal coming from the penalty spot just 6 minutes later. MacCuish ran the ball into the D but was bumped over and referee David Mitchell pointed to the spot after consulting the goal judge. MacCuish struck the penalty low to the keeper’s left and although Iain MacLeod got a foot to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out. Skye sent out a quick response as Ruaraidh MacLeod got his second goal of the afternoon just a minute later. MacLeod picked the ball up out on the wing and ran with it for 30 yards before reaching the penalty spot where he struck the ball inside the side-netting to make it 4-3. Skye had the chance to level when they were awarded a penalty after a home player had fallen on the ball. Will Cowie hit the penalty well-enough, low and hard to the keeper’s left, but Cameron Sutherland made a great save with a combination of his foot and stick keeping the ball out. Both sides could have been better defensively throughout the game but Oban Camanachd saw out the closing stages to take the points although few would have grudged Skye a draw. This was a final match in charge for Oban Camanachd manager Ian Hay who has led the side for the last three and a half seasons. “It’s a strange not to be manager anymore and I’ve got mixed feelings about that to be honest,” Hay said the following day. “Our season has tended to go on until November in recent times so it also feels like an early finish too. I’ll readjust though and I just need a bit of a break but I’m sure I’ll be back in some capacity further down the line. “It was good to sign off with a win and we’ve finished in the top half of the league. We only lost five times in the league – mostly when we’ve had players missing - but our five draws cost us a higher placed finish. “There is a good squad there for the new manager though with some very promising young players so the future’s bright.” Skye are also on the managerial hunt. John MacLeod stepped down in mid-September with his assistants Donnie “Digg” MacDonald and Iain “Dowel” MacLeod seeing the team through the final three matches of the season.
Kingussie 1 Kinlochshiel 1 Kinlochshiel remain in the race for a second placed finish after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Kingussie in their 1pm throw up at the Dell. The sides served up an entertaining goalless draw at Kirkton a fortnight earlier and they had to settle for a share of the spoils in this one too. Kingussie had Fraser Munro, Louis Munro and Calum Grant back but they were without Lee Bain. ‘Shiel keeper Scott Kennedy suffered a back injury in the previous week’s win over Lovat so his brother Graham Kennedy took over in goal. Ali Nixon missed out with a hamstring problem but defenders David Falconer and Mark MacDonald returned. There was an end of season feel about the first half but Kingussie went up the gears before the end of the half, helped by the introduction of Fraser Munro for Rory MacGregor on 27 minutes and then Louis Munro for Savio Genini at the break which strengthened their midfield. And the Kings made a good start to the second half with Ruaridh Anderson putting them in front on 53 minutes. Rory MacKeachan won possession down the left side and he played a long ball to Liam Borthwick at wing forward. Borthwick controlled the ball and switched it to the other wing where Ruaridh Anderson had just been switched to the wing forward position. Anderson rolled Mark MacDonald and let the ball run by him before shooting on his back-hand from about 10 yards range and the ball went through the keeper’s legs and into the net. Kingussie looked to add to their lead whilst their defence of Robert Mabon, Rory MacKeachan and Calum Grant and Alexander Michie kept the visiting attackers at bay. However the Kings were hit by a sucker-punch on 69 minutes when a speculative effort from Oliver MacRae was saved by home keeper Craig Dawson but the rebound fell for John MacRae found the net to make it 1-1. This was Kingussie’s final game of the season whilst Kinlochshiel complete their campaign at home to Caberfeidh this coming Saturday.
Lochaber 3 Kyles Athletic 6 Kyles Athletic remain on course for a second placed finish after they beat Lochaber 6-3 at Spean Bridge. This was Lochaber’s final game this term and they hadn’t played for four weeks when they lost out to Kingussie. Kevin Ferguson and Martin Johnstone missed that game as they served one-match suspensions however they were both free for this one. Danny Delaney was banned as he began a two-match suspension for his red card in that game. Kyles Athletic’s Grant Irvine returned but keeper John Whyte was unavailable so one of shinty’s greats, Kenny MacDonald, made a comeback between the sticks. Indeed Kyles travelled with just twelve players and they suffered a blow when an injury to Gordon Whyte early in the first half meant he had to come off so the visitors played the remainder of the match with just eleven players. Shaun Nicolson scored twice for Lochaber with Findlay MacDonald getting the other. However doubles from Robbie MacLeod and Calum Miller, who was switched up front after suffering a leg knock, and goals from Sandy MacKenzie and Grant Irvine gave Kyles a 6-3 win. Kyles Athletic welcome bottom side Glenurquhart to Tighnabruaich this Saturday in what is both teams final game of the season. A win guarantees Kyles another second placed finish.
