Magnificent seven for Oban Camanachd as Kinlochshiel top the Premiership
Marine Harvest Premiership Lovat 2 Kinlochshiel 4
Kinlochshiel go top of the Marine Harvest Premiership following their 4-2 win over Lovat at Balgate.
Greg Matheson was passed fit to play for Lovat but Martin Mainland and Mark Kelly both missed out through injury. Bailey MacKay was also missing with Scott MacKenzie given a start in defence.
Mark Macdonald was unavailable for ’Shiel so Donald Nixon dropped back into defence with his brother Alasdair given a start at wing centre.
John MacRae was able to play but his booking against Oban Camanachd a week earlier means he will miss this coming Saturday’s trip to Tighnabruaich to play Kyles Athletic.
Kinlochshiel went in front on 10 minutes after a ball from the left dropped at the back post. Daniel Grieve missed a chance to clear which allowed Keith MacRae to trap the ball before sending a fierce shot into the net from the edge of the ‘D’.
’Shiel doubled their lead on 21 minutes but the goal wasn’t without controversy. There was a tussle inside the ‘D’ and the ball was flicked towards John MacRae who shot home. The referee awarded the goal after consulting with his goal judge but Lovat were furious, claiming offside and that the ball had been flicked outside the ‘ D’ and that there was at least one visiting forward still inside the ‘D’ when the ball was hit home.
Worse was to follow for Lovat when Jordan Fraser collected the ball in space on 31 minutes and drove the ball into the back of the net to make it 3- 0.
The visitors were dominant in all areas of the field in the first half but Lovat were better after the break with Craig Mainland’s interval switch from the forward line to midfield helping them control the centre line.
The home side pulled a goal back on 57 minutes when Lorne MacKay floated a free-hit towards Graeme MacMillan who produced a superb finish, striking the ball across keeper Scott Kennedy into the net from 20 yards out to make it 3-1.
Lovat didn’t get a chance to build on this though as ’Shiel restored their three-goal cushion just a couple of minutes later through Keith MacRae with his third goal in two games.
There was another contentious moment on 65 minutes. Lorne Mackay pulled defender Paul MacRae wide before crossing for Lewis Tawse to touch the ball past Scott Kennedy but the goal judge flagged for offside, a decision contested by the Lovat players.
Lovat reduced the deficit on 75 minutes when Greg Matheson pulled a shy from the left out of the air and hit the ball across the keeper into the net to make it 4-2.
Lovat’s Danny Kelly suffered a nasty head injury, despite wearing a helmet, which could make him a doubt for next week’s encounter with Kilmallie.
Donald Nixon was outstanding in defence for Kinlochshiel who have now collected maximum points from two difficult opening fixtures.
Oban Camanachd 7 Lochaber 0
Oban Camanachd picked up their first points of the season when they beat Lochaber 7- 0 at Mossfield.
Home boss Iain Hay was still without the injured Garry Lord whilst Scott MacKillop was ruled out with a shin problem but Scott MacMillan proved to be a more than able replacement. Willie Neilson was passed fit to play and lined up at half back.
Lochaber manager Ally Ferguson was minus Danny Delaney who is recovering from an eye operation.
Oban Camanachd, who took to the field wearing new strips, sponsored by The Oban Inn, went in front on 10 minutes. Andrew MacCuish won the ball from a ruck of players and took it in the ‘D’ before feigning by a defender and putting the ball past keeper Callum MacDonald to score.
Oban’s second goal on 16 minutes came from a free-hit. Aidan MacIntyre touched the ball to Daniel MacVicar who struck it into the bottom right corner of the net from 15 yards.
Aidan MacIntyre made it 3- 0 on 23 minutes. Andrew MacCuish took possession around 35 yards out and played the ball to Malcolm Clark out wide who hit a high ball which dropped on goal and was saved with his feet by Callum MacDonald.
The rebound fell into the path of Aidan MacIntyre at the edge of the ‘D’ though and he sent his shot into the top right corner of the net.
Oban Camanachd picked up where they left off a couple of minutes into the second half. Aidan MacIntyre delivered a high ball in towards the ‘D’ which was knocked away by the Lochaber defence to around the penalty spot where Malcolm Clark ran onto it and crashed a shot into the top right corner of the net to make it 4- 0.
Connor Howe got in on the act on 71 minutes. Howe’s initial backhand shot from the penalty spot was blocked but the ball came back to him and he scored on his right side with the ball taking a slight deflection into the right hand side-netting.
The goals continued to flow and Andrew MacCuish got his second with 15 minutes remaining. Malcolm Clark knocked a high clearance out of defence into the path of Connor Howe and he played a through pass to Andrew MacCuish who slotted the ball past MacDonald.
