Kilmory power past Taynuilt in Camanachd Cup clash
Camanachd Cup Kilmory 6 Taynuilt 0
THE SUN was beating down on MacRae Park in Lochgilphead on Saturday for Kilmory’s home Camanachd Cup tie against Taynuilt.
A bumper crowd basked in the sunshine to watch what was expected to be an even match since their last two meetings ended with each team getting a 4-1 win. On the day, however, Kilmory were too strong for Taynuilt, running out 6-0 winners.
Alex Cunningham scored twice to put Kilmory ahead and his younger brother Andrew made it 3-0 before the interval.
The hard, dry surface made for a quick game and players tired under the heat.
Kilmory’s dominance, and clinical finishing continued as Hal Jones scored twice early in the second half with Alex Cunningham completing his hattrick not long after.
Alex Cunningham’s second strike was the pick of the afternoon’s goals. Hal Jones ran out to get on the end of a long hit towards the corner flag. Jones crossed the ball hard and low towards the penalty spot where Alex Cunningham lost his marker and he showed good control before driving a shot home sending the ball just inside the post.
The emphatic victory sees Kilmory progress to the second round of the national cup, where they will face either Strathglass or Ballachulish.
The Lochgilphead side have a free Saturday this weekend with their next match taking place on May 20 at home to SCOTS Camanachd in the Bullough Cup.
Premiership Kyles Athletic 5 Lovat 0
THE TOP of the Premiership remains tight as Kinlochshiel’s win over Newtonmore keeps the pressure on league leaders Kyles, who also won at the weekend.
Kyles stay two points clear at the top of the table after they beat Lovat 5-0 at Tighnabruaich, although Kinlochshiel have a game in hand.
Callum Miller and Grant Irvine were back in the Kyles squad, with the latter making an appearance from the bench. Lovat played well in the first half but they had nothing to show for their efforts.
Kyles upped the pace after the restart and three quick goals early in the second period put them in control.
Sandy MacKenzie opened the scoring on 48 and Roddy MacDonald made it 2-0 just three minutes later.
Sandy MacKenzie got his second on 53 minutes to complete the early second half blitz.
The goals seemed to knock Lovat’s confidence and Kyles, full of confidence, never looked like losing the lead.
Two late goals put gloss on the win as Grant Irvine netted on 77 minutes and Sandy MacKenzie grabbed a hat-trick goal just six minutes from time.
Kyles turned in a fine performance and keep up the momentum for their title push.
South Division 2 Inveraray 5 Bute 0
INVERARAY reserves are now three points clear at the top of South Division 2 after they defeated Bute reserves 5-0 at a baking hot Winterton. The home side started with U18 quartet Robert Wood, Alan Cameron, Andrew Fraser and Lewis Cameron in defence and they did well to limit Bute, who had absentees as their first team were short.
Bute found it difficult to handle the movement of Inveraray U14 forwards Coll MacKay and Campbell Watt, helped by the experienced David Robertson and Garry MacPherson
Their play produced three first half goals with Garry MacPherson netting on 16 and 44 minutes; either side of a 27-minute Campbell Watt strike. Some remarkable goal-keeping from John Whitelaw helped to keep the score-line down.
However, Inveraray did score twice more through David Robertson on 57 and 60 minutes to make it 5-0.
Inveraray seconds now have a two-week break but the first team are back in action this Saturday, at home to Oban Camanachd in the Celtic Cup.