The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 7 March 2015 | |
10 March 2015 The shinty season got off to a slow start as the weather decimated the fixture schedule with only five matches going ahead on Saturday 7 March 2015.
Marine Harvest Premiership Lovat 3 Lochaber 3 The match between Lochaber and Lovat was switched from an unplayable Spean Bridge to Balgate and this was the only top flight game to go ahead on the opening day of the season. Craig Mainland returned from injury for John MacRitchie’s Lovat side after coming through the friendly with Fort William unscathed. Graeme MacMillan remains sidelined through injury and Lorne MacKay and Martin Bell missed out through suspension. Lochaber boss Ally Ferguson was without the suspended Lachlan Campbell whilst Brian MacDonald was also banned. However a fit again Neil MacDonald started on the bench after he missed a large part of last season. The match was played on a bumpy surface which made it difficult for both sets of players. Lochaber played with the wind advantage in the first half but it was Lovat who took the lead on 23 minutes. Jamie Matheson managed to bring down a Calum MacDonald hit-out and his first time shot nestled in the back o0f the net to make it 1-0. Lochaber got back on level terms just 3 minutes later. Home goalie Stuart MacDonald fell on the ball in a muddy goal area and referee Innes Wood pointed to the penalty spot. Kevin Ferguson stepped up to slot the ball past Stuart MacDonald to make it 1-1. Lochaber had the better of the first half and it took a great Stuart MacDonald save from a Keven Ferguson effort a minute before the break to keep the scores even at half time. Lovat came back into it after the break and they went back in front on 65 minutes when Jamie Matheson got his second to put Lovat 2-1 ahead. Lewis Tawse played a good ball past Spean substitute Neil MacDonald and Matheson who calmly fired the ball past an on-rushing Calum MacDonald. However Lochaber have had a good pre-season and they enjoyed a period of pressure with 20 minutes remaining and Shaun Nicolson, who gave Calum Cruden a difficult time all afternoon, made it 2-2 on 73 minutes. A first goal at this level for Sandy Corrigan just 3 minutes later put Lochaber ahead for the first time in the match. Lovat were not to be denied though and with just 8 minutes remaining, Greg Matheson set up Kevin Bartlett and he scored from 18 yards to make it 3-3. Lovat were well-served by Drew Howie, Daniel Grieve and two-goal Jamie Matheson. Best for a resurgent Lochaber were Zandz Ferguson at buckshee back, Shaun Nicolson in attack and Neil MacDonald during his substitute appearance.
Newtonmore P Kyles Athletic P Champions Newtonmore will have to put their quest for six league titles in a row on hold as their opening day clash with Kyles Athletic was postponed as the Eilan was unplayable.
Glenurquhart P Kingussie P There was also no shinty action for Glenurquhart and Kingussie because of an unplayable Blairbeg pitch.
Oban Camanachd P Inveraray P The match between Oban Camanachd and Inveraray was postponed as Mossfield was ruled unplayable on Friday.
Fort William P Kinlochshiel P The game between Fort William and Kinlochshiel was postponed as An Aird was unplayable.
Marine Harvest National Division Skye Camanachd P Beauly P The meeting between Skye Camanachd and Beauly was postponed because of an unplayable pitch at Pairc nan Laoch.
Caberfeidh P Kilmallie P There was another postponement at Castle Leod where an unplayable pitch ruled out the of the match between Caberfeidh and Kilmallie.
Ballachulish P Inverness P An unplayable pitch at Jubilee Park led to the cancellation of the match between newly promoted sides Ballachulish and Inverness.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Beauly P Newtonmore P The game between the Beauly and Newtonmore reserve sides was called off as Brae View Park was unplayable.
Kinlochshiel P Fort William P The match between the Kinlochshiel and Fort William reserve teams was postponed as Kirkton was unplayable.
Strathglass P Lovat P There was also a call-off at Cannich as an unplayable pitch put paid to the match between Strathglass and the Lovat second string.
Kingussie P Glenurquhart P The contest between the Kingussie and Glenurquhart second teams was postponed as the Dell was unplayable.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Inveraray P Glenorchy P There was no shinty action for the Inveraray second team and Glenorchy as the Winterton was unplayable.