MacCuish then turned provider as he squared a ball from the right into the centre of goal to Connor Howe who tucked the ball into bottom left corner of the net to make it 7- 0 with just three minutes remaining.
Glenurquhart 1 Newtonmore 1
Glenurquhart collected an unlikely point following a 1-1 draw with Newtonmore in their 1.30pm throw up at Blairbeg.
James MacPherson’s hat-trick in the previous weekend’s win over Kilmallie earned him a starting place in Iain MacLeod’s side. Andrew Corrigan was working and, with Stuart MacKintosh working his way back from injury, Garry MacKintosh continued to deputise in goal. Connor Golabek was given a marking job on Newtonmore danger-man Iain Robinson.
Newtonmore had Andy MacKintosh free of suspension but manager Paul John MacKintosh started him on the bench.
David MacLean was given a first start in the team in the buckshee forward position.
Glenurquhart came out of the blocks quickly. Newtonmore played a long ball out of defence in the first minute and with David MacLean looking to take control, Fraser Heath nipped in to win possession. Heath played a long ball towards James MacPherson who turned his man and slipped the ball to Daniel MacKintosh who showed great composure to drill a shot past keeper Owen Fraser to make it 1- 0 with only 85 seconds played.
Glenurquhart took confidence from the goal and Callum Smith and James MacPherson had chances to add to MacKintosh’s goal with Newtonmore on the back foot in the opening quarter of the game.
Newtonmore created a chance on 35 minutes when Glen Mackintosh shot from 20 yards. But Garry MacKintosh saved with his hand, deflecting the ball onto the post and away to safety.
Newtonmore were forced to make a change five minutes before the break when Paul MacArthur came off with what looked like a hamstring problem. Andy MacKintosh came on in his place.
The same pattern of play continued in the second half with Glenurquhart winning the midfield battle, with Eddie Tembo playing well on the wing, winning a lot of challenges.
Newtonmore pressed for a leveller and the pressure paid off on 70 minutes. The goal came initially from a ‘ Glen’ attack with the ball cleared following a goal-mouth scramble. The ball was cleared into midfield where Jamie Robinson flicked it to Norman Campbell who turned his marker and slotted a low, hard shot from 22 yards into the net by keeper MacKintosh’s right post.
The home side responded and almost went back in front on 82 minutes when Daniel MacKintosh broke away and fired a ferocious shot which beat keeper Fraser and hit the underside of the bar before being bundled away by the ’More defence.
A late Newtonmore attack saw a good ball from substitute Andy MacKintosh on the ’More left find Iain Robinson who was being pulled by a home defender. Referee John Angus Gillies blew for the infringement but the ball broke to Norman Campbell who fired it into the net. But the effort was ruled out as the referee had already blown.
A draw seemed a fair result with John Barr and Glen MacKintosh having a great battle. Fraser Heath was commanding at buckshee back with Lachie Smith and Eddie Tembo having great games.
Kingussie 0 Kilmallie 0
Kingussie and Kilmallie shared the points in a 0- 0 draw at the Dell.
Kingussie had the better of the first half with Savio Genini passing up a chance at the back post and Roddy Young sending a shot over the top from the edge of the ‘D’.
Kingussie found the on-form Kilmallie defence to be well organised which meant keeper Shane Gillies wasn’t overly worked, although he did well to palm away and then clear a shot from distance. Tempers flared late in the first half following a Martin Stewart challenge on Roddy Young.
Duncan Rodger had an effort ruled out for offside early in the second half and Kilmallie, urged on by Innes Blackhall in midfield, now had the edge.
Kingussie keeper Craig Dawson made two very good saves with his feet to deny Duncan Rodger and Michael Rodger.
The game’s flashpoint came five minutes from time when referee Calum Girvan sent off Kilmallie’s Michael Rodger for a second yellow card following a challenge on Rory MacKeachan. Rodger will miss this coming weekend’s league trip to Balgate to play Lovat.
Kingussie’s Martin Dallas could have won it at the death but Shane Gillies pulled off a neat save.
Both defences were on top form with James Hutchison and Lee Bain good for Kingussie whilst Allan MacDonald and Peter Carmichael performed well for Kilmallie.
Glasgow Mid Argyll P Kyles Athletic P
The match between Kyles Athletic and Glasgow Mid Argyll was switched to Peterson Park, Yoker, after Kyles’ Tighnabruaich pitch was ruled unplayable earlier in the week. However, the match was postponed on Saturday morning following a bereavement.
