Lovat finish third after narrow win against Oban Camanachd
LOVAT finished third in the Marine Harvest Premiership and Lochside Rovers extended their unbeaten run following the shinty action on Saturday October 28.
Marine Harvest Premiership Oban Camanachd 1 Lovat 2
Lovat clinched third place in the Marine Harvest Premiership after they came from behind to beat Oban Camanachd 2-1 at Mossfield.
Both teams were without a number of first team regulars. Oban Camanachd boss Iain Hay was back on the touchline after missing his side’s last two matches as he was on holiday. Gary McKerracher returned to the side and started up front. He played well, proving a handful for Lovat full back Drew Howie. Keeper Gavin Stobbart was unavailable so Cameron Sutherland was promoted from Lochside. David Lafferty was missing and Daniel Cameron was a late call-off with an arm injury. Craig MacDougall and Lennon Campbell were Oban Camanachd’s only substitutes.
This was Lovat’s final game of the season and boss Fraser Gallacher, who himself started the match, travelled with Rory Gallacher as his only substitute. Greg Matheson was suspended whilst Callum Cruden, Craig Mainland, Martin Mainland, Calum MacAulay, Lorne MacKay and Thomas Fraser were all unavailable.
Only Stuart MacDonald, Drew Howie, Daniel Grieve, Ryan Ferguson and Lewis Tawse started from Lovat’s Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup final team. Scott MacKenzie returned from injury to start at wing back, with Chris Johnston in the other wing back position.
Oban Camanachd came close to breaking the deadlock following a goalmouth scramble, but Willie Neilson was unable to knock the ball home.
Oban Camanachd took the lead a minute before half time. The ball broke to Andrew MacCuish following a corner and he gave Stuart MacDonald no chance with a waist-high shot from six yards out, beating the keeper on his left side.
Lovat replaced Jamie Buchan with Rory Gallacher at the interval, giving the youngster his first senior appearance.
The game turned on three second half minutes when Lovat punished some slack Oban Camanachd defending.
Lewis Tawse drew the Balgate side level on 64 minutes after a good passing move which started in midfield.
Marc MacLachlan tried to pick out Duncan Davidson with a through ball and although the ball was partially cleared, it went to Lewis Tawse at the edge of the box and he had time to smash a shoulder-high shot past the keeper to make it 1-1.
Duncan Davidson put Lovat in front just a couple of minutes later. Marc MacLachlan saw his strike well saved by Cameron Sutherland but as the hosts tried to clear, Duncan Davidson reacted quickest to take the ball around the keeper and tap it into the net to make it 2-1.
Oban Camanachd pressed for a leveller and Gary McKerracher had a chance but lifted the ball over the bar from 15 yards out.
Both keepers dealt with everything that came their way. Cameron Sutherland kept out a couple of efforts from distance, whilst Stuart MacDonald made some excellent saves, the pick of which was a brilliant stop late in the game from a deflected Andrew MacCuish shot which was spinning towards the top corner of the net.
As well as Stuart MacDonald, Drew Howie and Daniel Grieve were excellent in an over-worked Lovat defence.
This is the third time this season Oban Camanachd have lost 2-1 to Lovat and manager Iain Hay was left scratching his head as to how his side took nothing from the game.
The Oban side complete their season this Saturday against Kilmallie at The Canal Parks.
The match is an 11.30am throw-up to allow the Oban squad to head for Invergarry afterwards to cheer on Oban Camanachd U17s in the London Shield Final against Kingussie U17.
Marine Harvest National Division Fort William P Inveraray P
The crucial league meeting between Fort William and Inveraray was postponed on Saturday morning when An Aird was ruled unplayable. The fixture has been rescheduled for this Saturday with a noon throw-up. Fort William go into the match knowing that nothing less than a 13 goal victory means Caberfeidh will pip them to the division’s second promotion place to the Marine Harvest Premiership.
Inveraray’s Allan MacDonald will miss out through suspension.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Aberdeen University W/O v Beauly
The Beauly seconds were again unable to raise a team for their trip to Balgownie to play Aberdeen University so the students were awarded the points.
Aberdeen University travel to An Aird this Saturday to play the Fort William second team.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Bute 0 Lochside Rovers 0
Marine Harvest South Division 1 champions Lochside Rovers shared the points in a goal-less draw with Bute in their noon throw-up in a match moved to Scalpsay as The Meadows was unplayable.
Bute’s Frank Devlin was free of suspension.
Lochside’s Craig MacDougall was also free from his ban but he was called up by the Oban side’s senior team. MacDougall was one of eight players unavailable to manager Gareth Evans who started on the bench as Lochside’s only reserve, with assistant manager Brian MacCallum covering for Cameron Sutherland in goal.
Whilst there was steady rain throughout the match, it was the very strong wind that made it difficult for both sets of players.
Lochside started with the wind advantage, but Kevin Queen in the Bute goal was equal to their efforts.
When Bute did threaten they found Brian MacCallum just as able in the visiting goal.
Bute had the elements in the second half but whilst they pressed for an opener, they were unable to break the deadlock.
Neil MacFarlane and Daniel Sloss were best for Lochside.
Bute host Aberdour this Saturday, whilst Lochside have one match remaining, against Kilmory.
Ballachulish 2 Kilmory 2
Kilmory came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Ballachulish in their 1pm throw-up at The Jubilee Park.
Ballachulish made a great start to the match with Duncan MacDonald putting them ahead after 10 minutes. A corner from the left was played into the middle and although it was cleared by the Kilmory defence, it only went as far as Duncan MacDonald. MacDonald, facing away from goal, got the ball under control before turning and firing the ball into the net.
