The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 14 April 2012 | |
16 April 2012 Newtonmore extended their lead at the top of the Orion Group Premiership; Oban Camanachd made it through to the first round of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup and Lochaber knocked 2011 finalists Caberfeidh out of the Balliemore Cup on Saturday 14 April 2012.
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Preliminary Round Glenorchy 1 Oban Camanachd 2 Glenorchy and Oban Camanachd met once again following their 1-1 draw at Mossfield last weekend. Many expected the Oban side to progress last week so they were out to make the most of their replay opportunity this time. Glenorchy’s Duncan Smith picked up a knock last week. Oban Camanachd’s Matt Rippon was suspended for this one after being red carded in last week’s tie. However Gareth Evans was available again after serving a one match ban last week and David MacInnes was also free from suspension after serving a six match ban carried forward from last season. This contest was equally close as last week’s affair and it took an Iain MacMillan strike 10 minutes into extra time to separate the sides. Iain MacMillan had put Oban Camanachd ahead 5 minutes before the break in what was a scrappy contest on a difficult surface. However Alex MacPherson squared the game on 72 minutes. MacMillan’s injury time winner after 100 minutes gave Oban Camanachd a first round tie at Yoker against Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Balliemore Cup – First Round Lochaber 3 Caberfeidh 2 Lochaber came from 2-0 down to beat Caberfeidh 3-2 in a cracking tie at Spean Bridge. This was a much anticipated clash as Lochaber lost out in a penalty shoot-out to eventual winners Bute last season whilst Caberfeidh were 2011 Balliemore Cup runners-up and they are record five time winners of this competition. Lochaber have been in sparkling form in recent weeks and have put a combined 12 goals past title rivals Beauly and Skye Camanachd so they started as favourites. Lochaber boss Michael Delaney had forward Stuart Callison back in his line-up after he missed last week’s game. Garry MacLennan on 16 minutes and Martin MacDonald on 28 minutes had put Cabers 2-0 up. However strikes from Ryan Toal 60 seconds later and Zandz Ferguson on 32 minutes made it 2-2 at the break. Ben Delaney scored what proved to be the winning goal on 72 minutes. Lochaber will now travel to play the winners of the first round tie between Oban Camanachd and Strathglass. Aberdour 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 4 Aberdour and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet in Fife. This was the third time this season that the sides have clashed and Aberdour were single goal victors on both occasions. However four Mark Bain goals meant Mid Argyll took the spoils in this one. Glasgow Mid Argyll will now be away to the winners of the tie between Skye Camanachd and Lochcarron. Inverness 6 Oban Celtic 1 James Cameron scored four times as Inverness beat Oban Celtic 6-1 at the Bught Park. The sides met pre-season for the Robert Wylie Memorial Cup which Oban Celtic won after a sudden death penalty shoot-out so a close encounter was expected. However James Cameron had other ideas and he scored the first of his four times on 10 minutes and Inverness, who were still without Somhairle MacDonald, went 2-0 up through Conor Golabeck on 19 minutes. Callum Fox gave the visitors hope with a strike a minutes before half time. James Cameron got his second to make it 3-1 on the hour mark and he completed his hat-trick on 77 minutes. Late goals from Arran MacMaster on 85 minutes and Cameron’s fourth a couple of minutes from time completed a deserved 6-1 victory for the Capital side. Inverness are on the road in the quarter finals against Beauly of Glenorchy. Taynuilt 2 Strachur 4 Taynuilt went down 4-2 at home to Strachur. Taynuilt’s Willie Gilles was still suspended and they missed his influence. The sides currently occupy the bottom two places in Marine Harvest South Division 1. Derek MacNicol got the visitors off to a great start with a goal after just 2 minutes. Steven Bulloch doubled their advantage just 2 minutes later and he got his second a minute before the break. Rhys Campbell seemed to end the game as a contest with a goal on 70 minutes. However a Stuart Scott double on 70 and 74 minutes gave Taynuilt hope but Strachur held on to progress to the next round. Strachur will have home advantage against Kilmory in the last eight of the competition.