Marine Harvest National Division Fort William 3 Strathglass 2
Fort William twice came from behind to beat Strathglass 3-2 at An Aird.
Strathglass went in front after 19 minutes when Josh Fraser scored.
Fort William full centre Niall MacPhee got the equaliser when his speculative ball from midfield dropped into the Strathglass net to make it 1-1 with 27 minutes played.
Josh Fraser got his second on 37 minutes. The goal came against the run of play with Fraser blasting the ball into the roof of the net giving David Balharry’s side the edge at the break.
The second half was only a couple of minutes old when the home side drew level again. Daniel Stewart got the goal with a fine finish.
Fort William manager Victor Smith sent youngster Lewis Clark on for Scott Henderson as his side tried to get in front for the first time.
And they did just that with what proved to be the winning goal on 56 minutes when JD MacMaster forced the ball home from a tight angle.
Calum Shepherd was excellent for the home side and the victory leaves Fort William as early league leaders ahead of their trip to Castle Leod to take on Caberfeidh this Saturday.
Caberfeidh 0 Skye Camanachd 0
Caberfeidh and Skye Camanachd played out a 0- 0 draw at Castle Leod.
Caberfeidh boss Jodi Gorski was without Neil MacKenzie who served the second game of a two match ban.
Skye co-managers Willie Cowie and Peter Gordon travelled without Steven Morrison, Danny Morrison, Iain Nicolson and Ally ‘Spod’ MacLeod so there were call ups for Stewart Grant, Calum Gibb, Iain MacLellan and David Grant. Youngster Ruaraidh MacLeod was given a first senior start and played 90 minutes.
Ewan Picher in the Caberfeidh goal twice saved well from Ruaraidh MacLeod in the first half and made an excellent stop from Jordan Murchison after the interval.
Caberfeidh almost won it at the death, but Skye goalie Iain MacLeod did well to keep the ball out with his feet. Next up for Skye is a trip to Ganavan to face Oban Celtic.
Inverness 1 Beauly 2
Beauly came from a goal down to beat Inverness 2-1 in their 1pm throw up at Bught Park.
Inverness had Davie Glass free of suspension but William MacKinnon was sidelined after breaking a finger in the defeat to Skye a week earlier.
Keeper Iain Munro returned for Inverness and took over from Andy Reid in goal. Munro was late in arriving for the game though so David Campbell stood in between the sticks for the opening 12 minutes.
Beauly were still without Barrie MacDonald who is recovering from a knee injury but Greg Tillman has rejoined the club after a spell with Aberdeen University.
Inverness, playing with the wind at their backs, took the lead on 14 minutes. A great long ball from midfield from Dougie Rankin was controlled by James Cameron with his back to goal. Cameron then turned Liam Girvan and hammered the ball into the net to make it 1- 0.
Beauly drew level before the break when Daniel Lamont shot through a ruck of players to score for the second successive Saturday. The goal came on 39 minutes and set the teams up nicely for the second 45 minutes.
The winning goal came 10 minutes into the second half when Beauly youngster Robbie Brindle found the back of the
net to make it 2-1, although the final touch may have been off an Inverness defender.
Ian Munro looks to be a good signing for the Highland Capital side. The former Skye goalie is a good shot stopper, is calm under pressure and is a good hitter of the ball.
Inveraray P Oban Celtic P
The meeting between Inveraray and Oban Celtic was postponed as the Winterton was unplayable. A switch to Ganavan wasn’t possible as it was also unplayable, whilst Mossfield was unable to take two games.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Newtonmore 4 Glenurquhart 0
With their opening match of the season postponed last weekend, league champions Newtonmore reserves finally got under way with a 4- 0 victory over the Glenurquhart reserves in their 1.30pm throw up at the Eilan.
Two goals late in the first half gave ’More the edge. Craig MacLeod gave them the lead on 40 minutes with John MacKenzie making it 2- 0 a couple of minutes later.
A second half double from Calum Stewart, now back playing after a spell abroad, made it 4- 0. Stewart’s strikes came on 70 and 84 minutes.
Aberdeen University P Beauly P
The match between Aberdeen University and the Beauly seconds was called off on Saturday morning as the student’s Balgownie pitch was unplayable.
Skye Camanachd P Kinlochshiel P
The game between the Skye Camanachd and Kinlochshiel second teams at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree, was postponed.
The pitch in Portree was damaged in both goal areas following last week’s first team match between Skye and Inverness and hadn’t recovered in time.
Switching the game to Kirkton wasn’t an option as Kinlochshiel’s pitch was also unplayable.
