Kinlochshiel opened up a one point lead at the top of the Marine Harvest Premiership and Skye Camanachd clinched the Marine Harvest National Division title following a dramatic day of shinty action on Saturday 9 September 2017.
Marine Harvest Premiership
Newtonmore 2 Kinlochshiel 2
Kinlochshiel twice came from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Newtonmore in their noon throw up at The Eilan.
Kinlochshiel agreed to Newtonmore’s request for an earlier start so that some of the ‘More players could attend a local wedding later in the afternoon
‘More’s Evan Menzies was free of suspension but injury continued to rule out captain Rory Kennedy and Michael Russell was suspended.
Kinlochshiel travelled without Scott MacLean who picked up a one-match suspension for passing through the disciplinary points threshold.
Glen MacKintosh gave Newtonmore the lead on 9 minutes when he picked the ball up around 25 yards from goal and he sent a low strike into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0. The pace of the shot beat ‘Shiel keeper Scott Kennedy although he did get a touch to the ball.
Kinlochshiel’s leveller a couple of minutes later came into the bizarre category. A ball from a ‘Shiel corner made its way to the back post where Andy MacKintosh looked in control of the situation but, in an attempt to put the ball out for a corner. MacKintosh inadvertently knocked it past keeper Norman Campbell and into the net.
Newtonmore dominated from the start of the second half and they got their reward on 58 minutes. Fraser MacKintosh got onto a through-ball and found himself one-on-one with the keeper. MacKintosh kept his cool and flicked the ball home to make it 2-1.
It was a game of few efforts on goal but Kinlochshiel drew level for a second time with just 15 minutes remaining to pick up what could yet be a priceless point. The goal came from a driving Finlay MacRae run. MacRae’s initial shot was saved by Norman Campbell but Keith MacRae was on hand to knock in the rebound.
This was a very physical encounter at times.
The drama included a booking for Newtonmore defender Steven MacDonald after he was involved in a tussle with Keith MacRae. Newtonmore disputed the decision, which came on the advice of the goal judge, with ‘More well aware the yellow card will trigger a two-match ban, which, as the fixtures currently stand, means MacDonald will be eligible to play against Kyles Athletic this coming Saturday but he will miss the league meeting with Kilmallie and, more importantly, the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final against Lovat.
The match finished just before title challengers Kyles Athletic’s met Lovat at Balgate. It looked as if Kinlochshiel had dropped a point in the race for the title but events at Balgate would prove otherwise and if ‘Shiel manager Johnston Gill had been offered a one point advantage ahead of the weekend fixtures, he’d have grabbed it with both hands.
Lovat 2 Kyles Athletic 1
Kyles Athletic’s title chances suffered a blow when they lost 2-1 to Lovat at Balgate.
The match was scheduled for a 1.30pm start to allow the Kyles players to make a swift return south to attend a wedding.
However some wind-turbines on the road delayed the Tighnabruaich men’s journey north so throw up was delayed to 2pm.
Lovat’s Lorne MacKay returned from suspension and he went straight into the starting line-up. Defender Daniel Grieve was missing.
Kyles Athletic went into the match top of the table on goal difference and they were still without the injured Callum Miller. Innes MacDonald and Dunkie Kerr started on the bench.
Lovat’s Marc MacLachlan tested Kyles keeper John Whyte on 4, 11 and 29 minutes. The keeper saved the first two efforts with his stick and the third with his feet.
Lovat defended deep making it difficult for Kyles to create chances and Stuart MacDonald in the home goal was untested during the opening 45 minutes.
Kyles edged in front on 51 minutes. A shy from the right fell to Roddy MacDonald and he found just enough space to strike the ball low into the net from just behind the penalty spot.
Lovat’s leveller 5 minutes later came from a corner on the right, by the Clubhouse. Greg Matheson controlled the ball and held off a couple of challenges before scoring from the edge of the D.