Marine Harvest Premiership Beauly 1 Inveraray 3 Inveraray return to the Marine Harvest Premiership following a three year absence after they came from a goal down to beat Beauly 3-1 at Braeview Park. Inveraray went into the game on a four match winning run and they knew a point was all that was required to pip Fort William for second place in the Division. Beauly on the other hand had only taken one point from their last four outings but were keen to finish their season on a high. Beauly were missing Ryan Tillman and Liam Girvan whilst Inveraray were without Hamish McLennan. The home side made the perfect start, taking the lead on 2 minutes. A ball out of the Inveraray defence went to Beauly’s who found Jack MacDonald and he flicked the ball past Scott MacLachlan in the Inveraray goal to make it 1-0. Inveraray certainly had plenty of time to recover the situation and Neil Campbell hit the post whilst Josh Grant in the Beauly goal made a fine double save to deny first Garry MacPherson and then Fraser Watt from the rebound. Beauly took their single goal lead into the break and Inveraray now only had 45 minutes to get the goal they needed to secure promotion. Inveraray player / manager Ruaraidh Graham made an important tactical switch, going to a diamond formation in attack, and the Winterton side drew level just 3 minutes after the restart. Garry MacPherson sent the ball forward from the middle of the park and Lewis MacNicol got away from his marker before sending a 20 yard shot into the net to make it 1-1. The goal eased the pressure on Inveraray and they took the lead from the penalty spot on 59 minutes. Neil Campbell was felled by Calum Morrison and referee Steven MacLachlan pointed to the spot. Fraser Watt took responsibility and he made no mistake. Fraser Watt then turned provider as he found Lewis MacNicol who scored for the second time to make it 3-1 with 75 minutes on the clock. Inveraray were in no mood to rest on their two-goal cushion and Garry MacPherson took on the Beauly defence before hitting the post whilst substitute Douglas Dando, on for Neil Campbell, saw a shot beat Josh Grant and hit the inside of the post before rolling across the goal line and hitting the inside of the opposite post without crossing the line. Inveraray will now play top flight shinty for the first time since 2015, beating Fort William to the second promotion place by a single point. This was the final match of the season for both teams and it brought the Marine Harvest National Division programme to a close.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Kinlochshiel 0 Glenurquhart 7 The Glenurquhart second team avoided relegation to Marine Harvest North Division 2 at Aberdeen University’s expense as they beat the Kinlochshiel second team 7-0 at Kirkton. Whilst six placed ‘Shiel were already safe, the Glen knew that their goal difference was such that they had to win this one to avoid the drop. ‘Shiel were missing keeper Graham Kennedy who was on first team duty so Ali Nixon, who didn’t travel with the seniors as he was nursing a hamstring injury, deputised in goal. The Glen were without Jed Stoddart, Ryan Porter, Cameron MacKintosh and Finlay Ralston. Brothers Finlay, Liam and Fergus Robertson played and Euan Lloyd featured for the second successive match, turning in a man of the match performance at full centre. Neale Reid’s strength and ability caused ‘Shiel problems throughout and some rasping shots earned him a hat-trick. Christopher Mack scored twice with Cairn Urquhart and Lewis MacDonald getting the others. The win completed the Marine Harvest North Division 2 programme and means Glenurquhart leap-frog Aberdeen University who drop into North 2 next season.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Bute 0 Kyles Athletic 0 The match of the day in Marine Harvest South Division 1 was the top of the table clash which saw league leaders Kyles Athletic seconds travel to the Meadows to face second placed Bute. This 2pm throw up was the penultimate match of the season for both sides and they drew 0-0 when they met at Tighnabruaich at the end of August. Bute, who have Marine Harvest National Division aspirations, probably had the better chances but they couldn’t find the net so both teams had to settle for a share of the points. Bute remain a point behind the Kyles seconds with both teams having just one match remaining. Kyles have a tough final fixture, away to reigning champions Lochside Rovers, this coming Saturday. Lochside are still in the title race but a Kyles win from that clash at Mossfield will take the title to Tighnabruaich. Bute finish their season at Taynuilt on the same day and if they win and Kyles and Lochside draw, the title could be decided on goal difference.