Orion Group Premiership Newtonmore 4 Inveraray 0 Danny MacRae and Chris Sellar both scored a goal in each half as Newtonmore beat Inveraray 4-0 at the Eilan. The sides met at Inveraray just three weeks ago with ‘More running out 6-2 winners so they reigning champions started as favourites. Newtonmore started with Ackie MacRae, David Cheyne, Blair MacKintosh and the returning Jamie Robinson on the bench. Danny MacRae put Newtonmore ahead on 14 minutes and a good Chris Sellar strike made it 2-0 on 37 minutes. Sellar added his second a couple of minutes into the second half. Visiting keeper Graham MacPherson saved a shot from distance on 63 minutes but Danny MacRae was on hand to stroke the rebound into the net for his second goal of the game which sealed a 4-0 win. More are now three points clear at the top of the table. To make it an even better day for the home side, Jamie Robinson made his first appearance of the season following injury when he came on as a second half substitute. Lovat 3 Kinlochshiel 3 Second place Kinlochshiel shared the points with Lovat following a 3-3 draw at Balgate. Both these sides have been the early surprise packages in the league so far this season. Fraser Gallacher started on the bench for Lovat after stepping down as second team boss. Kinlochshiel were without the injured Gordie MacDonald and Fraser MacVicar who will be missing for several weeks because of work commitments. Kinlochshiel fell behind to a blistering Greg Matheson shot from distance on the half hour mark but a Keith MacRae volley 4 minutes later and a long range Finlay MacRae effort on the stroke of half time put them 2-1 up at the break. Owen Ferguson leveled the game on 52 minutes before Finlay MacRae added his second on 59 minutes to put ‘Shiel back in front. The visitors had John Don MacKenzie red carded for retaliation by referee Graham Cameron but they seemed to have held out for the win before Martin Bell scored in the last minute to earn Lovat a share of the spoils. John MacRae was excellent for ‘Shiel at full centre. This match will feature on the Camanachd Association’s YouTube archive. Fort William 2 Glenurquhart 4 Glenurquhart co-manager Drew McNeil took his side to the Black Parks to play former club Fort William and he returned home with both points following a 4-2 win. McNeil enjoyed great success with the Fort winning three consecutive Camanachd Cups before leaving the side at the end of the 2009 season. Duncan Rodger returned from suspension for the home side and Neil Robertson made a mad-dash return from Las Vegas but Stevie Stewart and Daniel Stewart were missing. The Glen took the lead courtesy of an own goal on 16 minutes when a shot deflected of Neil Robertson’s caman past the helpless Paul MacKay in the Fort goal. However Gary Innes on 38 minutes and Ryan Campbell just 5 minutes later put the home side in front. However David Smart struck on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-2. Smart got his second on 75 minutes and a Neale Reid goal a minute later gave Glenurquhart both points. Fort William had only conceded two league goals prior to this defeat whilst the Glen increased their league goals scored from six to ten. Bute 0 Kingussie 2 Bute went down 2-0 to Kingussie on Rothesay. Kingussie had defender Ally MacLeod back in their line-up and Stewart Downey started at wing centre but they were without the injured Iain Borthwick and Paul Gow who was unavailable. Talisman Ronald Ross was also missing but Kings’ boss Russell Jones was confident that his other forwards could find the back of the net. Martin Dallas obliged on the half hour mark when he fired past home keeper Kevin Queen. Barrie Dallas added a controversial second in the second half which was hotly disputed by the Bute players who claimed an infringement took place in the build-up. Home keeper Kevin Queen took his protests too far and he was shown a straight red card by referee Billy Wotherspoon. Bute’s James Craig was also sent off in the closing minutes and Kingussie also missed a penalty. Kilmallie 2 Kyles Athletic 3 Kilmallie went in search of their first league win of the season when Kyles Athletic visited the Canal Parks. However the Blues suffered their fifth defeat of the season although three of these defeats have been by the odd goal which indicates just how tight this division is. Kyles were licking their wounds after last week’s second half collapse against Kinlochshiel and this made them dangerous opponents despite being under-strength again. Andrew King was available for Kyles before starting a two match suspension. Peter McIntyre put the home side ahead on 14 minutes but Thomas Whyte on 22 minutes and Roddy MacDonald 5 minutes later gave Kyles the advantage at the break. MacDonald added a second on 68 minutes before John Stewart made it 3-2 just 7 minutes from time but Kyles held out to take the points.