Then, two minutes defined the outcome of the match and maybe even the course of the title race. On 62 minutes, Callum Cruden took a Lovat shy, leaving his opponent Dunkie Kerr unmarked. Grant Irvine did well to win possession and he found Kerr who burst forward. Kerr could have gone for goal but picked out Roddy MacDonald who was in a better position. With keeper Stuart MacDonald off his line, Roddy MacDonald steered the ball towards the empty net. However Stuart MacDonald produced a miraculous save; throwing himself full-length towards his goal to one-handedly scoop the ball off the goal-line with his club.
Just a couple of minutes later, Roddy MacDonald was hit hard in the back by a heavy Martin Mainland challenge near the corner flag. MacDonald retaliated, swinging his caman at the Lovat player and leaving referee Archie Ritchie with no option but to produce a red card. The Kyles man instantly regretted his actions and his sending off comes at a massive cost for James Perlich’s side as MacDonald now misses the crucial league matches against Newtonmore and Kinlochshiel.
In the space of 120 seconds, Kyles could have been leading 2-1 but were instead on level terms and a man down.
The Kyles players responded positively to the situation and showed great fight in an attempt to win the game. Grant Irvine and Dunkie Kerr were linking up well but they couldn’t get themselves in front.
A Marc MacLachlan shot was well-saved with his feet by John Whyte. The keeper may have known little about it but his reactions didn’t let him down.
The winning goal came on 83 minutes. Lovat spare man Callum Cruden took a short corner which Greg Matheson ran out to collect. Matheson flicked the ball into a very crowded goal area before running into the D and producing a composed finish as he turned the ball past the keeper to make it 2-1.
Both sides put so much into this game and there was a lot of good out-field play. However, with both defences on top, there were few efforts on goal over the course of the 90 minutes.
Lovat manager Fraser Gallacher must be pleased with his team’s form ahead of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final and this was their fourth successive victory.
Callum Cruden and wing centre Calum MacAulay were best for Lovat with Craig Mainland winning a lot of ball although he did seem to suffer a hamstring problem which may be a concern.
Donald Irvine and Grant Irvine shone for Kyles whilst Cammy Keith stuck to the task of marking Greg Matheson, especially in the first half.
Kyles may have fallen a point behind in the title race but they still know that three wins from their final three matches, including against Kinlochshiel at Kirkton, will make them champions.
However it’s a task that will be all the more difficult for Roddy MacDonald’s absence in two of these games.
Glenurquhart 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 2
There were two crucial points up for grabs as Glenurquhart and Glasgow Mid Argyll, both threatened by relegation, met at Blairbeg.
Glenurquhart were without the suspended John Barr and Lachlan Smith with the former now free of his ban for the final match of the season against Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. Fraser Heath returned to the side and started at full centre.
Glasgow Mid Argyll travelled north without Stuart Reid and Duncan “Ach” MacRae.
With both teams desperate for points, this game was always going to have a cup final feel about it.
Both sides started well and, after a period of early pressure, the home side came close to taking the lead when a low James MacPherson shot went just past keeper Robert Dunning’s left-hand post.
However James MacPherson found his range when he put Glen ahead on 13 minutes. An Eddie Tembo pass from the right wing fell to Daniel MacKintosh and he threaded the ball through to James MacPherson who slotted home to make it 1-0.
The Glen forwards put a lot of pressure on the GMA defence but a fine defensive display from Ryan Harrison, who was excellent in the first half, along with Finlay MacMillan and Innes MacMillan, kept the hosts at bay.
Glenurquhart keeper Stuart MacKintosh kept his side in front when he made a fine save from Jamie McFadyen’s shot with 30 minutes played.
Tempers frayed when John Don MacKenzie accidently knocked David Smart on the head and Smart retaliated with a reckless swing which earned the Glen man a caution from referee John Angus Gillies who also had a stern talk with both players to take any heat out of the situation.