Aberdour 2 Lochside Rovers 3 Lochside Rovers showed that they won’t give up their title easily when they fought off Aberdour to win 3-2 at Silversands. A mixture of injuries and holiday plans meant Lochside travelled with just twelve players so they will be delighted to return to Oban with both points. With keepers Gavin Stobbart, Dougie MacDonald, Brian MacCallum and Sarah-Jane Ferguson all unavailable, manager Gareth Evans went in goal. Veterans David Devine and Johnny Campbell were registered in time to play and the latter started in attack alongside son Ross Campbell. It was a beautiful day for a game of shinty and Lochside went in front when David Devine, who led the line well throughout, sent a low shot into the net. However Tom Aitchison levelled just 3 minutes before the break. Aitchison struck a 30 yard shot and although keeper Evans got his hand to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out. It was an even first half and Lochside manager Gareth Evans made changes at the break with Michael MacQueen going from centre to attack and Ross Campbell switching in the opposite direction. The hosts went in front on the hour when full forward David MacKenzie turned marker Ewen MacCorquodale and his strike found the net off the keeper’s out-stretched leg. Michael MacQueen went close on a couple of occasions before seeing a shot saved on 72 minutes but Johnny Campbell scored from the rebound to make it 2-2. The winning goal came with just 10 minutes remaining. Michael MacQueen made the difference as he squeezed the ball home at the near post with the ball going in off the keeper’s chest. Lochside, with Keith Burnett excellent in defence, had to battle all the way and they are on a terrific run with eleven wins and a draw from their last twelve matches. The victory sets up a cracking clash with the Kyles Athletic seconds, who the Oban side have already beaten three times this season, at Mossfield this coming Saturday with everything to play for as these sides, along with Bute, take the title race to the wire. Aberdour end the season in fourth position.
Tayforth 1 Inveraray 0 An early Finlay Stark goal was all that separated Tayforth and the Inveraray second team at Levenhall Links. Tayforth fielded a strong team and they had Niall MacPhee in the middle of the park where he had a good battle with Inveraray’s David MacPherson. The only goal of the game came on 13 minutes when the hosts won possession and Finlay Stark showed some fine dribbling skills before producing a neat finish. There were other good contests such as between Aberdour full back Donald Clark and Inveraray full forward John Mackenzie. Inveraray just lacked the killer touch in front of goal and the victory takes Tayforth off the bottom of the table at Kilmory’s expense.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Inverness 3 Lochcarron 0 The Inverness second team recorded just their second league win of the season when they defeated Lochcarron 3-0 at the Bught Park. Finlay Calder gave Inverness the lead after 10 minutes whilst Rory MacLennan added a second 10 minutes before the break. Finlay Calder got his second on 70 minutes to secure the 3-0 win.
Strathspey Camanachd W/O v Lochaber Strathspey Camanachd were given a walk-over when the Lochaber reserves were unable to raise a team for their 1.30pm throw up at Grantown Grammar School.
Kilmallie P Beauly P The meeting between the Kilmallie colts and the Beauly colts at the Canal Parks has been rescheduled for Saturday 27 October 2018.
WCA Round Up Skye Camanachd drew 5-5 with Badenoch & Strathspey to secure the point they required to again win the WCA Marine Harvest National Division 1 championship following the weekend shinty action.