Things got even better for Ballachulish six minutes later. Pat MacLean played the ball forward from midfield to Lorne Brown. Brown’s initial effort was blocked by the full back and the ball flew straight up in the air. Lorne Brown controlled the dropping ball with his chest and moved the ball into space before placing a shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Hal Jones started the Kilmory fight-back when he pulled a goal back on 51 minutes. Alex Cunningham played the ball down the middle where Hal Jones gathered possession around 25 yards from goal. Jones got past his marker before hitting a low, hard shot into the bottom corner of the net to make it 2-1.
Kilmory drew level 15 minutes from time. The ball was driven down the wing to Hal Jones who crossed to the edge of the ‘D’ where Alister MacArthur took the ball past two defenders before tapping it past the keeper to make it 2-2.
Kilmory will be the happier with the point from this hardfought game as Ballachulish hit the post three times and were also foiled by some great goalkeeping.
Kyles Athletic 1 Aberdour 4
The Kyles Athletic second team and Aberdour were scheduled to play at Tighnabruaich.
However, it became clear during the week that the pitch would be unplayable so the match was switched to Silversands with a 1pm throw-up.
On a cool and blustery day, Aberdour fielded some younger players with John Martin Philips, Alec Mitchell and Craig Grant amongst their absentees.
Kyles included Innes MacDonald, Scott MacDonald and Ross MacRae in their side.
Aberdour opted to play against the wind and up the slope in the first half and took the lead after eight minutes when Roddy McColl finished off a good passing move.
The Aberdour defence did well to deal with periods of Kyles Athletic pressure during the first 45 minutes but there was little they could do when Innes MacDonald levelled five minutes before the break with a looping strike from midfield.
Aberdour took charge after the break, scoring three times in 15 minutes.
David MacKenzie put the hosts back in front five minutes after the restart and David MacDougall made it 3-1 three minutes later. Angus Thorburn added a fourth on 65 minutes following more good forward play.
Tom Bowerman in the Aberdour goal made some fine saves to keep Kyles at bay. The victory keeps second-placed Aberdour in front of third-placed Kilmory.
Aberdour head for The Meadows this Saturday to face Bute.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Inverness P Kilmallie P
The game between the Inverness colts and the Kilmallie colts at The Bught Park was called off late.
There was a booking mix-up meaning the field was unavailable.
The teams will play again this weekend at The Canal Parks.
Caberfeidh W/O v Boleskine
The Caberfeidh reserves were given a walk-over when Boleskine were unable to field a team for their fixture at Castle Leod.
Lochcarron v Strathspey Camanachd W/O
The match between Lochcarron and Strathspey Camanachd was originally scheduled for Battery Park but was switched to Grantown Grammar School.
Strathspey Camanachd were eventually given a walk-over though when Lochcarron were unable to raise a team.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Bute 4 Dunoon Camanachd 0
The Bute second team beat Dunoon Camanachd 4-0 in their 3pm throw-up.
Fifth-placed Bute were favourites going into this meeting against bottom side Dunoon and a Willie Boag double plus strikes from Scott Harvey and Andrew MacLachlan gave the Islanders a deserved victory.
This match completes the Marine Harvest South Division 2 programme.
WCA round-up
A limited number of Women’s Camanachd Association fixtures were scheduled over the weekend.
Marine Harvest National Division 1 Fort William 4 Badenoch & Strathspey 2
Fort William were 4-2 winners in their match against Badenoch.
On the scoresheet for Fort William were Elaine Wink (2) and Ashleigh Fraser (2).
Rona Stewart and Rhona McIntyre scored the Strathspey goals.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lochaber P Glenurquhart P
The match between Lochaber and Glenurquhart was postponed because of a bereavement.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Cowal & Bute P Dunadd P
The match between Cowal & Bute and Dunadd didn’t go ahead with the teams agreeing to share the points.
Development League winners – play-offs
The Women’s Camanachd Association Development League play-off matches took place at The Dell on Saturday October 28.
Ardnamurchan, Badenoch & Strathspey, Skye Camanachd and Tayforth were the qualifying sides for this national development decider.
Eventual winners Tayforth came from a goal down to beat Badenoch & Strathspey 3-1 in their opening fixture and went through the tournament unbeaten. Badenoch beat Skye and Ardnamurchan to finish second.
Glenorchy unable to complete the season
Glenorchy Shinty Club has written to the Camanachd Association to confirm that due to work commitments and injuries they will be unable to fulfil their Marine Harvest South Division 1 fixtures for the remainder of the 2017 shinty season.
The Camanachd Association confirmed it received a letter from Glenorchy on October 16 and due to the timing of the notification, it has been agreed the points will be awarded to the clubs that Glenorchy were scheduled to play over the coming weeks. This season started well for Glenorchy with a Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup win over Ballachulish and a league draw with Taynuilt.
A run of league defeats followed and the Mart Park’s side’s only league victory was against Bute in June. A draw with Col Glen followed. They have been unable to raise a team in recent weeks though and will finish the season bottom of Marine Harvest South Division 1 and will be relegated.
Glenorchy have advised the Camanachd Association that they hope to compete in Marine Harvest South Division 2 next season.
London Shield Final
The 2017 London Shield Final between Kingussie U17 and Oban Camanachd U17 takes place at Craigard, Invergarry on Saturday November 4.
This should be a terrific encounter with many of the players having previously taken part in the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final between the sides which was won by Lochside Rovers. Throw-up is at 2pm and Deek Cameron is the match referee.
Skye Camanachd bonfire and fireworks display
Skye Camanachd host their fourth annual bonfire and fireworks display at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree, on Saturday November 4.
The fun starts at 6.30pm and there will be the usual refreshments and food available in the Skye Camanachd clubhouse.
Admission is £5 for adults and £3 for under 16s. Everyone welcome.