Both teams displayed some good, open shinty in the first half, and the Glen were probably aggrieved only to take a one goal advantage into the break.
GMA made a perfect start to the second half, drawing level within a minute of the restart. Connor Golabek lost possession on the Glen right wing and an Innes MacMillan ball over the Glen defence reached Craig Anderson who hit an unstoppable shot past the keeper to make it 1-1.
GMA tried to take control of the game over the next 20 minutes and their fitness showed in all areas of the park. They deservedly took the lead on 76 minutes when a Jamie McFadyen corner found its way into the box. Referee Gillies played advantage when Glen keeper Stuart MacKintosh fouled Craig Anderson but the ball fell to young Calum Mclay and he poked it into the goal to make it 2-1.
It looked as if GMA were going to take a valuable two points, but, on the 90 minute mark, a ball out of the GMA defence landed for David Smart on the right and he thundered a shot from a very acute angle which went into the net off the post.
There was still 4 minutes of injury-time to play but neither side could find a winner.
Michael Fraser and Andrew Corrigan were solid in the Glen defence and Arran MacDonald was very strong in midfield.
GMA were well-marshalled by Ryan Harrison in defence and benefited from a man of the match performance from Gary Luke who proved a real handful for Eddie Tembo in midfield.
Glasgow Mid Argyll stay bottom of the table with six points and three games to go beginning with a home match against Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup finalists Lovat this coming Saturday
Kilmallie are a point better off with the same number of games remaining. Lochaber and Glenurquhart are both on nine points but both have just one match to go but they are difficult encounters against Newtonmore and Kinlochshiel respectively.
Oban Camanachd 3 Kingussie 4
Third placed Kingussie came from 3-1 down to eventually beat Oban Camanachd 4-3 at Mossfield.
Oban Camanachd keeper Gavin Stobbart served a one-match ban for passing through the disciplinary points threshold so Scotland U17 keeper Cameron Sutherland took over between the sticks. Captain Garry Lord was also banned whilst Matt Rippon and Scott MacKillop remained out injured. Young guns Craig Easton and Lewis Buchanan were given valuable game time.
Robert Mabon was free of suspension for the Kings.
Daniel Cameron put the home side on the front foot with a goal after just 4 minutes. Malcolm Clark found Cameron to the right of the penalty spot and he finished well, sending the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Kingussie levelled on 10 minutes when Chris Holleysong ran onto a ball over the top which caught out the Oban Camanachd back-line. Holleysong beat keeper Cameron Sutherland from 10 yards out.
Malcolm Clark tapped home a rebound on 20 minutes following an Oban Camanachd free-hit to put his side back in front.
Daniel Cameron got his second on 34 minutes to make it 3-1. Cameron had time to send a 20 yard shot low past Craig Dawson in the Kingussie goal, beating the keeper on his right side.
Oban Camanachd didn’t look in any real danger at this point but another defensive lapse on the stroke of half-time cost them dear and Roddy Young took advantage to score.
Kingussie made a strong start to the second half and, when they won possession following a clearance from the Oban Camanachd defence, the ball was played on to Ruaridh Anderson who made it 3-3.
The winning goal came on 53 minutes. Cameron Sutherland in the Oban Camanachd goal made a save but as the ball rose into the air, Kingussie won possession and Scotland U17 forward Ruaridh Anderson got his second to make it 4-3.
Oban Camanachd’s match against Kilmallie at The Canal Parks this coming Saturday will be a noon start so the squad can head for near-by An Aird afterwards to watch Lochside Rovers against the Kingussie reserves in the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final.
Marine Harvest National Division
Skye Camanachd 2 Caberfeidh 0
Skye Camanachd secured the Marine Harvest National Division title and promotion back to shinty’s top flight after they beat Caberfeidh 2-0 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye need at least a point from the game as both Caberfeidh and Fort William could either beat or match their points total ahead of the match.