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass 2 Beauly 1 Beauly missed out on the chance to return to the top of the table when they lost 2-1 to Strathglass at Cannich in shinty’s surprise result of the day. Beauly came out on top by the odd goal in nine when the sides met at Cannich a fortnight ago. Innes Simpson was still missing for Beauly and Conor Ross was also unavailable. Strath player / manager Robert Geddes put his side ahead after 20 minutes but David MacLean made it 1-1 just a couple of minutes into the second half. However Strathglass regained the lead just two minutes later through Mark MacLeod and they stayed in front to record the shock result of the day. The win lifts Strathglass off the bottom of the table up to fifth place.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Aberdeen University 1 Newtonmore 6 Newtonmore beat Aberdeen University for the second successive Saturday and they extended their lead at the top of the table to four points. ‘More’s David Campbell was available again for following suspension. Brian Slattery put the home side ahead on 8 minutes but Evan Menzies squared the match on 15 minutes and he added a second just 3 minutes later. Conor Jones scored from the penalty spot on 25 minutes to give the visitors a 3-1 lead at half time. Calum Stewart was on target 5 minutes into the second half and Evan Menzies completed his hat-trick on 75 minutes. Calum Stewart got his second 5 minutes from time to seal a 6-1 victory. Glengarry 2 Skye Camanachd 1 There was a close match at Craigard where third place Glengarry ran out 2-1 winners over second place Skye Camanachd. Click on the link below to read the match report in full Kingussie 3 Lochaber 3 Kingussie and Lochaber shared the points at the Dell. A Jebby Robeko double and a Rory MacGregor effort put the Kings 3-0 up at the break. However Lochaber fought back and strikes from Keith Neville, Martin Porter and Duncan MacKinnon earned the Spean Bridge side a point. Glenurquhart 2 Fort William 1 The Glenurquhart and Fort William second teams clashed at Blairbeg. Fort defender Cameron Grant missed out as he starts a two match ban. First half goals from Jack Hosie on 17 minutes and Calum Fraser on 35 minutes put Glenurquhart 2-0 up at the break. Graham Campbell pulled a goal back for the visitors on 59 minutes but it was the Glen who took the points. Kinlochshiel 2 Lovat 2 The match between Kinlochshiel and Lovat was switched to Balgate following concerns about ‘Shiel’s Kirkton pitch. However Balgate could only take one game so the game reverted back to Kirkton later in the week. The points were shared thanks to a late Lovat fight-back. Goals from former Lochbroom player Steven Bellshaw and a Neil Fraser strike put Kinlochshiel 2-0 ahead and they held this lead until the closing minutes. However a late strike Lovat full centre James MacPherson came through a ruck of players and beat keeper Iain Cameron to get the visitors back in the game. Lovat continued to press and James MacPherson scored his second near the end to earn Lovat a point.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Ballachulish 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll had just one win in five games this season ahead of Ballachulish’s visit to Yoker. The home side had to do without the suspended Martin Hall. A John Clark for the visitors brace cancelled out a Craig Anderson effort for GMA as Ballachulish won 2-1. Lochside Rovers 10 Aberdour 0 Lochside Rovers maintained their 100% league record when they ran up double figures against bottom side Aberdour in Oban. Brian MacCallum scored a quick-fire hat-trick with goals on 2, 13 and 19 minutes. MacCallum added a fourth on 25 minutes and Craig MacDougall made it 5-0 on 32 minutes to effectively end the game as a contest. Conor Howe made it 6-0 just 5 minutes into the second half. Brian MacCallum got his fifth on 58 minutes and Conor Ross got his second on 63 minutes to make it 