Newtonmore continued on their winning ways and it’s all becoming a bit clearer at the bottom of the Marine Harvest Premiership following the shinty action on Saturday 8 October 2016.
Marine Harvest Premiership
Oban Camanachd 1 Newtonmore 5
Seven-time title winners Newtonmore turned in another good performance to beat second placed Oban Camanachd 5-1 in their 1pm throw up at Mossfield.
Oban Camanachd manager Iain Hay was without injured pair Garry Lord and David Lafferty but Scott MacKillop was free of suspension and he started in defence. Andrew MacCuish also returned to the Oban Camanachd starting line-up after missing the win over Lovat at Balgate a week earlier. Gary McKerracher was included after missing the Lovat game but he was named as one of the Oban Camanachd substitutes.
Newtonmore boss Paul John MacKintosh had Paul MacArthur free of a one match ban which saw him miss the previous weekend’s title-clinching 7-1 victory over Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. Neil Stewart was still injured whilst Michael Russell remained out after his move abroad.
Oban Camanachd shocked the champions by taking the lead after only 20 seconds. The ball was played up the line to Daniel MacVicar and he squared the ball to Malcolm Clark who was between the penalty spot and the D. Clark stopped the ball which allowed Andrew MacCuish to drive it into the bottom left corner of the net to make it 1-0.
It didn’t take Newtonmore long to regain their composure through and Evan Menzies found the back of the net with a half-volley after 7 minutes played which made it 1-1.
Norman Campbell scored twice in two minutes on 25 and 26 minutes to make it 3-1 as ‘More a grip of the game. Both goals were rebounds off Oban keeper Gavin Stobbart with Campbell reacting first off to knock the ball home. Keeper Gavin Stobbart could have expected more protection from his defenders.
Norman Campbell had the chance to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot. Evan Menzies had cut in from the wing, past Daniel Cameron, and he was brought down inside the D by goalie Stobbart and referee Deek Cameron pointed to the penalty spot. Campbell hit the penalty well enough but Stobbart made a good stop and the chance was gone.
Norman Campbell made amends when he completed his hat-trick with just a couple of first half minutes remaining. Campbell hit a low drive into the net from 10 yards out to make it 4-1.
The game went a bit flat in the second half and Newtonmore took the opportunity to give some of their young substitutes a chance.
Fraser MacKintosh completed the scoring on 78 minutes. Evan Menzies played the ball across the penalty area and MacKintosh finished accurately into the corner of the net past a helpless keeper.
The match completes Oban Camanachd’s league season. They are currently in second spot, two points ahead of third placed Kyles Athletic. However the Tighnabruaich side still has two matches left – away to Newtonmore this weekend and at home to Kingussie at the end of the month. A win in either game should see Kyles finish as runners up on goal difference but Oban Camanachd must be pleased with a season which has seen them consistently competing at the top end of the table as well as reaching the Camanachd Cup Final.
This was Newtonmore’s twelfth successive victory and they are determined to remain unbeaten for the rest of the season. They have dropped only one league point – away to Kyles Athletic who will visit the Eilan this coming Saturday. Newtonmore round off the season at home to Skye Camanachd when they will be presented with the Marine Harvest Premiership trophy.
Kinlochshiel 5 Skye Camanachd 0
Skye Camanachd’s top division survival hopes are hanging by a thread after they lost 5-0 to Kinlochshiel at Kirkton.
The sides had already met twice this season, drawing 1-1 in the league in Portree with Kinlochshiel winning 4-3 at the same venue on their way to lifting the Artemis MacAulay Cup.
Kinlochshiel manager Colin Fraser’s main absentee in recent weeks has been defender Conor Cormack but the former Beauly man made his return from a hand injury suffered in the Camanachd Cup semi-final defeat to Newtonmore eight weeks earlier. Cormack came into the defence in place of defender Mark MacDonald who was unavailable.
Skye manager John MacLeod was working so assistant managers Donnie MacDonald and Aonghas MacDonald took charge of the side. They were forced to make changes to the squad which beat Kingussie 2-1 a week earlier at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Top scorer Jordan Murchison was ruled out with a hamstring problem whilst Neil John Campbell had a knee injury – both suffered in the Kingussie match. However Steven Morrison returned to the defence whilst fellow defender Chris MacLennan was also back but he started on the bench.
