Three in a row for weather
The shinty schedule was weather-ravaged for a third successive weekend with only three men’s matches and one women’s game going ahead.
Mowi Premiership Newtonmore P Oban Camanachd P
The match of the day in shinty’s top flight would have been the meeting between Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd at the Eilan. However, snow in the Newtonmore area led to a Saturday morning postponement.
Fixtures
Fixtures March 23 2019 Mowi Premiership Caberfeidh v Lovat Martin MacLean Kilmallie v Lochaber Calum Girvan
Kyles Athletic v Inveraray Lachie Wood Newtonmore vKingussie Archie Ritchie
Oban Caman v Kinlochshiel Ross Brown
Mowi National Division Bute v Glasgow Mid Argyll Des McNulty
Fort William v Skye Alex MacVicar Glenurquhart v Oban Celtic Brian MacKay – 3pm Strathglass v Beauly
Iain Kennedy
Mowi North Division 1 Kingussie v Caberfeidh Deek Cameron Kinlochshiel v Inverness Andy MacLean Lovat v Glengarry John Angus Gillies Skye v Fort William Steven MacLachlan
Mowi South Division 1 Col Glen v Lochside Rovers Graham Fisher Glasgow MA v Inveraray Robert Baxter Tayforth v Ballachulish Ewan MacDonald Taynuilt v Aberdour Graham Cameron
Mowi North Division 2 Beauly v Strathglass John Matheson Inverness vLewis John Wood – 1pm Boleskine v Kilmallie Ronnie Campbell Lochcarron v Strathspey
Mowi South Division 2 Aberdour v Bute
Neil MacDonald Kilmory v Glenorchy Euan Pearson – 2pm Oban Celtic v Ardnamurchan Jim Innes
(All throw ups 2.30pm unless stated)
Next up for Oban Camanachd is a game against Kinlochshiel at Mossfield this Saturday.
Boss Stephen Sloss has a couple of concerns ahead of that game. He said: ‘Chrissie MacMillan is free of suspension but he also has a bad knee and would have missed the Newtonmore match had it gone ahead. Scott MacKillop is back in training though and he would have started last Saturday.’
However, the news on Craig MacDougall is not as positive as the injury picked up in the draw with Lovat signals a spell on the sidelines.
Sloss added: ‘Craig has a cruciate injury which is a shame for him. He’ll need an MRI scan and we’re not sure at this stage just how long we’ll be without him.
‘Hopefully this week’s game against Kinlochshiel will go ahead though. You always want to get a run of games at this time in the season and, it would be especially good to play this week as we don’t have a fixture the Saturday after.’
Newtonmore and Kingussie clash in the first Badenoch derby of the season at the Eilan and if there’s a positive to take from the weekend postponement for Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh, it’s that skipper Evan Menzies has been given an additional week to recover after pulling up in the opening minute of the win over Caberfeidh.
Lovat 2 Kingussie 2
An injury-time Savio Genini goal earned Kingussie a 2-2 draw against table-toppers Lovat at Balgate.
Lovat manager Fraser Gallacher fielded the same starting 12 that drew at Oban Camanachd a week earlier. Martin Mainland returned but he was listed as a substitute along with Thomas Fraser and Calum MacAulay.
Kingussie boss John Gibson had James Falconer free of suspension and he started on the bench with Ryan MacWilliam and Kieran MacPherson
This was the only national fixture to beat the weather but it rained throughout the 90 minutes.
The visitors lost Lee Bain early in the first half with James Falconer coming on at right wing forward and Roddy Young going to full forward.
Lovat bombarded the Kingussie goal in the first half and would surely have been ahead had it not been for some great goalkeeping from Craig Dawson and some resolute defending from Rory MacKeachan.
It looked like it would take something special to beat keeper Dawson and when Fraser Heath played in Marc MacLachlan, he sent a powerful shot goalwards but the effort went over the bar.
Kingussie wing centre Rory MacGregor unleashed a powerful shot on 34 minutes which looked on target but was deflected away by a Lovat defender.
Kingussie’s Roddy Young got the ball on the right on 41 minutes and his shot was well saved by Stuart MacDonald.
Lovat broke the deadlock with just 60 first-half seconds remaining. Marc MacLachlan, who had a good half, found his strike partner Greg Matheson and his shot took the slightest deflection off a defender’s caman on its way into the net to make it 1-0.
In truth, the hosts should have been further ahead at the interval.
Lovat went back on the attack from the restart and when Greg Matheson put Marc MacLachlan through, he lost his footing and his shot went over the top.
