Shinty review of the season - part 2
The Oban Times looks back on the second half of the 2016 shinty season.
July Bute Primaries lift MacKay Cup
Bute Primaries beat Newtonmore Primary School 3-2 to win the MacKay Cup at An Aird.
Goals from Bute’s Leon McMillan and Rory McDonald were cancelled out by Zander Ross and Iain Fraser but Bute’s Leon McMillan got his second which meant Bute won primary school shinty’s most prestigious trophy.
Scotland U17s record double win
Scotland U17s recorded superb wins over Kilkenny U17s and Dublin U17s on their 2016 Marine Harvest Ireland tour.
The Scots beat Kilkenny U17s 15-9 at Nowlan Park with Oban Camanachd’s Daniel MacVicar, Newtonmore’s Iain Robinson and Beauly’s Robbie Brindle getting goals.
Scotland U17s then beat Dublin U17s 16-13 in the second match at Parnell Park. Inveraray’s Lewis Montgomery and Iain Robinson and Daniel MacVicar found the back of the net to see off the Irish.
On the field round- up Marine Harvest Premiership
Newtonmore finished the month at the head of shinty’s top division with Oban Camanachd in second spot. Fort William and Lochaber ended the month in the relegation positions.
Marine Harvest National Division
Kilmallie topped the table for the first time at the end of the month, with Inveraray in hot pursuit.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Strathglass returned to the top of North 1 with Newtonmore seconds just behind.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
A derby win over Lochside Rovers left Oban Celtic ahead of Aberdour at the top of the division on goal difference.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Aberdeen University continued their march to what seemed like an inevitable championship success.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Kilmory returned to the top of the table ahead of Tayforth but with a game more played.
There wasn’t much league shinty played in this division during the month.
Camanachd Cup
Kinlochshiel, Lochaber, Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd made it through to the Camanachd Cup semi-finals. Oban Camanachd were drawn to face Lochaber with Newtonmore taking on Kinlochshiel.
Artemis Macaulay Cup
Kyles Athletic reached the last four with a win over Glasgow Mid Argyll but suffered a surprised defeat to Inveraray in the semi-finals.
Kinlochshiel beat Lovat 3- 0 to secure the other place in the final.
Balliemore Cup
Kilmallie lifted the 2016 Balliemore Cup with a 6- 0 win over Caberfeidh at Blairbeg.
Kilmallie took the lead through Mark Graham and two goals late in the first half from Michael Rodger and Mark Graham again put them in control. A 10 minute Liam MacDonald hat-trick early in the second half put Kilmallie out of sight.
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup
The Newtonmore second team retained the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup with a 6- 0 win over the Kingussie second team at the Dell.
Duncan Gorman put Newtonmore ahead and a quick-fire Conor Jones brace gave them a 3- 0 half time lead. Martin Hall, Iain Robinson and Conor Jones completed the win.
Strathdearn Cup
Lochcarron, Fort William, Kingussie and Skye reserves all reached the semi finals.
Bullough Cup
The more fancied Kilmory and Tayforth won their semi-final ties against the Aberdour and Glasgow Mid Argyll second teams respectively.
August A first for Skye Ladies
Skye Camanachd Ladies won the 2016 Marine Harvest National Division 1 title for the first time after they beat Aberdour Ladies 9- 0 in their final league fixture at Silver Sands.
Lorna MacRae scored four times; Jenna Beaton helped herself to a hat-trick whilst Caitlin MacLean and Ilana Paterson got the others.
Lochaber win Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup
Lochaber won the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup for the first time when they beat Skye Camanachd 4-2 at An Aird.
Kirsty Delaney got all four Lochaber goals whilst Lorna MacRae was on the double for Skye. Lovat Ladies beat Strathglass Ladies 7-1 earlier in the day to win the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup.
Jones gets on his bike for charity
Kingussie co-manager Russell Jones cycled from Land’s End to John O’ Groats to raise funds for Lucky2BHere and Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.
Shinty chief to leave
The Camanachd Association announced that chief operating officer Torquil MacLeod, would leave the organisation at the end of the season to take up a new position as development manager with VisitScotland, working in the events directorate in Edinburgh.
North U21 take the Caol Cup
The North U21 recovered from losing an early goal to beat the South U21 3-1 at Jubilee Park.
Daniel MacVicar put the South ahead but Craig Morrison and a Charlie MacDonald brace gave the North the win.
On the field round- up Marine Harvest Premiership
Newtonmore remained out in front and Lochaber pulled out of the relegation zone at Skye’s expense.
Marine Harvest National Division
Kilmallie stayed top of the division and Glasgow Mid Argyll were ahead of Inveraray in second place.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
The Newtonmore seconds regained top spot from Strathglass.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Oban Celtic stayed top with Lochside Rovers on their tail ahead of Aberdour.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Aberdeen University maintained their 100 per cent league record and looked on course for the title.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Tayforth returned to the top of the table, with Kilmory dropping to second.
