The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 1 September 2012 | |
03 September 2012 It remains advantage Newtonmore in the Orion Group Premiership title race and Beauly and Lochside Rovers came out on top in the North and South junior cup finals following the shinty action on Saturday 1 September 2012.
Strathdearn Cup Final Fort William 1 Beauly 3 Marine Harvest North Division 3 champions Beauly added the Strathdearn Cup to their trophy cabinet when they beat Marine Harvest North Division 2 side Fort William 3-1 in the Strathdearn Cup Final at Craigard, Invergarry. The Fort, marshalled at the back by the experienced Adam Robertson, have struggled in Marine Harvest North Division 2 this season but manager Victor Smith has persevered with a youthful line-up including the likes of brothers Jack and Mark Fraser and Cameron Grant. Beauly have been the top side in Marine Harvest North Division 3 this year by a distance and they clinched the title some weeks ago. They too have a blend of experience and youth with player / manager Roger Cormack, who co-manages the team with Iain Petrie, key in defence and U17 forward Colin MacDonald in midfield and Calum Morrison complimenting the more experienced Martin Davidson, Conor Ross and Sean Stewart in attack. Scott Knox put the Fort ahead after 19 minutes in this 3pm throw up and his side took this lead into the break. However Conor Ross levelled a couple of minutes into the second half and a double from Sean Stewart on 68 and 77 minutes ensured the trophy would be heading for Braeview Park. The trophy was presented to Beauly captain Scott MacLean by Camanachd Association Competitions Director Richard Gall. Robert Morrison was the match referee.
Bullough Cup Final Lochside Rovers 6 Ballachulish 2 Lochside Rovers were too strong for Ballachulish and they retained the Bullough Cup with a 6-2 victory at An Aird, Fort William. Both sides operated in Marine Harvest South Division 1 last season but both dropped a division for different reasons. Lochside won the league title with Ballachulish looking set for a third place finish. The final had been due to take place at the Winterton but it was switched to An Aird with a 1.30pm throw up as Inveraray’s pitch was unable to take two games. Shaun Morgan put Lochside Rovers ahead after 25 minutes and Daniel MacKinnon made it 2-0 on 28 minutes. Brian MacCallum added a third a couple of minutes later before Daniel MacKinnon went on to complete his hat-trick with strikes on 34 and 48 minutes to make it 5-0. Goals from Darren Sutherland on 49 minutes and Davie MacPhee on 83 minutes gave Ballachulish some consolation but Neil MacFarlane was on target in the final minute to seal a 6-2 win and take the trophy back to Oban. Daniel MacRae was the match referee.
Orion Group Premiership Bute 0 Newtonmore 2 League leaders Newtonmore took another step towards making it three Orion Group Premiership titles in a row when they beat Bute 2-0 at the Meadows, Rothesay. The Islanders have been giving youth a chance in preparation for next season in Marine Harvest South Division 1. Newtonmore were boosted by the return of full centre Jamie Robinson after he missed last week’s win over Kingussie. However influential defender Norman Campbell injured his back in the warm up and was unable to play. Ackie MacRae put Newtonmore ahead on 25 minutes but they had to wait until 10 minutes from time against a stuffy Bute side before teenage striker Calum Stewart added to their total. Newtonmore remain on the same points tally as Kyles Athletic at the top of the table. However they have a game in hand against Glenurquhart at the Eilan which they play this coming Saturday. Each side has only one game remaining after that and, as ‘More’s goal difference is twelve goals better off than their rivals, victory against the Artemis Macaulay Cup winners would all but clinch the title for the men from the Eilan. Kyles Athletic 3 Kinlochshiel 1 Kyles Athletic kept up the pressure at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Kinlochshiel at Tighnabruaich. Kyles received a boost last weekend when young defender Zac Coley returned after a hand injury and he has time to play his way into the Kyles Camanachd Cup Final line-up. The visitors were without defender Zander Grant for this 3pm throw up as he had an ankle injury. Keith MacRae gave Kyles Athletic a shock when he put Kinlochshiel into a 15 minute lead at Tighnabruaich. However 2011 Marine Harvest Player of the Year Roddy MacDonald struck on the half hour mark to tie the teams at the break. John Whyte was on target twice in the second half