Greg Matheson then ran in on goal but his flick went just outside the post.
Kingussie made Lovat pay for their missed chances when Savio Genini equalised on 49 minutes. Genini was 25 yards out and his powerful, low back-hand shot was likely seen late by Stuart MacDonald as the ball beat him on his right side.
Lovat went back on the attack and when Fraser Heath played the ball into the D just three minutes later, Matheson and MacLachlan exchanged passes but didn’t take the chance to shoot and the danger was cleared.
Lovat swapped Graeme MacMillan for Martin Mainland just short of the hour. Lovat had a corner at the time from which Lewis Tawse found Greg Matheson, who trapped the ball at the edge of the D but his shot deflected wide.
However Lovat regained the lead on 65 minutes. Some powerful play from Marc MacLachlan saw him hold off Robert Mabon and MacLachlan pulled the ball away before producing a back-hand strike which beat the keeper on his left side with the ball going tight into the corner of the net.
Marc MacLachlan was injured in the process of getting the goal and although he had to be replaced, he came back on later in the game.
Just five minutes later, Ruaraidh Anderson’s shot skidded along the surface and Lovat goalie Stuart MacDonald had to move quickly to get his feet behind the ball just inside his right post.
Lovat had a chance to extend their lead on 73 minutes. Lorne MacKay sent the ball forward to Fraser Heath, who was now at full forward. Heath took the ball around Robert Mabon but keeper Craig Dawson was brave, standing up to the shot to make the save.
Lovat had dominated the first 75 minutes of the game but there was a break in play as Martin Mainland suffered a cut above his eye after being accidentally caught following a tussle with Fraser Munro.
When play restarted, it was Kingussie, with James Hutchison now bossing the midfield, who took control and it was constant Kingussie pressure until the end.
Lovat held on and the match was into stoppage time when Savio Genini earned Kingussie a dramatic point. The ball dropped into Ryan MacWilliam, who was now at full forward, and it bounced up into the air before Genini took it past the full back and, as Stuart MacDonald came running off his line, the Scotland U21 forward flicked it past him and into the net to make it 2-2.
Indeed Kingussie almost nicked both points at the end. The ball was played into space on the Kingussie right where Savio Genini ran onto it. Keeper Stuart MacDonald came off his line and the two players collided just inside the D. All eyes turned to referee Iain Kennedy who awarded the hosts a free-hit.
Both sets of players deserve great credit for their endeavour during a bitterly cold and wet afternoon.
Craig Dawson and Rory MacKeachan stood out for Kingussie as did two-goal Savio Genini, who displayed very good stick work throughout.
Greg Matheson and Marc MacLachlan linked up really well for Lovat whilst Craig Mainland turned in a man of the match performance.
Lovat travel to Caberfeidh this coming weekend and Kingussie are off to the Eilan to play Newtonmore.
Kinlochshiel P Kilmallie P
Kinlochshiel and Kilmallie had contrasting experiences on the opening day of the shinty season.
’Shiel suffered a heavy defeat at Lovat whilst Kilmallie won at champions Newtonmore.
They have both been left frustrated since then with their noon throw-up at Kirkton called off because of an unplayable pitch.
Lochaber P Kyles Athletic P
Lochaber’s match with Kyles Athletic at Spean Bridge was called off 24 hours ahead of throw-up as the pitch was unplayable.
This is a third postponement for Kyles, whose new manager Dunky Kerr has yet to lead the side in competitive action.
Caberfeidh P Inveraray P
Inveraray’s match against Caberfeidh was switched to Castle Leod midweek as the Winterton was ruled unplayable.
However, the wet weather led to a Friday morning postponement as the pitch was water-logged.
Caberfeidh’s Blair Morrison faces a spell on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder playing football.
Mowi National Division Oban Celtic P Beauly P
Oban Celtic’s match with Beauly was postponed on Saturday morning as Mossfield was ruled unplayable.
Oban Celtic are on the road this coming Saturday as they head for Blairbeg to play Glenurquhart. Neil Carmichael remains on the injury
list but Lee Askew may return.
Captain Ross MacMillan will be forced to sit this one out as he serves a one-match suspension for passing through the disciplinary points threshold.
Beauly make the relatively short journey to Strathglass.
Glasgow MA P Strathglass P
Glasgow Mid Argyll are still to get their season underway as travel warnings prevented Strathglass from journeying to Yoker.
Bute P Fort William P
Bute’s fixture with Fort William was called off on Friday afternoon as the Meadows was unplayable.