Skye boss Willie Cowie made just one change from the seventeen-man squad which lost out to Newtonmore in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi-finals a fortnight earlier as Jordan Murchison was ruled out through injury. Keeper Iain MacLeod played his last match of the season as work commitments will keep him out of the meetings Inveraray and Fort William.
Caberfeidh manager Jodi Gorski’s selection was hampered by three suspensions. Martin MacDonald is working his way through a four-match ban whilst Liam Symonds and Kevin Bartlett both collected bookings in Caberfeidh’s 3-2 defeat to Fort William in the league a fortnight before so both missed this encounter, collecting one-match bans for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. Ryan Symonds was also missing as were the injured Ally MacLennan and Jamie Matheson who was unable to travel.
Cabers started well but it was the home side who went in front when Iain MacLellan crashed a 13 minute shot into the roof of the net to give Skye the lead.
Ewan Pilcher made a brilliant save to deny Danny Morrison, stretching high to his right to turn Morrison’s piledriver away for a corner with his caman.
Cabers full back Scott MacLachlan then, some-how, managed to deflect a Will Cowie effort off the post and away to safety after the Scotland U21 forwarded had rounded the keeper.
Skye clinched the win 5 minutes from time when Will Cowie showed great persistence to burst through the visiting defence before forcing the ball low over the line.
Caberfeidh’s Kenneth MacKenzie took unwell during the match but is recovering well after treatment.
This was Caberfeidh’s penultimate game of the season. They are currently in second place in the league with a home meeting with Beauly to come.
Inverness 1 Fort William 6
Fort William remain very much in the promotion race after they beat Inverness 6-1 at The Bught Park.
David Campbell was still banned for Inverness.
Fort William were without suspended trio James Tangney, Lewis Clark and Cameron Grant.
Lachie Shaw settled Fort William into the match with a goal after just 4 minutes.
Graham Campbell made it 2-0 a minute before the break but Inverness got themselves right back into the contest when James Cameron scored on 53 minutes.
Lachie Shaw got his second on 57 minutes with Graham Campbell doing like-wise on the hour mark to make it 4-1.
Brothers Jack Fraser on 72 minutes and Mark Fraser on 87 minutes rounded off the 6-1 win.
Fort William are now three points behind second placed Caberfeidh but they have two games in hand.
Oban Celtic P Inveraray P
There was a Saturday morning pitch inspection ahead of Oban Celtic’s meeting with Inveraray. However the match was called off as Ganavan was waterlogged.
This would have been Celtic’s first match since Saturday 5 August 2017 and they will now have to wait until Saturday 23 September 2017 when they are scheduled to play Inveraray again; this time at The Winterton.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Newtonmore 3 Beauly 0
The Newtonmore second team extended their lead at the top of the table, beating the Beauly second team 3-0 in their 3pm throw up at The Eilan.
Chris Sellar, on his return from injury, scored the only goal of the first half on 21 minutes.
Declan Brennan made it 2-0 on 61 minutes and John MacKenzie added a third just 3 minutes later.
The Newtonmore seconds are now three points ahead of Aberdeen University but they have played a game more.
Kingussie 7 Fort William 1
The Kingussie colts warmed up for this Saturday’s Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final with a 7-1 win over an under-strength Fort William colts at An Aird.
A James Falconer double and goals from Kevin Thain and Dylan Borthwick had the Kings 4-0 up at the break.
James Falconer went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half.
Dylan Borthwick also got his second with Kieran MacPherson also scoring.
Zoe Smith was on target with a consolation goal for Fort William.
Kinlochshiel 0 Glenurquhart 1
When it became clear that Kinlochshiel’s Kirkton pitch would not be playable, their second team game against their Glenurquhart counter-parts was switched to Blairbeg with an 11.45am throw up.
Jed Stoddart came close to giving Glenurquhart an early lead but was unable to knock the ball home.