on 60 and 75 minutes to give Kyles the points. Inveraray 0 Glenurquhart 1 Glenurquhart returned from the Winterton with both points following a 1-0 win over Inveraray. Inveraray boss John Smylie made his team selection with the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final in mind as he didn’t want to incur any suspensions for shinty’s big day. This was the Glen’s first outing since their Artemis Macaulay Cup success and they will have a major say in the title destination as their final two games will be home and away to league leaders Newtonmore. David Smart was suspended for the visitors and they were also without Andrew Corrigan and Ruairidh Cameron for this 3pm throw up. Glen keeper Stuart MacKintosh ended his side’s penalty hoodoo against Kingussie at the beginning of August and he was the focus of attention again in this one when referee Robert Baxter awarded the visitors a 24 minute penalty. The Scotland keeper kept his cool and netted from the spot to give his side a 1-0 win. The keeper further proved his worth later in the game when he saved a Chris Crawford penalty at the other end. The Glen have an eye on a fourth place finish. Inveraray’s thoughts were no doubt on the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final which takes place in under a fortnight’s time. Kingussie 2 Lovat 2 Lovat came from two goals down to earn a share of the points with a 2-2 draw Kingussie at the Dell. King’s boss Russell Jones kept faith with 15 year old duo Savio Genini, who scored on his debut last weekend, and Rory MacKeachan for the match. Russell Menzies started in goal for the home side. Greg Matheson recovered from injury to line-up in attack for Lovat boss Allan MacRae however he was kept quiet by the home defence. Young guns Rory MacGregor on 12 minutes and Savio Genini on 29 minutes put Kingussie 2-0 up. However Owen Ferguson 4 minutes later and Calum Macaulay on 57 minutes meant Lovat returned to Balgate with a point.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Lochaber 4 Beauly 2 Lochaber had to fight all the way before eventually running out 4-2 winners against Beauly at Spean Bridge. Throw up was at noon which allowed the Beauly team and support to head for Invergarry afterwards to watch their second team in Strathdearn Cup Final action. Jack MacDonald put Beauly ahead after 6 minutes but Shaun Nicolson levelled just 60 seconds later. Zandz Ferguson put the home side in front on 17 minutes but a 27 minute Barrie MacDonald goal levelled the game at the break. Ben Delaney put Lochaber back in front on 59 minutes and when Zandz Ferguson got his second 4 minutes later, Lochaber had notched an important win in their title quest. Second place Lochaber now trail leaders Skye by just one point and they have two games in hand. Skye Camanachd P Strathglass P Skye Camanachd were due to play Strathglass in the second part of a double-header at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. However the weather deteriorated badly during the second half of the reserve match between Skye and Newtonmore and referee Evan MacRae correctly deemed that the first team encounter between Skye and Strathglass should not go ahead.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Glenorchy P Oban Camanachd P The match between Glenorchy and champions Oban Camanachd was postponed because of an unplayable field.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Skye Camanachd 1 Newtonmore 0 A David Grant goal after 11 minutes was all that separated Skye Camanachd and Newtonmore at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Click on the following link to read the match report in full (to follow) Glenurquhart 4 Glengarry 0 Glenurquhart beat Glengarry 4-0 in their 1pm throw up at Blairbeg. The Glen’s priority will be the re-arranged Sutherland Cup Final with the final date yet to be confirmed. Glengarry were without Scott Johnstone as he was suspended for this one. Glen’s Ewen Menzies scored the only goal of the first half after 33 minutes. Drew MacLennan, who is back in action following a nasty facial injury against Kinlochshiel earlier in the season, marked his return with goals on 51 and 54 minutes. Euan Lloyd sealed the 4-0 win with a strike 15 minutes from time.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Kyles Athletic P Bute P The derby meeting at Tighnabruaich between Kyles Athletic and Bute was postponed because of an unplayable pitch.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Kilmallie P Lochcarron P The match between Kilmallie and Lochcarron was postponed as the Canal Parks was unplayable. |