Camanachd Cup
The 2016 Camanachd Cup Final will be between Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd after ’More defeated Kinlochshiel and the Oban side got past Lochaber in their televised semi-final ties.
Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup
At the start of August, Kingussie beat Glenurquhart and Newtonmore defeated Tayforth to set up an all-Badenoch final.
By the end of the month, Newtonmore were 6- 0 winners in the final.
Strathdearn Cup
The Glenurquhart second team beat the Kingussie seconds and Lochcarron edged out Skye after extra time to reach the final.
September Double North Ladies win
The North were double winners against the South.
North U17 won 5- 0 with goals from Skye’s Katherine Dibble, Lochaber’s Natalie MacDonald, Chloe MacLeod from Strathglass and two from Lochaber’s Sarah Davie.
The senior meeting was a much closer affair. Skye’s Lorna MacRae and Lovat’s Laura Gallagher for the North and Aberdour pair Katy Smith and Niamh Donnelly had the score level at 2-2.
However, a second goal from Lorna MacRae with only six minutes remaining gave the North a 3-2 win.
Lochaber top Great Glen Sixes
Lochaber High School retained the Shinty Shop Great Glen School’s Shinty Sixes at Blairbeg.
The 11-team tournament ended with a close final between Lochaber and Kingussie and a second half Victor Smith strike was enough to give Lochaber a 1- 0 victory.
On the field round- up Marine Harvest Premiership
Newtonmore clinched a seventh successive Marine Harvest Premiership title when they beat Kinlochshiel 7-1 at Kirkton.
It was a sparkling performance with Glen MacKintosh scoring five times.
Skye kept their slim survival hopes alive by beating Kingussie in Portree, but Fort William were relegated.
Marine Harvest National Division
Kilmallie secured the title, beating nearest challengers Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
The Newtonmore seconds survived a late scare to beat Kinlochshiel seconds 4-3 at Kirkton, securing the league title in the process.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Oban Celtic became league winners with an emphatic 9-1 win over the Kyles Athletic second team at Tighnabruaich.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Lochcarron’s dropped point against the Caberfeidh seconds meant Aberdeen University clinched the title without playing a league game during September.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
A draw with nearest challengers Kilmory was enough to give Tayforth the title and promotion to South 1.
Camanachd Cup
Newtonmore lifted the Camanachd Cup, winning 1- 0 in a tight encounter with Oban Camanachd at An Aird, Fort William.
This game’s decisive moment came after just three minutes with Evan Menzies setting up Glen MacKintosh to score.
Andy MacKintosh’s role in a well- oiled Newtonmore defence earned him the coveted Albert Smith Medal for man of the match which was presented by Rene Smith.
Artemis Macaulay Cup
Kinlochshiel made history when they finally saw off Inveraray to win 5-3 in the Artemis Macaulay Cup Final at Mossfield, Oban.
Keith MacRae and Jordan Fraser had ’Shiel 2- 0 ahead, only for Allan MacDonald and Fraser Watt to restore parity.
Jordan Fraser put ’Shiel back in front – all before the half time whistle.
A Fraser Watt penalty squared the final once more but Oliver MacRae and Keith MacRae again gave Kinlochshiel their first senior trophy.
Strathdearn Cup
Marine Harvest North Division 2 side Lochcarron lifted the Strathdearn Cup with a 4-1 win over Glenurquhart’s second team at Castle Leod.
Glen’s James MacPherson wiped out an early Allan MacKay goal and Lochcarron went on to lift the trophy thanks to a Crisdean Finlayson double and one from Nick Dalgety.
Bullough Cup
Tayforth survived a second half fight-back to beat Kilmory 4-3 and win the Bullough Cup at Strachurmore.
Tayforth led 4- 0 at half time with a Conor Sweeney brace, an Orsten Gardner effort and an Andy Scott strike.
Kilmory were a different proposition in the second half though and three quick goals from John Strachan, Steven Walsh and Alex Cunningham got them back in the contest but Tayforth took the spoils.
October New caps in Scotland squad
Scotland head coach Ronald Ross named his senior squad for the 2016 Marine Harvest Shinty/ Hurling international against Ireland.
Ross included three new caps: Oban Camanachd’s Lorne Dickie, Kingussie’s Thomas Borthwick and Lovat’s Greg Matheson.
Mod Cup win for Skye
Skye Camanachd’s second team beat Lewis Camanachd 3- 0 to lift the Mod Cup at Shawbost.
Peter Gordon, Iain MacLellan and Kenny MacLeod got the goals.
Scotland and Ireland do battle
Scotland out-scored Ireland to win 14-5 and lift the Marine Harvest Quaich following their Marine Harvest shinty/ hurling International at the Bught Park.
There were no goals in the match and the Scots stayed in front from early in the game.
Ireland U21 fought off a spirited second half comeback from Scotland U21 to win 30-17 in their encounter at the Bught Park. Skye’s Will Cowie and Charlie MacDonald from Inverness scored the Scotland goals.