The early start didn’t affect Glen’s Christopher Mack who netted with a shot from the left after just 3 minutes.
There were good battles at either end of the field between Glenurquhart full back Paul MacKintosh and ‘Shiel full forward Graham Kennedy at one end and ‘Shiel full back Neil Fraser and Glen full forward Callum Miller at the other.
With no further scoring, Glenurquhart recorded only their second league win of the season.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Tayforth 2 Taynuilt 1
Third placed Tayforth came from a goal down to beat Taynuilt 2-1 at Levenhall Links.
Taynuilt’s Ewan MacCorquodale opened the scoring on 7 minutes but they only stayed in front for a couple of minutes with Sean Taylor levelling.
Finlay Stark got the winner on 30 minutes.
Kilmory 5 Ballachulish 3
Kilmory ran out 5-3 winners against Ballachulish at MacRae Park.
Balla’ travelled with just eleven players and they went in front through Pat MacLean on 16 minutes.
Hal Jones equalised on 19 minutes and Rhys Williams put the hosts 2-1 ahead just a couple of minutes later.
Duncan MacBrayne made it 3-1 just 3 minutes into the second half and Hal Jones got his second to make it 4-1 on the hour mark.
Ballachulish fought back though and a second from Pat MacLean on 67 minutes and Conor MacGregor just 4 minutes later made it 4-3.
However Kilmory sealed the win through Alex Cunningham with 15 minutes remaining.
Bute P Lochside Rovers P
The match between Bute and Lochside Rovers was transferred to Yoker on Thursday when The Meadows was ruled unplayable.
However the 1pm throw up eventually fell foul of the weather when Yoker was also deemed unplayable on Saturday morning.
Kyles Athletic P Aberdour P
The game between the Kyles Athletic second team and Aberdour was called off on Friday when the pitch at Tighnabruaich was deemed unplayable.
Col Glen P Glenorchy P
Col Glen moved their meeting with Glenorchy to Otter Ferry but that also failed a pitch inspection so the game will be rescheduled.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Lochaber 4 Glengarry 0
The Lochaber seconds made it very interesting at the top of the table by beating league leaders Glengarry 4-0 at Spean Bridge.
Youngster Max Campbell gave Lochaber the lead on 10 minutes.
Lachie Campbell extended the hosts advantage with a brace either side of half-time; with the goals coming on 40 and 49 minutes.
Ryan Andrews rounded off the win 15 minutes from time and second placed Lochaber now trail Glengarry by four points but they have a game in hand.
However Glengarry know that five points from their remaining three matches against Strathspey Camanachd, the Kilmallie seconds and the Lovat seconds will guarantee them the league title.
Caberfeidh 4 Lewis Camanachd 1
A Jamie Matheson hat-trick helped the Caberfeidh second team to a 4-1 win over Lewis Camanachd at Castle Leod.
Caberfeidh’s Declan Wilson missed out through suspension and whilst first team absences deprived them of Connor MacGregor and Callum MacKinnon, Jamie Matheson was included as he was unable to travel to Portree with the first team.
Lewis Camanachd were without keeper Graham Cay so Euan Gilmour was in goals and they gave youth a chance, with Daniel Harrison making a second half debut, for what was the first of three away fixtures which will complete their season.
Caberfeidh had the early pressure although Stewart MacRitchie did go close for the visitors.
Jamie Matheson forced Euan Gilmour to make a good save when one-on-one with the Lewis custodian.
Caberfeidh broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Stuart Krzyzanowski won a tussle with his marker before firing home.
An Ally Lamont effort from distance went just over the top before Lewis Camanachd equalised on the hour mark. Stewart MacRitchie set up Kieran MacDonald – both 14 year olds – and MacDonald found the back of the net to make it one each.
Caberfeidh’s Jamie Matheson then took centre-stage with three blistering finishes on 71, 76 and 80 minutes to seal a 4-1 win.