Marine Harvest National Division 1 Skye Camanachd 5 Badenoch & Strathspey 5 Skye Camanachd were crowned Marine Harvest National Division 1 champions for the third successive season after they drew 5-5 with title challengers Badenoch & Strathspey at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye went into the match with a two-point lead courtesy of their 3-1 victory when the sides met at the Dell earlier in the season. They required a point to again finish top of the pile whilst a Badenoch win would force a play-off at Balgate the following Saturday as goal difference isn’t considered. The sides met in the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final at the Dell in early September with Badenoch running out 4-1 winners. Badenoch & Strathspey Head Coach Scott Campbell and his assistant Iain Robinson named an unchanged starting ten. Skye Camanachd Head Coach Robbie Gordon made just one change from that day with Ilana Paterson starting in preference to Jenna Beaton. A good crowd gathered for the match and there was a short delay ahead of throw up when Badenoch keeper Elizabeth MacGregor was hit in the eye by the ball during the warm-up. However the Scotland keeper was able to play as her side made a storming start to the match. Badenoch, playing towards the Viewfield end of the ground, attacked from the throw up and, with less than a minute gone, Kirsty Deans exchanged passes with Zoe Reid before cutting in from the left and tucking the ball low into the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Badenoch went back on the attack but Skye settled into the match and Sarah Corrigall played in Lorna MacRae for the Islanders’ first chance but she sent the effort past the keeper’s right post. However Sarah Corrigall pulled Skye level on 8 minutes. Caitlin MacLean caused panic in the Badenoch defence after she got away from Jeanette MacGregor and Corrigall forced a rebound home, low into the net, to make it 1-1. Sarah-Jane Ferguson made a good save with her feet from Mairi Stewart’s low shot and the Skye keeper did well to get the ball out for a corner under pressure from Zoe Reid. Badenoch made positional changes with Jeanette MacGregor going to full forward and Kirsty Deans going to full centre whilst Skye replaced Helen Lamond with Katherine Dibble although Lamond later returned to the action. Sarah Corrigall made space to create a shooting chance midway through the first half but her effort went over the top whilst, at the other end, Sarah-Jane Ferguson made a good save with her foot to deny Jeanette MacGregor. The end to end nature of the contest continued with Sarah Corrigall shooting wide soon after. With the rain starting to fall, Deans was becoming increasingly influential and Badenoch took the initiative, scoring two goals in two minutes. They regained the lead on 22 minutes when Jeanette MacGregor played in Zoe Reid and she fired low into the net from the inside right channel. The Badenoch support had hardly finished celebrating when Jeanette MacGregor made it 3-1 just a minute later. A driving Kirsty Deans run created the chance and MacGregor gave the keeper no chance with a fierce drive from left of the penalty spot. Skye needed a goal and Sarah Corrigall got them back on track on 28 minutes. There seemed little danger when Corrigall gathered the ball on the left but she skipped past he marker and ran into the D before finishing confidently. Skye replaced Izzy Law with Jenna Beaton and Lorna MacRae dropped back into midfield. Sarah-Jane Ferguson made a great save with her right hand to parry a Rhona MacIntyre drive from distance and the visitors had to settle for a corner. Keeper Ferguson then got her body behind a powerful Mairi Stewart shot. Badenoch made their first change as Katie Falconer took over in attack from Jeanette MacGregor. With no further scoring at the end of the first 40 minutes, Badenoch took their 3-2 lead into the break. Badenoch made a lively start to the second period and Katie Falconer ran at the Skye defence before shooting over the top. Skye settled though and a Caitlin MacLean ball from wide on the right dipped just over the bar. Sarah-Jane Ferguson was the busier of the two keepers and she turned a Katie Falconer effort from a tight angle away for a corner. The game was being played at a terrific pace and Jeanette MacGregor came back on for Badenoch. A good shot from Mairi Stewart produced another fine Sarah-Jane Ferguson save and Skye’s Helen Lamond limped off before the resulting corner could be taken with Katherine Dibble coming back on. Sarah Corrigall completed her hat-trick to make it 3-3 on 55 minutes. The goal came following a good passing move involving Ilana Paterson, Lorna MacRae and Caitlin MacLean. Skye immediately replaced Jenna Beaton with Abby MacLean. The Badenoch goal survived a scare after a Lorna