Glenurquhart P Skye P
Glenurquhart and Skye Camanachd, the two sides relegated from the Mowi Premiership at the end of last season, were to meet in a 2pm throw up at Blairbeg.
The match was originally scheduled for Pairc nan Laoch but it was transferred to Blairbeg during the week when it became clear the Portree pitch wouldn’t be playable.
However, the Drumnadrochit pitch also failed an inspection so was called off on Friday.
Aberdeen University 0 Lovat 4
Whilst the rain played havoc in the west, the east coast clash between Aberdeen University and the Lovat colts at Balgownie beat the elements although the conditions were also challenging.
Lovat took advantage of their rivals’ inactivity in the league and the 4-0 win takes them to the top of the table, ahead of Glengarry on goal difference.
Cammy MacMillan broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when he lost his marker and drifted into space outside the box where he shot into the middle of the goal to make it 1-0. Lovat notched a crucial second goal a minute before the break. There was a scramble around the penalty spot and when the ball rolled to Finlay Ogilvie, he steered a strike into the middle of the net for his first goal at second team level.
Lovat player/manager Jamie Matheson made it 3-0 on 63 minutes when he got past his marker by the penalty spot before driving a shot low wide of the keeper.
Finlay Ogilvie capped a fine performance when he got his second and Lovat’s fourth goal a couple of minutes from time. Ogilvie stopped the ball from a corner before swiping it low into the bottom right corner of the net.
Kingussie P Inverness P
The contest between Inverness and the Kingussie seconds was switched from the Bught Park to the Dell on Friday lunchtime.
However the wintry weather in the Badenoch area led to a Saturday morning postponement.
Elsewhere in the division, the wet weather led to call-offs in the second team matches between Kinlochshiel and Skye at Kirkton and Fort William and Glenurquhart at An Aird.
Glengarry’s meeting with champions Newtonmore seconds at Craigard also fell foul of the weather.
Mowi South Division 1 Lochside P Glasgow MA P
There was disappointment for Lochside Rovers and the Glasgow Mid Argyll reserves as their match at Ganavan was another weather-related casualty
Lochside look to record a third successive league win when they travel to Col Glen this Saturday.
The GMA seconds host their Inveraray counter-parts.
Ballachulish 2 Col Glen 1
Ballachulish came from a goal down to beat Col Glen 2-1 at Jubilee Park.
Balla’ lost new signing Jack Dignan early in the first half when a stick caught him on the head and he had to be substituted as a result.
Not long after, Duncan Macdonald also had to leave the field of play with a head injury although both he and Dignan returned to start the second half.
The first half looked as if it would end goalless but when a ball over the top was missed by the Balla’ defence a minute before the break, Neil McKirdy fired a shot low past Marcus Spence in the home goal to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the interval.
A quick start to the second half saw the hosts threaten the Col Glen goal with three or four chances created inside the D but the ball was cleared to safety on each occasion.
A home goal was coming and it arrived on the hour. A ball in from the middle of the park found Dougie Rankin, who rejoined the club in the close season, and his shot was pushed wide by keeper Ewan Harrison. However, Duncan Macdonald collected possession and he rifled a shot into the roof of the net to make it 1-1.
Balla’ continued to press and Col Glen goalie Harrison made a string of saves to keep his side on level terms.
However, Ballachulish took the lead on 62 minutes as Dougie Rankin found himself in front of the goal with the ball at his feet and he pinged a shot low past the keeper to make it 2-1.
There was a stoppage five minutes from time when Jack Maclean went to clear from defence but the ball caught on-coming Col Glen full centre Niven MacVicar in the face and he required treatment.
Aberdour P Inveraray P
Aberdour’s game against the Inveraray second team at Silversands was a late call-off.
This means Aberdour’s Craig Grant will serve the second game of his two match suspension at Taynuilt this coming Saturday.
Tayforth P Kyles P
The Kyles Athletic second team and Tayforth were to play at Tighnabruaich but the game was moved to Levenhall Links 72 hours earlier.
However, travel difficulties meant Kyles were unable to journey east so the match was postponed.
Mowi North Division 2
The entire North 2 fixtures were wiped out.
The matches between Kilmallie seconds and the Inverness seconds at the Canal Parks was another Friday postponement as was the Beauly seconds’ 1pm throw up against Lewis Camanachd at Braeview Park.
Later in the day, the game at Cannich between the Strathglass colts and Lochcarron was called off as was the 1.30pm throw up between Strathspey Camanachd and Boleskine at Grantown Grammar School.
