Macaulay and Sutherland cup ties take centre stage this weekend
KYLES Athletic are the new Marine Harvest Premiership leaders, ahead of Kinlochshiel and Kingussie on goal difference, and seven of the eight Balliemore Cup quarter finalists are known following the shinty action on Saturday April 22 .
Balliemore Cup - second round Fort William 2 Aberdour 1
Fort William beat Aberdour 2-1 in their 3pm throw-up at An Aird.
All the goals came in the final third of the match.
Fort William took the lead on 66 minutes. A chipped ball into the goal area was stopped by Aberdour goalie Tom Bowerman but he wasn’t able to get any distance on his clearance and Lewis Clark was quickly in to score.
The home side extended their lead four minutes later. Calum Shepard saw an initial shot blocked but the rebound fell on his left side and he lashed the ball high into the net to make it 2- 0.
Fort William were reduced to 11 players when Bryan Simpson was red carded following a challenge on Craig Grant.
Aberdour pulled a goal back on 80 minutes. David McDougall sent a good ball forward and Paul MacKay made a good save from Roddy MacColl but Angus Thorburn, back in the side, was first to the rebound to score.
Fort William will now travel to face Skye Camanachd in the quarter finals on Saturday May 20.
Kilmory 0 Oban Celtic 3
Oban Celtic recorded their first competitive win of the season when they beat Kilmory 3- 0 in their 2pm throw-up at MacRae Park.
Oban Celtic defender Ross MacMillan served a one-game ban following his sending off against Fort William the previous week whilst keeper Stephen Davidson was also absent.
Oban Celtic took the lead following a fine set-piece involving Andy Hunt, Iain MacKechnie and a surging run from winger Kieran Carnie who coolly slotted the ball home.
The Oban side’s second was a good finish from Daniel Madej who collected a loose ball from edge of the ‘D’ and rifled it into the roof of the net.
Daniel Madej got his second and Oban Celtic’s third following a Kenny Wotherspoon through ball. Madej rode a challenge from the full back before poking the ball past the advancing goal keeper to make it 3- 0.
Next up for Oban Celtic in the Balliemore is a trip to play whoever comes out on top in the tie between Inveraray and Bute. That tie will be played later as Inveraray had their designated ‘free Saturday’ last weekend when their players attended the wedding of team mate Grant Griffin.
After the match, Oban Celtic player/manager Kenny Wotherspoon said: ‘I’m delighted we are finally up and running and hopefully the boys can carry the momentum forward to this week against Inveraray. The hardcore of the team will be back and available for selection and that’s something we haven’t had over the last three weeks so it’s a game we are looking forward to.’
Skye Camanachd 3 Strathglass 1
Skye Camanachd are through to the next round after they came from a goal down to beat Strathglass 3-1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Jordan Murchison and Neil MacVicar were both back for Skye, but they both started on the bench.
Strathglass travelled without George Phimister, Ross Balharry and Hamish Myers.
A clever run from Josh Fraser saw him latch on to a forward ball to score after 33 minutes.
Skye were level a couple of minutes later though when Will Cowie burst through the centre of the visiting defence to calmly slot the ball home.
Will Cowie got his second from the penalty spot on 48 minutes after Stewart Grant was brought down inside the ‘D’ by Strathglass goalie Ally MacAdams.
Will Cowie completed his hattrick on 56 minutes with another good finish.
Skye keeper Iain MacLeod made a fantastic save from a well-struck Scott Douglas penalty to maintain the islanders’ two-goal advantage.
Aberdeen University 0 Caberfeidh 11
Caberfeidh, flying high in the Marine Harvest National Division, thumped Aberdeen University, third in Marine Harvest North Division 1, 11- 0 at Balgownie.
Kevin Bartlett got Caberfeidh off to a great start with a goal after two minutes.
Craig Morrison on eight minutes and Liam Symonds on 15 minutes made it 3- 0 before Kevin Bartlett got his second a minute later.
Kevin Bartlett completed his hat-trick on 41 minutes and got his fourth a couple of minutes later as Caberfeidh took a 6- 0 lead into the break.
Scottish international Kevin Bartlett got his fifth on 51 minutes, whilst Craig Morrison completed his hat-trick with goals on 56 and 60 minutes to make it 9- 0.
Martin MacDonald took Caberfeidh to double figures on 62 minutes and Craig Morrison got his fourth on 78 minutes.
Beauly 6 Glenorchy 0
Beauly were too strong for Glenorchy, winning 6- 0 in their 3pm throw up at Braeview Park.
With Liam Girvan, Sandy Elrick and Ryan Tillman unavailable, Beauly boss Alan MacRae called up Sean Stewart, Rory Campbell and Daniel Lamont.
Glenorchy also had their selection difficulties. Alex MacPherson was amongst their absentees and they travelled with just 12 players.
Beauly got off to a great start when Conor Ross gathered possession and played the ball to Sean Stewart who crossed for Jack MacDonald who sent a low strike into the net from 12 yards out.
Connor Ross picked up an early injury and was replaced by Daniel Lamont and Lamont set up an unmarked Jack MacDonald to make it 2- 0 with a good strike on 22 minutes.
Ross Forbes got on the end of a Sean Stewart shy from the left and sent a waist-high shot past keeper Andrew Smith to make it 3- 0 with 34 minutes played.
Beauly ended the game as a contest with the goal of the game on 39 minutes. Daniel Lamont released Ross Forbes down the wing and he cut back from the by-line before sending a great strike into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
There was still time for Angus Renwick to hit the post before referee John Angus Gillies blew for half time.
