Marine Harvest Premiership
Newtonmore 3 Kinlochshiel 2
Newly- crowned RBS MacTavish Cup winners Newtonmore returned to the top of shinty’s premier league after beating Kinlochshiel 3-2 at the Eilan.
The sides went into the match occupying the top two spots in in the division with ’Shiel two points better off.
Conor Jones gave Newtonmore the lead on 15 minutes when, with his back to goal just outside the ‘ D’, he turned to see his snapshot finding its way to the back of the net to make it 1- 0.
Newtonmore enjoyed a lot of early pressure and when the ball broke out following another good attack, Evan Menzies found space away from marker Conor Cormack and hit home a nice drive from around 25 yards to make it 2- 0.
Kinlochshiel came back into the game and pulled a goal back on 27 minutes when Oliver MacRae sent a pass across goal and Keith MacRae hit the ball on the half volley, hard into the net to make it 2-1.
Newtonmore restored their two-goal cushion on 58 minutes when Norman Campbell scored a well-taken and ultimately crucial third goal.
Campbell got round ’Shiel full back Paul MacRae and his halfswing from the edge of the ‘D’ sent the ball into the top corner of the net to make it 3-1.
Newtonmore had chances to add a fourth goal and seal the win but ‘ Shiel battled well, as they do, and got a goal back on 76 minutes when Keith MacRae fired in a hard, low shot from just past the penalty spot. Whilst ’More keeper Owen got his feet to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out of the net.
This made for a less comfortable last 15 minutes for Newtonmore but they did just enough to deserve both points and will hope the return of Glen MacKintosh, Iain Robinson and Chris Sellar next week will give them plenty options ahead of the Artemis Macaulay Cup meeting with Lovat.
Kinlochshiel put a lot into the game and there was disappointment in their camp that they didn’t take anything from the encounter.
Newtonmore lead Kinlochshiel and Oban Camanachd on goal difference but they have games in hand on their opponents.
Oban Camanachd 2 Glenurquhart 0
Oban Camanachd share top spot in the Premier League after an impressive win over Glenurquhart. The home side had a full squad to choose from with Scott McKillop and Daniel MacVicar back in the starting line-up.
Mossfield was in perfect condition and it was the home side, assisted by a stiff breeze, that began positively taking the lead after 15 minutes through the impressive Lorne Dickie with a wonder strike from 20 yards. With most of the play, Camanachd were looking to increase their lead and the ‘Glen’ had keeper Stuart MacIntosh to thank for a string of fine saves. Camanachd were not to be denied though and after fine link-up play between Daniel Cameron, Connor Howe and Malcolm Clark, Daniel MacVicar’s neat finish made it 2- 0 to the home side.
Ten minutes from half-time, the visitors responded and only a brilliant save from Gavin Stobbart prevented them from reducing the lead on the stroke of half-time as referee Graham Cameron signalled for end of the first half
Glenurquhart, with wind advantage, began the second half well as Camanachd took time to settle. Gradually the home side took control in midfield with David Lafferty, Lorne Dickie and Aidan MacIntyre now gaining the upper hand.
Again it took a series of fine saves by the ‘Glen’ keeper to prevent Camanachd adding to their lead. With the game drawing to a close, the visitors continued to take the game to Camanachd but found the defensive unit of Garry Lord, Gary McKerracher, James MacMillan and Scott McKillop in good form.
Anything that did get past them was ably dealt with by home keeper Gavin Stobbart.
Team manager Ian Hay rang the changes in the last quarter bringing on Willie Neilson, Ian Campbell and Andrew ‘Papa’ MacCuish.
There was no further scoring which meant Camanachd bagged two more valuable points in the quest for league success.
Ian Hay said: ‘This was a better performance from the team, especially the good start which was important against an experienced Glenurquhart side and that laid the foundations for the win. Next week we travel to play Lochaber at Spean Bridge with a 12.30pm throw-up where we hope to continue our good run of form in the league.’
Kyles Athletic 5 Lovat 0
Kyles Athletic leap-frogged Lovat into fourth spot in the league after they beat the Balgate side 5- 0 in their 3pm throw up at Tighnabruaich.
The pitch was in excellent condition on a bright, sunny day and Kyles went in front after just two minutes.
Innes MacDonald touched the ball gracefully past his marker and then shifted it to the left of the other full back. His half-swing from the edge of the ‘D’ sent the ball soaring into the top corner of the net. Gordon Whyte made it 2- 0 on 10 minutes before Sandy MacKenzie doubled the home side’s advantage with strikes on 25 and 32 minutes.
Robbie MacLeod made it 5- 0 on 41 minutes.
There were no goals in the second half which was likely due to a combination of Lovat digging in and Kyles having one eye on next week’s Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final.
Innes MacDonald was withdrawn after feeling his leg tighten.
This was a precautionary measure with this coming Saturday’s cup final meeting with Inveraray, who didn’t have a fixture last Saturday, in mind. Lochaber 2 Kingussie 4 It was a fourth meeting this year between Lochaber and Kingussie
fter a draw and two defeats, Kingussie recorded their first victory with a 4-2 triumph in the 3pm throw up at Spean Bridge.
Savio Genini put the ‘Kings’ ahead on 16 minutes but Kevin Ferguson made it 1-1 a couple of minutes later.
Ben Delaney put Lochaber ahead just five minutes before the break and it remained that way until the final 16 minutes of the contest.
Savio Genini got his second on 74 minutes to make it 2-2. James Hutchison on 83 minutes and a hat-trick goal from Savio Genini made it 4-2 two minutes later.
Sixth-placed Kingussie are now four points ahead of seventh-placed Lochaber, with both clubs having played ten matches.