Kinlochshiel made a strong start to the match with Skye looking shaky at the back. However Skye created the first real chance on 7 minutes when Iain Nicolson was unable to control a low Kenny Campbell cross from the left and the home defence cleared the danger.
Play quickly switched down the slope where John MacRae rounded Skye goalie Jamie Gannon but Steven Morrison got back onto the goal line to block MacRae’s goal-bound effort with his mid-rift.
Jamie Gannon had to move quickly to his left to keep out an Oliver MacRae snap-shot on 21 minutes.
Just a couple of minutes later, Skye lost wing back Ally “Spod” MacLeod with a suspected dislocated finger. Chris MacLennan came on at wing centre with Neil MacVicar dropping back into defence and Gilleasbuig MacDonald going to full centre.
‘Shiel were edging closer to the opening goal and Jamie Gannon used his caman to turn a Keith MacRae strike from the left away for a corner.
The home side went in front on 29 minutes when Keith MacRae played the ball down the right flank to John MacRae and he crossed to the back post where Jordan Fraser controlled the ball before stabbing it home at the second attempt.
Kinlochshiel went 2-0 ahead in controversial circumstances on 36 minutes. Jordan Fraser burst through the heart of the Skye defence, kicking the ball just before he took it round keeper Jamie Gannon to score. Goal Judge Eoghan Stewart flagged for the infringement but referee Evan MacRae judged that the kick was not deliberate and allowed the goal to stand to the fury of the Skye camp.
Skye went back up the park and, a couple of minutes later, a Will Cowie shot from the left flicked off the ground on the way across ‘Shiel keeper Scott Kennedy but the ball came back of the post.
Skye were forced into a second change a minute before the break when Gilleasbuig MacDonald was withdrawn with a shoulder injury and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod came on in his place.
There was a tousy start to the second half and both teams made changes around 10 minutes after the restart. John Don MacKenzie came on at wing centre for ‘Shiel whilst Skye made a positional switch with defender John Gillies and forward Iain Nicolson swapping roles.
Kinlochshiel added a third on 71 minutes when John MacRae was allowed too much space 15 yards from goal and his shot went into the corner of the net with Jamie Gannon stretching his foot to the right in vain.
Gordie MacDonald and Iain Nicolson were spoken to by referee Evan MacRae after a late spat but both got away with a warning.
Two late goals put gloss on the final score. First, a turn and shot from Duncan “DA” MacRae, on as a substitute for Alasdair Nixon, made it 4-0 with 81 minutes played.
Skye lost defender Steven Morrison with a foot injury and Iain Murray came on in his place.
Then, with a couple of minutes remaining, Jordan Fraser picked out Keith MacRae at the edge of the D and MacRae had time to pick his spot to make it 5-0.
Fourth placed Kinlochshiel’s final home league match of the season comes this weekend when fifth placed Lovat visit Kirkton.
Skye, who have a mounting injury list, have two matches remaining – at home to Fort William this coming weekend and away to Newtonmore at the end of the month – and they must win both to have a chance of escaping relegation back to the Marine Harvest National Division.
Kyles Athletic 4 Lochaber 1
Doubles from Gordon Whyte and Scott MacDonald helped Kyles Athletic to a 4-1 win over Lochaber at Tighnabruaich.
Kyles were still without the injured Grant Irvine as well as Roddy MacDonald and Dunkie Kerr and they only had one substitute. However Andrew King was back and he had an excellent game in the less familiar role of wing forward.
Lochaber travelled without keeper Callum MacDonald who was at defender Lachlan Campbell’s wedding in Mexico. Their other absentees included Martin Johnstone, Pat Toal and Zandz Ferguson. There was a debut in goal for Grant Matheson.
Gordon Whyte put Kyles in front on 7 minutes and Scott MacDonald made it 2-0 on 17 minutes
Shaun Nicolson pulled a goal back for Lochaber on 65 minutes when his well-stuck 20 yard shot nestled in the bottom corner of the net to make it 2-1.
However Kyles struck twice in the last 15 minutes to settle the outcome. Scott MacDonald got his second on 75 minutes and, just 5 minutes later, Gordon Whyte got his second to make it 4-1.
Kyles Athletic’s final two matches are away to Newtonmore this coming Saturday and at home to Kingussie at the end of the month and they know that their goal difference is such that two more points should be enough to secure a second spot finish.