Kingussie P Fort William P
The noon throw up between the Kingussie colts and the Fort William colts was postponed as the Dell couldn’t take two games. The teams looked at switching the venue but An Aird also couldn’t host two games.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Taynuilt 0 Ballachulish 1
Ballachulish returned from Taynuilt Sports Field with both points courtesy of a 1- 0 win over Taynuilt after the game survived a Saturday morning pitch inspection.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half when Lorne Brown got on the end of a Jack MacLean corner at the front of the ‘D’. Brown took the ball down and drove it home, but referee Iain Kennedy ruled the effort out for offside.
Balla’ had a chance to go in front as the contest moved into the final 10 minutes of the first half. Balla’s John MacDonald played a ball over the top which was misjudged by the Taynuilt defence. Lorne Brown got away from Taynuilt defender Jimmy MacLaren but referee Kennedy spotted that MacLaren had a hold of Brown’s stick and pointed to the spot. Captain Brown took responsibility with the spot-hit but it was one to forget as he sent the ball over the bar.
Brown made amends on 65 minutes with the only goal of the game. The full forward got on the end of a long Craig Mclauchlan ball from midfield. Brown took a touch, turned and sent a shot on target which seemed to deceive the keeper and the ball nestled in the bottom right hand corner of the net.
It was a good, even game but Balla’ did enough to take the points with Brown’s strike making the difference.
Col Glen 1 Aberdour 2
Aberdour were without Jack Mitchell who suffered an eye injury in the previous weekend’s defeat to Lochside Rovers.
The first half was end-to- end but Col Glen looked the more likely to go ahead.
The visitors finished the half strongly though and some great forward link-up play gave Roddy MacColl the chance to break the deadlock. He didn’t disappoint, making it 1- 0 with five first half minutes remaining.
David MacDougall added a second for Aberdour on 70 minutes with his first goal for the senior side.
Tom Irvine scored for the home side on the stroke of full time, but Aberdour took the points.
Glenorchy P Lochside Rovers P
The match between Glenorchy and Lochside Rovers was postponed as Mart Park was unplayable.
Kilmory P Kyles Athletic P
A waterlogged pitch at MacRae Park led to the postponement of the 2pm throw-up between Kilmory and the Kyles Athletic second team.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Glengarry 5 Caberfeidh 1
Glengarry showed they will be a force to reckon with in this division when they followed up the previous weekend’s 8-1 win over Lewis Camanachd with a 5-1 victory over the Caberfeidh seconds.
This game was moved to the Bught Park earlier in the week.
Cabers signed former Lovat and Boleskine player Jamie Matheson during the week and he gave them the lead on 38 minutes with a debut goal.
’Garry made a great start to the second half and Nick Dalgety on 47 minutes and David Rodgers just 60 seconds later had them in front.
Raymond Robertson made it 3-1 on 59 minutes and went on to complete his hat-trick with late strikes on 80 and 89 minutes to take his tally to seven goals for the season.
The match was refereed by former Strathglass keeper Steven MacLachlan.
Lochaber 5 Lovat 1
The Lochaber second team are fancied by many to have a good season in this division and their first match of the league campaign saw them defeat the Lovat second team 5-1 at Spean Bridge.
Grant Matheson gave Lochaber the lead on 25 minutes and youngster Max Campbell made it 2- 0 on 31 minutes.
Lovat pulled a goal back through Raymond Rennie on 35 minutes but Lachlan Campbell made it 3-1 on 39 minutes.
Lachlan Campbell’s son Max got his second to make it 4-1 on the stroke of half time and Lochaber looked good for the win.
The only goal of the second half was scored by Keith Neville who made it 5-1 on 73 minutes.
Boleskine 3 Lewis Camanachd 0
Boleskine’s first competitive action of the season saw them overcome Lewis Camanachd 3- 0 in their 1pm throw up at Smith Park.
Neil Hope gave the home side the lead following a corner on 10 minutes.
Paul Duke went close for Lewis before Lewis Smith drilled the ball low into the net to give Boleskine a 2- 0 lead.
A superb finish from Neil Hope secured his second and Boleskine’s third goal on 65 minutes.
Ronan Sinclair saw a late shot well saved so there was no consolation for Lewis and Boleskine ran out 3- 0 winners.
Lochcarron 6 Inverness 1
Lochcarron opened their season with a 6-1 victory over Inverness seconds at Battery Park.
With Gregor Cushnie departed for Aberdeen University and Nick Dalgety joining Glengarry, Lochcarron have at least been able to add Oban-based Lance MacCuish to their squad as he is working in the area.
Inverness were without the experienced Ewen MacKinnon who has a broken foot.
Sean MacCuish settled the home side into the game with a goal after eight minutes and Lance MacCuish made it 2- 0 on 23 minutes.