MacRae run had stretched the visiting defence but they managed to scramble the ball away. Ilana Paterson, who had a good game throughout, came off in preference to Holly MacLean but, just seconds later, Badenoch got themselves back in front when Mairi Stewart’s low shot from the right deceived the Skye keeper and crossed the line to make it 4-3. Badenoch now knew that, if they could stay in front for the remaining 19 minutes, they would force a title play-off. A couple of minutes later, Sarah-Jane Ferguson stretched high to her right, making a brilliant save with her hand to keep out a Mairi Stewart shot as Badenoch went for the kill. Sarah-Jane Ferguson was now standing between Skye falling further behind as she made an astonishing reflex save to turn away a point-blank Kirsty Deans piledriver over the top of the bar with her club and the Badenoch player dropped to her knees in disbelief. There was a heart in the mouth job moment for the Skye support as keeper Ferguson then missed a ball into the D but she was able to turn and sweep the ball away before it crossed the goal line. Elizabeth MacGregor had to come off her line to play the ball out for a corner after Lorna MacRae had run into the D from the middle of the park. Skye keeper Ferguson saved with her feet from Zoe Reid and she got the ball away for a corner before Jeanette MacGregor could profit. Katherine Dibble suffered a knock and again switched places with Helen Lamond. Badenoch were now just 7 minutes away from earning a title play-off. However Skye levelled for a third time on 73 minutes when Caitlin MacLean’s speculative effort from wide on the right ended up in the net, past an unsighted keeper, to make it 4-4. Badenoch went back on the attack and another outstanding Sarah-Jane Ferguson stop saw her use her caman to foil Kirsty Deans whose shot was heading for the roof of the net. Ferguson then made a smart double-save to keep out efforts from Mairi Stewart and Jeanette MacGregor before Helen Lamond cleared the danger and Skye broke forward. Caitlin MacLean played the ball to Abby Maclean and she found Sarah Corrigall who gave Skye breathing space as she scored her fourth goal of the game, after her initial effort had been blocked, to make it 5-4 with 75 minutes played. Skye were now ahead for the first time in the match and there were only 5 minutes remaining. Elizabeth MacGregor then made a double from Sarah Corrigall and then Lorna MacRae as Skye tried to extend their lead. Katie Falconer sent the ball past the post as Badenoch refused to accept defeat. Lorna MacRae, who unusually hadn’t scored in the game, sent a shot just over the top. The game took another twist in the final minute. Sarah-Jane Ferguson saved with her legs from Mairi Stewart and, from the resulting corner on the left, the ball came across to Kirsty Deans at the back of the D and she struck the ball waist-high across the keeper to make it 5-5. Badenoch still needed another goal to force a play-off but there was no time and referee John Matheson’s final whistle sparked joyous celebrations in the Skye camp. John Angus Gillies from sponsors Marine Harvest presented the Marine Harvest National Division 1 trophy to Skye captain Lorna MacRae in front of a delighted Skye support.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 Ardnamurchan 1 Ardnamurchan recorded a good 1-0 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll in their 1.30pm throw up at Yoker. The match was played in difficult conditions and Ardnamurchan’s Hannah MacDonald scored the goal that separated the sides. The win completes Ardnamurchan’s first season in the top flight and, to their credit, they have fulfilled all their fixtures.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Glengarry beat Inverness 6-4 at the Bught Park. A Katie McMillian hat-trick and Amber MacKay counted for Inverness but Elaine Cameron hit four and Leona Falconer bagged a brace to give ‘Garry the win.
Lovat were too strong for Strathglass, winning 13-0 at Cannich. Fiona Urquhart scored eight times with Laura Gallacher netting twice. Ellie Mackinnon, Caroline MacLean and Yvonne Stoddart also scored.
Kinlochshiel were 3-0 winners against the Skye Camanachd second team. The match was scheduled for Kirkton but was switched to the Plockton astro because of the poor weather. Isabelle MacKenzie scored twice and Eilidh MacInnes got the other.
Glenurquhart W/O v Lochaber The Lochaber second team were unable to field a team for their match against Glenurquhart at Blairbeg so the Glen were awarded the points. However Glenurquhart played a friendly match against a Lochaber side after which Marine Harvest’s Iain Roberts presented Glenurquhart captain Siobhan Thomson with the Marine Harvest North Division 2 trophy.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report states differently) |