8-0. Scott Dempster got in on the act on 77 minutes before Brian MacCallum became the day’s top scorer with six goals and complete a 10-0 win. Ardnamurchan 2 Kyles Athletic 6 Second place Kyles Athletic ran out 6-2 winners at Ardnamurchan. Sean Laskey and JD MacMaster, who returned for Ardnamurchan after putting in an excellent performance for Alba in Iomain Cholmcille a Coig last weekend, were on target for the home side. Roddy MacColl grabbed a hat-trick whilst Craig Blair scored once and Matthew MacColl twice for the visiting Kyles side. Inveraray 1 Col Glen 1 Inveraray and Col Glen drew 1-1 at the Winterton. Both sides suffered Sutherland Cup defeats to North opposition last weekend. Ruairidh Finlayson was on target for the home side whilst Jamie Sutton replied for the visitors. Col Glen maintain a two point advantage over their opponents in the league with each playing six games. Tayforth 3 Bute 1 Steven Thomson, Calum Campbell and Derry Barton gave Tayforth a 3-1 home win over Bute. Ally Carmichael replied for the Islanders. Tayforth are level on points with second place Kyles Athletic.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Beauly 8 Strathglass 0 League leaders Beauly beat Strathglass 8-0 in their 1pm throw up at Braeview Park. Sean Stewart made a welcome return from a long-term injury for Beauly and he put his side ahead after 9 minutes. Jordan Keil made it 2-0 on 31 minutes and Sean Stewart got his second a couple of minutes later. Willie MacGillvray netted on 40 minutes to give Beauly a 4-0 lead at the break. Scott MacLean added a fifth on 64 minutes and Simon Holmes on 71 minutes and Steve Tillman an 84 minutes made it 7-0. Willie MacGillvray got his second a couple of minutes from time to complete the scoring. Strathspey Camanachd 6 Lewis Camanachd 6 Carlsberg don’t do come-backs but if they did, they may have covered Lewis Camanachd’s fight-back as they came from 6-3 down to earn a share of the points against Strathspey Camanachd. Shinty’s newest clubs put on an entertaining contest in their 1pm throw up at Freuchie Park which was captured on the Camanachd Association’s video gallery. The visitors were hampered by the absence of the influential Innes Lamont and Dougie Shaw. Player / manager Laurence Bellini got the home side off to a great start with a goal after just 3 minutes and Gavin Wood added a second 4 minutes later. Scott Murray pulled a goal back for the visitors on 25 minutes but Jonathon Gray’s 35 minute strike and Gavin Wood’s second a couple of minutes later gave Strathspey a healthy 4-1 lead at the break. Will Church reduced the deficit when he scored for Lewis a minute after the restart and former Skye Camanachd player Stuart Campbell for Lewis and Andrew MacLennan and Jonathon Gray for the Strath swapped goals to leave Strathspey 6-3 ahead. They held this lead until 5 minutes from time when the Islanders staged a remarkable come-back. Stuart Campbell got his second 5 minutes from time and Donald Lamont made it 6-5 a couple of minutes from time. The Lewis come-back was completed with a last minute equaliser from Scott Murray which levelled the game at 6-6. Caberfeidh 4 Lochbroom 2 Caberfeidh beat Lochbroom 4-2 at Castle Leod. Lochbroom got off to a good start and Sandy Urquhart put them ahead on 10 minutes and Jamie Stewart, who was returning from suspension, doubled their advantage 5 minutes later. However Cabers fought back and Blair Morrison reduced the deficit on 20 minutes and a Colin MacLennan goal on 36 minutes made it 2-2 at half time. Colin MacLennan got his second on 55 minutes and Blair Morrison did like-wise on 65 minutes to put the home side 4-2 in front and they held this lead to the end. Boleskine 7 Kilmallie 2 There were goals-galore at Farr when second place Boleskine beat third place Kilmallie 7-3. A Ewan Fraser hat-trick and two goals each from Iain Grant and Raymond Robertson counted for Boleskine. Grant MacKenzie, Seb MacMillan and Brian Mackay were on target for the visitors. Lochcarron 6 Inverness 0 Gregor Cushnie grabbed a hat-trick as Lochcarron beat Inverness 6-0 at Battery Park. Gregor Cushnie put the home side ahead on 20 minutes and David Bauermeister made it 2-0 on the half hour mark. Andrew Slaughter made it 3-0 just 5 minutes into the second half and Gregor Cushnie completed his hat-trick with strikes on 57 and 77 minutes. Ciaran Stark completed the scoring with a goal 5 minutes from time. |