It was the end of an era for Lochaber. With Lachlan Campbell having already announced his retirement from first team shinty, this was a last match at senior level for Neil MacDonald. Both players have been loyal and committed servants to the Spean Bridge club for around 20 years.
Lochaber’s league programme is now complete and they know that Skye have to beat Fort William in Portree and Newtonmore at the Eilan to threaten the Spean Bridge mens’ top flight status.
Marine Harvest National Division
Ballachulish 0 Beauly 7
Ballachulish and Beauly completed the Marine Harvest National Division fixture programme when they met at Jubilee Park.
Beauly got off to a flying start and they led 3-0 after just 9 minutes. A quick-fire Jack MacDonald double on 5 and 6 minutes made it 2-0 and Calum Morrison added a third on 9 minutes.
Robbie Brindle made it 4-0 on 29 minutes and that’s the way it stayed until the break.
Jack MacDonald completed his hat-trick on the hour mark with what was his 32nd goal of the season.
A second from Robbie Brindle on 76 minutes rounded off the scoring to give fourth placed Beauly the points whilst Ballachulish finish their league campaign at the bottom of the table.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Kinlochshiel 0 Skye Camanachd 2
The Skye Camanachd second team scored a goal in each half to beat their Kinlochshiel counter-parts 2-0 in the reserve team derby at Kirkton.
Kinlochshiel boss Willie MacRae was unavailable for this noon throw up so first team keeper Scott Kennedy took charge of the side. He welcomed both Jonnie MacAskill and Douglas Campbell back from suspension but forward Neil Fraser was missing.
Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle made a number of changes to the squad which lost 3-2 to the Fort William second team in their league match in Portree a week earlier and he gave youth a chance with six players from the clubs U17 side, which has reached the 2016 London Shield Final, included in the pool.
Skye created the first real chance of the game when full forward Ryan Morrison slipped the ball to Ruaraidh MacLeod but his effort looped over the bar.
‘Shiel came close to taking the lead on when Scott MacLean gathered the ball wide on the right but Skye goalie Iain MacLeod made a fantastic save as he stretched to tip away his effort, just under the crossbar.
The opening goal came on 43 minutes. Ruaraidh MacLeod played a quick one-two with Ryan Morrison and MacLeod’s shot from the left of the D flew past Raymond Gillies in the ‘Shiel goal.
Both teams had chances before Skye sealed the win and it was two of the Islanders substitutes who combined to double their team’s advantage. Good battling from Skye captain David Grant, on at full forward in place of Ryan Morrison, released the ball to the Skye left where youngster Martin Pringle, who had just taken over from Daniel Morrison, drove the ball low into the net with what was his first touch of the match. Skye now led 2-0 with 62 minutes played.
There were late bookings for Kinlochshiel’s Duncan Campbell and Skye’s Andrew Banks, with referee Iain Kennedy flashing yellow cards following a flare up.
This was the final league game of the season for both sides and the victory lifts Skye up to fourth spot in the division although they will drop a place if the Glenurquhart seconds win their final match of the season at home to the Fort William seconds this coming Saturday.
Fort William 0 Kingussie 3
The Kingussie reserves beat the Fort William reserves 3-0 in their noon throw up at An Aird.
Fort William had Mark Grant at full back whilst Arran MacPhee continued his rehabilitation from injury with a full centre role.
Kevin Thain was back to lead the Kingussie attack after missing the previous weekend’s defeat to Newtonmore. There were also places for Robert Mabon, Darren Hanlan and Ryan MacWilliam.
Ruaridh Anderson gave Kingussie a first half lead when he scored from a Kevin Thain pass.
Kevin Thain blasted the ball into the net from distance to make it 2-0 at the break.
Ruaridh Anderson made it 3-0 at the start of the second half with what was his second goal of the game. Anderson’s shot from the edge of the D took a deflection on its way into the net.
Kingussie’s winning margin could have been greater had it not been for some fine saves from Fort William goalie Donnie Walker.
Kingussie will finish third in the league irrespective of the outcome of their final match against Lovat.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Oban Celtic 8 Kyles Athletic 0
Marine Harvest South Division 1 champions Oban Celtic finished a fine season is style with an 8-0 victory over the Kyles Athletic colts in their 3.30pm throw up at Mossfield.