Bute P Lochside Rovers P Bute and Lochside Rovers will have rescheduled as the Meadows was deemed unplayable on Friday afternoon.
Kyles Athletic P Taynuilt P The match between the Kyles Athletic second team and Taynuilt was called off on Friday as the Tighnabruaich pitch was unplayable.
Oban Celtic P Kilmory P An unplayable field also put paid to the game between Oban Celtic and Kilmory.
Strachur 0 Aberdour 0 The game between Strachur and Aberdour was postponed as the pitch at Strachurmore was unplayable.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Boleskine 1 Skye Camanachd 5 The Skye Camanachd reserves recorded a 5-1 win over Boleskine at Smith Park, Farr. Boleskine were without Matthew Ross as the former Glengarry player was suspended. Skye included Shaun Hedley in his squad with the former first team player missing most of last season through work commitments. With the Skye first team match being postponed, young keeper Iain MacLeod travelled with the reserves as did defender Ally MacDonald. David Grant also travelled but he started on the bench. Boleskine won the toss of the coin and opted to play against the strong wind in the first half. Skye started brightly and they made the breakthrough on 16 minutes when Iain MacLellan took a shot from an angle and John Gillies was on hand to turn the ball into the net to make it 1-0. Skye doubled their advantage on 25 minutes when a long-range effort from Stewart Grant deceived the home keeper and the ball ended up in the net. John Gillies did make it 3-0 on 32 minutes with a neat finish from close range. Skye looked home and dry a minute later when some nice movement between John Gillies and John Angus MacInnes from a free-hit saw the latter firing a great shot into the top corner to make it 4-0 at the break. Skye made a good start to the second period, pressing Boleskine defence and John Gillies made it 5-0, firing home with a smart finish to complete his hat-trick. Boleskine pulled a goal back on 68 minutes through ex-Inverness player Scott Watson who made it 5-1.
Aberdeen University 4 Strathspey Camanachd 1 Aberdeen University made a winning start to the season as they beat Strathspey Camanachd 4-1 at Balgownie. The Students dominated the match in heavy conditions and new signing from Lochcarron, Kenny Cushnie put them ahead after just 6 minutes. Cushnie went on to complete his hat-trick with efforts on 41 and 48 minutes to make it 3-0. Lawrence Belleni was excellent for Strathspey and they got their reward when Matthew Davis netted 20 minutes from time. However substitute Iain Fraser was on hand on 78 minutes to seal a 4-1 win.
Glengarry P Caberfeidh P There was also disappointment for Glengarry and the Caberfeidh second team as an unplayable pitch at Craigard riled out their league meeting.
Kilmallie P Lochaber P The derby meeting between the Kilmallie and Lochaber reserve sides was postponed on Friday as the Canal Parks were ruled unplayable.
Inverness P Lewis Camanachd P The meeting between the Inverness reserves and Lewis Camanachd was postponed as the Bught Park outside pitch was ruled unplayable.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Aberdour 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 3 The Glasgow Mid Argyll reserves returned from Fife with both points as they beat the Aberdour second team 3-0 at Silver Sands. Lewis Miller, Ewan McFadyen and Calum McLay got the GMA goals. The match also marked a first game in charge at this level for referee Jon Gallagher.
Tayforth 4 Bute 5 The Bute seconds took the points, winning by the odd goal in nine against Tayforth at Musselburgh. Brendan Dougan, former Lochcarron player Finlay Stark, Jamie MacDonald and Dave Arnott got the Tayforth goals. However a James Dunn double, a Craig MacKay strike and a Neil McKirdy brace gave Bute a 5-4 win.
Col Glen P Oban Lorn P Oban Lorn’s return to senior shinty was put on hold as their a trip to Glendaruel to play Col Glen was postponed because of an unplayable field.
Glenorchy P Ballachulish P The reserve meeting between Glenorchy and Ballachulish was another match which fell foul of the weather as Mart Park was unplayable. The sides had looked at the possibility of rescheduling the match to Sunday 8 March but the wet weather thwarted their plans. |