Mowi South Division 2 Kilmory P Ardnamurchan P
There was Saturday morning disappointment for Kilmory and Ardnamurchan as their 2pm throw up was called off as MacRae Park was unplayable.
Glenorchy P Bute P
Glenorchy’s clash with the Bute seconds was postponed on Friday afternoon as Mart Park was unplayable.
WCA Round Up
The women’s shinty focus was on the regional leagues but the weather was again a big influence.
Mowi North Division 2 Skye 9 Inverness 3
The match between the Skye Camanachd second team and Inverness was switched from Pairc nan Laoch to the Portree High school astro pitch.
This was the only match to go ahead in North 2 and Skye ran out 9-3 winners with Abby MacLean scoring seven times and Holly MacLean and Ceitidh Smith getting the others. The Inverness scorers were Caitlin Mutch, Amber MacKay and Katie McMillan.
Fort William P Lovat P
The fixture between Fort William and Lovat was postponed as An Aird was unplayable.
Glengarry P Strathglass P
The game between Glengarry and Strathglass was called off as Craigard failed a pitch inspection.
Kinlochshiel P Lochaber P
The fixture between Kinlochshiel and the Lochaber second team was postponed on Saturday afternoon as Kirkton was unplayable.
Mowi South Division 2
Dunadd P Ardnamurchan P The clash between Dunadd and Ardnamurchan at MacRae Park was postponed.
Cowal & Bute P Tayforth P
The game between Cowal & Bute and Tayforth was called off as the pitch at the Dunoon Stadium was unplayable.
Match assessors recruitment drive
The Camanachd Association is on the look-out for experienced, positive thinking members of the shinty community to add to their pool of match assessors.
Each match assessor will cover games within an agreed locality and will be the eyes and ears of the sport to help encourage improved standards from all involved including match officials, coaches/managers, club officials and supporters.
Match assessors will also help mould and develop closer interaction between these key groups in shinty and contribute to identifying the best ways of improving performance.
Travel expenses will be paid and a training/briefing session for those selected will be held prior to the start of the season. The current match assessors are: Dougie Cameron (Taynuilt), Douglas Ferguson (Dunoon), Dunkie Kerr (Strachur), Donnie MacDougal (Glenorchy), Henry MacInnes (Stornoway), Dondy Robertson (Fort William), David Stafford (Fort William) and David Docherty (Glasgow).
For further details, please contact Graham Cormack, National Development Manager by e-mail at graham.cormack@shinty.com
WCA Cup Draws
The opening round draws have been made for the WCA cup competitions.
Last season’s Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd cup final was broadcast live on BBC ALBA for the first time with this year’s show-piece game due to be covered also.
Holders Badenoch should be too strong for Dunadd in their tie at the Dell whilst 2018 runners up Skye will be favourites at Ardnamurchan.
Lochaber have home advantage against Glenurquhart, who are newly promoted to the top flight this term after winning North 2 and the Challenge Cup last season whilst Aberdour journey north to play Strathspey.
First Round:
Ardnamurchan v Skye Camanachd Strathspey v Aberdour Badenoch v Dunadd Lochaber v Glenurquhart The Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup first round ties will be played on Sunday April 28.
The semi-final draw will take place after the first round ties are complete.
2018 Mowi Challenge Cup runners-up Inverness start this year’s campaign at home to the Glenurquhart seconds.
The Ardnamurchan seconds have home advantage against Oban Lorn whilst Cowal & Bute are off to Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Glengarry will be favourites at home to the Skye Camanachd second team whilst there should be an entertaining tussle between Fort William and Lovat at An Aird.
First Round:
Aberdour v English Shinty Association Ardnamurchan v Oban Lorn
Glasgow Mid Argyll v Cowal & Bute Glengarry v Skye Camanachd Inverness v Glenurquhart Fort William v Lovat Kinlochshiel v Strathglass Bye
Lochaber
The Mowi Challenge Cup first round ties will take place on Sunday April 14 with the exception of Fort William’s tie with Lovat, which takes place on Sunday April 7 and the Aberdour second team’s tie with the ESA which is scheduled for Sunday May 5.
Youth representative coaches wanted
The Camanachd Association is looking to fill a number of coaching roles for the North and South U14 and U17 representative squads for the 2019 season.
The association hopes to make appointments before the youth games begin so the successful candidates can focus on their selection throughout the whole season.
This is a great opportunity for coaches to get involved in the representative set-up at youth level and to work closely with the association, and other coaches throughout the district, to select and coach an elite squad of players.
Enquiries can be made to the Camanachd Association Development Team.