Oban Celtic went into the game in fine fettle and, with the title already in the bag; they had a trophy presentation to look forward to at the end of the game whilst a depleted Kyles Athletic party travelled with just eleven players.
Daniel Madej opened the scoring on 11 minutes whilst Ally McKerracher made it 2-0 on 28 minutes.
Madej went on to complete a first half hat-trick with goals on 33 and 38 minutes and a second from McKerracher on 44 minutes made it 5-0 at half time.
Ally McKerracher completed his hat-trick on 57 minutes whilst two late goals added gloss to the win.
Andy MacDonald added a seventh with 10 minutes remaining whilst it was perhaps fitting that man of the match George MacMillan rounded off the scoring just 60 seconds later to make it 8-0.
After referee Robert Baxter’s final whistle, Camanachd Association Chief Operating Officer Torquil MacLeod was on hand to present the Marine Harvest South Division 1 trophy to Oban Celtic captain Daniel Madej.
Glenorchy 0 Taynuilt 0
Glenorchy and Taynuilt shared the points following a goalless draw at Mart Park.
This was a very hard fought match which was well handled by referee Scott Mcneil.
Glenorchy’s Graham Morrice will start next season on the suspension list after he was sent off on 20 minutes following an off the ball incident which was spotted by the goal judge.
Taynuilt had a chance to win the game midway through the second half when they were awarded a penalty but Steven Parr was unable to convert from the spot.
The result means that both Glenorchy and Taynuilt beat the drop to Marine Harvest South Division 2 at the expense of the Inveraray seconds who will finish bottom of the pile regardless of the outcome of their final league match which is away to Taynuilt at the end of the month.
Sixth placed Glenorchy are ahead of seventh place Taynuilt on goal difference although Taynuilt still have two matches to play – at home to both the Aberdour and Inveraray second teams.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Inverness 0 Aberdeen University 3
Champions Aberdeen University rounded off their season with a 3-0 win over the Inverness second team in their 2pm throw up at the Bught Park.
Former Lewis Camanachd player Scott Murray gave the Aberdeen side a 12 minute lead. Alex Duncan made it 2-0 on 27 minutes.
The visitors tightened their grip of the game a minute later when Stuart Cameron made it 3-0. All three goals came from good play from the Aberdeen forwards.
Some good defending, and several good stops from Inverness keeper Ally Fraser, prevented the free-scoring Aberdeen side from adding to their lead.
Camanachd Association Director and former Aberdeen University stalwart Steven MacKenzie presented the Marine Harvest North Division 2 trophy to Aberdeen Camanachd University captain Greg Tillman.
The Students, who finish their eighteen match league campaign with a 100% record, travelled to the Highland Capital by train and they were sure to be in celebratory mode as they made the train journey back to the Granite City.
Lochcarron W/O v Lochaber
Second placed Lochcarron were given a walk-over when the Lochaber colts were unable to field a team for their match at Battery Park. Lochaber’s resources were stretched as they had a number of first team absences for their visit to Tighnabruaich.
Caberfeidh P Kilmallie P
The Kilmallie seconds were unable to raise a team for their trip to Castle Leod to play the Caberfeidh seconds so the home team have been awarded the points.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Dunoon Camanachd 2 Aberdour 5
The Aberdour second team fought off a determined Dunoon Camanachd challenge to eventually win 5-2 in their noon throw up.
The home side twice fought back from a goal down before the visitors sealed the win with three goals in the last half hour of the contest.
Kieran Burns put Aberdour ahead on 12 minutes but a goal from Roddy Cairns on 38 minutes meant the sides went into the break on level terms.
The second half was just 3 minutes old when Jamie Anderson put Aberdour back in front but Jonathon Black scored on 56 minutes to pull Dunoon level for a second time.
Three goals in the last half hour gave the Fife side the points. Jamie Anderson went on to complete his hat-trick when he netted on 60 and 68 minutes and Craig Girvan rounded off the 5-2 win when he found the back of the net with 20 minutes remaining.
The win keeps the Aberdour seconds ahead of Dunoon at the bottom of the table.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently. The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available)
(The photo of the victorious Aberdeen University squad with the Marine Harvest North Division 2 trophy comes courtesy of Donald Cameron)