There was no let up from the home side and Sean Stewart made it 5- 0 a minute after the re-start. Stewart gathered an Angus Renwick shy and his sweetly struck low shot bounced into the net.
Glenorchy dug in and it was five minutes from time before Jack MacDonald completed his hat-trick with a snap-shot for what was the final goal of this sporting encounter.
Taynuilt 5 Ballachulish 2
A Willie Lafferty inspired Taynuilt beat Ballachulish 5-2 in their all-Marine Harvest South Division 1 tie at the Taynuilt Sports Field.
Lafferty scored on two and six minutes to give Taynuilt an early advantage and although Lorne Brown pulled a goal back on 20 minutes, Duncan Campbell restored the home side’s two goal cushion with a 29th minute goal.
Willie Lafferty completed his hat-trick on 56 minutes but Lorne Brown got his second on 65 minutes to make it 4-2.
Willie Lafferty got his fourth goal of the game with just a couple of minutes remaining to make it 5-2.
Taynuilt will have home advantage against Beauly in the next round.
Tayforth 1 Inverness 5
Inverness are through to the next round after they beat Tayforth 5-1 at Levenhall Links.
Inverness travelled without a number of players including Ian Munro, Arran MacMaster, Davie Glass, Charlie MacDonald and William MacKinnon.
First half goals from James Cameron on 14 minutes and Andy Reid on 27 minutes made it 2- 0 at the break.
James Cameron got another a minute into the second half and late goals from Somhairle MacDonald on 86 minutes and Padraig McNeil a minute later put gloss on the win.
Inverness will be away to fellow National Division side Caberfeidh in the last eight of the competition.
Strathdearn Cup – first round Beauly 0 Glengarry 8
Glengarry continued their good start to the season with a resounding 8- 0 win over Beauly’s second team in their noon throw-up at Braeview Park.
Raymond Rennie made it 1- 0 after 11 minutes and Ruaraidh MacDonald added a second five minutes later. Raymond Robertson completed his hat-trick with goals on 21 and 38 minutes to make it 4- 0 at the break.
Nick Dalgety struck twice on 63 and 67 minutes to make it 6- 0.
Robertson got his fourth goal of the afternoon on 74 minutes before Scott Bremner made it 8- 0 on 78 minutes.
Glengarry can now look forward to a home tie against the Glenurquhart second team in the second round of the allNorth competition on Saturday May 13.
Marine Harvest Premiership Kinlochshiel 2 Kingussie 0
Match of the day in the Marine Harvest Premiership was the 3pm throw up between fourthplaced Kinlochshiel and league leaders Kingussie.
And it is ’Shiel who maintain their 100 per cent record with a 2- 0 win which lifts them to second in the table. Kinlochshiel were along usual lines.
Kingussie travelled without Martin Dallas, although Savio Genini and Ryan Borthwick were back.
The latter had to be withdrawn early in the game however with the recurrence of an injury problem.
There were no goals in a keenly contested first half but it was the home side who took the lead on 53 minutes. Kingussie had been attacking but a long ball forward from ’Shiel came in to Jordan Fraser who flicked the ball on to John MacRae who scored from a tight angle.
Kingussie keeper Craig Dawson got his stick to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.
It was to get better for the home support just a couple of minutes later. A brilliant run from Keith MacRae caused problems in the visiting defence and led to a goal line scramble.
The ball was flicked out to John MacRae who tapped the ball home for his second goal of the game.
Next up for ’Shiel is a home Artemis Macaulay Cup meeting with Lovat, whilst Kingussie host Lochaber in the same competition.
Lovat 2 Oban Camanachd 1
Lovat halted a run of three games without a win when they came from a goal down to beat Oban Camanachd 2-1 in their 12.30pm throw-up at Balgate.
Callum Cruden was back in the Lovat line-up and Martin Mainland had recovered from a hand injury sustained in the previous week’s defeat to Glenurquhart.
Willie Neilson was passed fit to play for Oban Camanachd but Connor Howe was working.
This was a high-intensity match with plenty of endeavour from both sides.
Oban Camanachd almost went in front on five minutes when a cross into the danger area was deflected over his bar by Callum Cruden.
Visiting keeper Gavin Stobbart made a superb save under his crossbar to deny Lorne MacKay a minute later.
Oban Camanachd were starting to dominate the centre line and they took the lead on 15 minutes when Matt Rippon ran in on goal before confidently slotting the ball home.
Lovat lost Baily MacKay through injury on 35 minutes with Scott MacKenzie coming on in his place.
Lovat switched Danny Kelly to full centre at the break and he went on to win more of the ball in midfield with Scott MacKenzie also playing well, staking a claim for a starting slot against Kinlochshiel this coming Saturday.
Lovat levelled on 74 minutes. Scott MacKenzie won a tackle and ran up the right before playing a pass to Greg Matheson’s feet. Matheson made enough space to send a great shot high into the net from around 18 yards out.
Lovat took the lead a minute later.
Their forward line had moved deep and Greg Matheson showed great anticipation to run onto a ball over the top. Gavin Stobbart came out to clear but he slipped as he tried to get the ball away, leaving Matheson to take the ball and knock it into the empty net.
This was a feisty encounter which threatened to boil over on a couple of occasions following incidents involving Greg Matheson and Scott MacMillan with both players booked by referee Archie Ritchie.
Glenurquhart 1 Kyles Athletic 4
Kyles Athletic made it four league wins out of four when they beat Glenurquhart 4-1 in their 3pm throw-up at Balgate.