Lachlan Dean Morrison added a third on 39 minutes but Michael Chisholm pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time.
Lance MacCuish got his second a minute after the restart to make it 4-1.
A second from Sean MacCuish made it 5-1 with 10 minutes remaining, whilst Liam Arnott scored three minutes later to round off the 6-1 win.
Strathglass 1 Strathspey Camanachd 4
Strathspey Camanachd are only behind league leaders Glengarry on goal difference after they defeated the Strathglass second team 4-1 at Cannich.
Struan Ross gave the visitors a 24 minute lead but Penri Jones levelled five minutes before the break.
The second half belonged to the visitors. Donald Colville put them back in front on 67 minutes with Connor Aubrey adding a third three minutes later.
A second Donald Colville goal on 72 minutes completed the 4-1 win.
The Kilmallie reserves were the free team in this 11-team league.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Aberdour 1 Dunoon Camanachd 1
In the only league match played in Marine Harvest South Division 2 this season, Aberdour reserves and Dunoon Camanachd drew 1-1 at Silversands.
David Young gave Dunoon the lead just before half time with his first goal for the club.
Aberdour responded strongly, putting Dunoon under pressure, and they got their reward when Kevin Latimer made it 1-1.
Oban Lorn P Bute P
Oban Lorn are still to see competitive action this season after their meeting with the Bute colts was called off as the pitch at Ganavan failed a Saturday morning inspection.
Glasgow Mid Argyll P Strachur P
The encounter between Glasgow Mid Argyll seconds and Strachur at Yoker will be re-scheduled following a bereavement.
The Inveraray second team were the free team in this seven-team league.
WCA Round Up
The first top flight fixtures of the new Women’s Camanachd Association took place last weekend.
Marine Harvest National Division 1 Skye Camanachd 5 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1
League champions Skye got their season off to a great start with a 5-1 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll in their noon throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
GMA showed no ill- effects from their 6am departure to journey north and took the lead after six minutes when Lyndsay Michie scored after home goalie Sarah Jane Ferguson had made a good double save.
Lorna MacRae equalised on 16 minutes after she burst through the GMA defence. Her initial shot deflected off GMA keeper Eleanor Fraser who turned and volleyed the ball away but the goal judge ruled it had just crossed the line.
A fine last-gasp challenge from Alana Harrison halted a Lorna MacRae run when she looked sure to score. The islanders did go in front on 26 minutes and it was Lorna MacRae who did the damage again. Jenna Beaton found Abby MacLean who played a neat reverse pass to MacRae and her blistering shot from the left flew into the roof of the net.
GMA finished the half on the attack, but were unable to draw level.
Skye opened the second period with purpose and set siege on the GMA goal.
They extended their lead on 46 minutes when Lorna MacRae picked up a Helen Lamond shy on the right and cut the ball back to Abby MacLean who smashed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-1.
Eleanor Fraser was in the GMA goal as regular keeper Stephanie Keenan was unavailable.
Eleanor made several fine saves including one above her head with her caman to deny Rhianna Kirk who fired goalwards from wide on the right.
Lorna MacRae shot just inches over the bar moments later.
Abby MacLean was on target again on 49 minutes when she turned a Jenna Beaton cross from the left into the net to make it 4-1.
Skye rounded off the 5-1 win on 63 minutes when Abby MacLean swept a Kirsty Dibble shy to Lorna MacRae who despatched the ball low into the net.
Rachel McCafferty and Lucy McNulty were best for GMA with Lorna MacRae and Abby MacLean shining for Skye.
Lochaber 2 Badenoch & Strathspey 1
Lochaber beat Badenoch & Strathspey 2-1 in a tight game at Spean Bridge on Sunday March 12.
The sides were level at a goal apiece at the break. Alison MacVicar was on target for Lochaber with Megan Ralph getting the Badenoch goal.
Lochaber edged it after the break though with the winning goal coming from Kirsty Delaney.
Lovat 3 Fort William 5
Lovat and Fort William, both newly promoted to the top flight, met at Balgate with the Fort taking the points with a 5-3 win on Sunday March 12.
Zoe Smith put Fort William in front on 12 minutes but Nikki Grant levelled on 24 minutes.
Fort William regained the lead on 43 minutes with Zoe Smith again doing the damage.
Fiona Urquhart drew Lovat level for a second time on the hour mark but Zoe Smith completed her hat-trick five minutes later.
There was still time for Elaine Wink and Zoe Smith to add to Fort William’s tally, coupled with another Fiona Urquhart goal for Lovat making the final score 5-3 for Fort William.