After three successive wins against Irish opposition, Stuart Reid’s Scotland women’s squad went down 12-2 to the Dublin women in their match on the Bught Park outside pitch.
Marine Harvest shinty awards
The 2016 Annual Marine Harvest Shinty Award winners were announced at a ceremony and dinner at Drumossie Hotel, Inverness.
Marine Harvest’s business support manager Steve Bracken made a number of presentations including Coach of the Year - PJ MacKintosh, Player of the Year - Finlay MacRae and Club of the Year - Newtonmore.
Oban Camanachd’s Iain Hay, Kilmallie’s Mark MacPherson, Oban Celtic’s Kenny Woth- erspoon, Lochaber’s Michael Delaney, Fort William Ladies’ Elaine Wink and Ardnamurchan’s Lyndsay Bradley were amongst the other managerial winners. Player prizes included Oban Celtic’s Neil Carmichael, Kilmory’s Hal Jones, Fort William’s Lachie Shaw and Ardnamurchan’s Eilidh Ross.
On the field round- up Marine Harvest Premiership
Newtonmore were given the league trophy following their win over Skye at the Eilan, a result which finally relegated the islanders.
Marine Harvest National Division
Kilmallie took receipt of the National Division trophy after a win over Beauly at Canal Parks.
The title success means Kilmallie will play top flight shinty next season.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
The Newtonmore second team received the North 1 cup after their derby win over their Kingussie counter-parts.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Oban Celtic lifted the league title after beating the Kyles Athletic second team at Mossfield in their final fixture.
They also win promotion to the National Division.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Aberdeen University were presented with the league trophy after their final fixture which saw them beat Inverness at the Bught Park.
November Managerial changes
There were a number of managerial changes at the end of the 2016 shinty season.
At Glenurquhart, Iain MacLeod took over from co-managers Billy MacLean and Dave Menzies.
Alan MacRae replaced Stephen MacLean at Beauly and John MacLeod stepped down at Skye with co-managers Willie Cowie and Peter Gordon taking over.
Kingussie, Lovat and Tayforth remain on the look- out for new bosses.
Oban Camanachd U17s win Marine Harvest London Shield
A last-gasp Daniel MacVicar goal gave Oban Camanachd U17s a 3-2 victory over Skye Camanachd U17s to win the Marine Harvest London Shield at the Eilan.
Skye’s Ruaraidh MacLeod twice cancelled out goals from Lewis Buchanan and Daniel MacCuish before MacVicar’s dramatic winner.
Mixed fortunes for Scottish university squads
The Scottish University mens’ squad recorded a 28-7 win in their shinty/ hurling meeting with their Queens University counterparts at the Dub in Belfast but the ladies lost out in their shinty/camogie meeting with their Queens University counterparts.
Skye youths claim Marine Harvest North Division 1 title
Skye Camanachd’s U14s clinched the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title after they drew 2-2 with Fort William U14s at An Aird.
Lovat Ladies make step up
Lovat won the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title and promotion to the top division in the women’s game when they beat Glengarry 6- 0 in their play- off match at the Bught Park, Inverness.
December Strathglass push ahead to Marine Harvest National Division
Strathglass were successful in their application to the Camanachd Association to step up to the Marine Harvest National Division next season.
The Cannich club will also re-introduce their second team in Marine Harvest North Division 2 following increased activity at youth level over the last couple of years.
Strachur back in the fold
Strachur will return to senior shinty in 2017 after taking a break last season.
Strachur, with their impressive Strachurmore pitch and pavilion, will compete in Marine Harvest South Division 2.
Camanachd Association AGM
Representatives from shinty clubs across the country gathered at the West End Hotel, Fort William, for the Camanachd Association AGM.
The need for a Camanachd Cup sponsor, agreement on qualified referees for youth matches, increased membership and insurance fees were discussed whilst Newtonmore’s bid to alter the rules surrounding technical areas narrowly failed to win sufficient support.
Womens Camanachd Association AGM
The Womens Camanachd Association AGM took place at The Isles of Glencoe Hotel.
It was a fairly straightforward event, boosted by news that two new clubs will be entering competitions next season - Oban Lorn in the league and the English Shinty Association in the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup.
Camanachd Association president praises Oban Times’ shinty coverage
Camanachd Association President Jim Barr praised The Oban
Times for their shinty coverage during the 2016 shinty season.
In his annual report, Jim Barr said: ‘Many local papers provide extensive coverage of the sport, a reflection of the important role shinty plays in the life of communities across Scotland. ‘Most notably, The Oban
Times doubled its coverage with a weekly two-page spread providing a comprehensive round-up and preview in each edition throughout the season.
‘ We gratefully acknowledge the effort and support of all journalists, photographers and editors who provide shinty coverage within their publications.’
The Oban Times was presented with the media award at the 2016 Marine Harvest Shinty Awards.