The victory lifts Caberfeidh to third in the table and they trail second placed Lochaber reserves by four points but have two games in hand.
Boleskine 3 Strathspey Camanachd 3
A late Conor Aubrey double earned Strathspey Camanachd a 3-3 draw against Boleskine at Smith Park.
Graham Black put Boleskine ahead on 6 minutes but Martin Ross equalised on 27 minutes.
James Anderson restored Boleskine’s lead a couple of minutes later, and when Duncan MacPherson made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time, the league’s bottom side looked good for a morale-boosting win.
Conor Aubrey scored on 72 minutes to make it 3-2 and it was Aubrey again, with just 3 minutes remaining, who snatched a share of the points for Strathspey.
Strathglass 0 Kilmallie 4
The Kilmallie seconds were 4-0 winners against the Strathglass seconds at Cannich.
Stuart Ross on 23 minutes and Brian MacKay on 28 minutes had Kilmallie two up at the break.
Donnie MacRae on 61 minutes and Donald MacIntyre in the final minute completed the win, extending Kilmallie’s winning run to four matches.
Inverness 1 Lochcarron 2
Lochcarron beat the Inverness second team 2-1 in their noon throw up at The Bught Park outside pitch.
Peter MacKenzie gave Lochcarron the lead on 22 minutes with what was to prove to be the only goal of the first half.
Stuart MacRae netted 5 minutes after the restart to draw Inverness level.
However Lochcarron’s Fraser Stewart got the winner, sending the ball past Inverness goalie Allan MacLeod on 77 minutes.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Dunoon Camanachd P Inveraray P
The Inveraray second team will have to wait to secure the point they need to clinch the Marine Harvest South Division 2 title, and a quick return to Marine Harvest South Division 1 following their relegation at the end of the 2016 shinty season.
Their game against Dunoon Camanachd was postponed on Friday evening as The Dunoon Stadium was unplayable.
Aberdour P Oban Lorn P
The meeting between The Aberdour second team and Oban Lorn was postponed on Friday when it was clear that Silversands would be unplayable.
Bute P Strachur P
The noon throw up between the Bute second team and Strachur was switched to Strachurmore on Wednesday when it became clear The Meadows could not host two matches.
However it became clear the following day that Strachurmore was also unplayable so the match was postponed.
(All throw ups are 2.30pm unless the match report states otherwise)
(The picture of Will Cowie scoring Skye's second goal comes courtesy of Moreen Pringle)
WCA Round Up
WCA Round Up
Some Women’s Camanachd Association fixtures beat the weather this weekend.
Marine Harvest National Div 1
Lochaber 4 Aberdour 0
Lochaber kept up their title push with a 4-0 win over Aberdour in their 1pm throw up at Spean Bridge.
Kirsty Delaney scored twice whilst Christy Macintyre and Missy Cameron got the others.
Lovat 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 9
Glasgow Mid Argyll were too strong for Lovat, winning 9-0 in their 2pm throw up at Balgate.
Christy Doherty scored five times, Rachel McCafferty netted twice whilst Amy Harris and Katie Drain got the others.
Fort William P Badenoch & Strathspey P
The clash between Fort William and Badenoch & Strathspey will be rescheduled as The Canal Parks was unplayable.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Glengarry P Strathglass P
The 1.30pm throw up between Marine Harvest Challenge Cup winners Glengarry and Strathglass was postponed as Craigard was unplayable.
The match will be rescheduled for a later date.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Lorn P Cowal & Bute P
Lorn’s meeting with Cowal & Bute was an early postponement because of an unplayable.
Development League - East
Tayforth hosted the Development League – East fixtures; starting at 1pm at Musselburgh on Sunday 10 September 2017.
Aberdour also took part with Tayforth winning one match and the other drawn.
Development League - West
The Development League - West fixtures, hosted by Glenurquhart were 11am at Glenurquhart High School on Saturday 9 September 2017.