Shinty round up
The 2021 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup competition is under way but the shinty schedule on Saturday June 26 was decimated as a result of covid issues.
South shinty Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup - first round Southern Section Inveraray P Lochaber P
Lochaber are yet to play this season and that run continues as their tie against Inveraray at the Winterton was postponed because of covid restrictions.
Ballachulish P Bute P
Ballachulish’s meeting with Bute at Jubilee Park was postponed because of covid restrictions.
Mowi Senior League C Oban Celtic P Oban Camanachd P
An increase in covid cases in Oban led to the postponement of the match between Oban Celtic and Oban Camanachd at Mossfield.
This was to be the first Oban derby of the season but the game was called off early in the week.
Oban Celtic were the designated home side and they thanked supporters for their understanding. The club issued a statement confirming they had to take the difficult decision to suspend all activity for a week, with a review to be taken after that.
The statement went on to say that with the rise of covid in the area, and with several members affected either by isolation or awaiting test results, they felt it was in the best interests of members and the wider community to suspend all activities.
The statement concluded by urging everyone to follow government guidance and to consider others.
Both clubs are in Artemis Macaulay Cup first round action at Mossfield this Saturday with Oban Celtic taking on Ballachulish at noon and Oban Camanachd facing Bute at 3pm. Oban Celtic assistant manager Les Kinvig said: ‘Last week’s covid issues from within the club, which was mainly folk having to isolate, have cleared and thankfully everyone is ok which is the most important thing.
‘It was right to be cautious and we’ll just have to monitor things closely for the rest of the week given the high number of cases in the area.
‘Hopefully Saturday’s tie against Ballachulish goes ahead. Lennon Campbell has been receiving physio to help shake off his niggling injury, whilst David Hill is fit again as is Duncan MacDougall so we are looking forward to getting back into it.’
Oban Camanachd manager Stephen Sloss said: ‘Having so few games is not doing us any favours, especially with a Camanachd Cup tie against Fort William on the horizon in a couple of weeks.
‘The boys need games on Saturday.
‘Ourselves and Oban Celtic have the potential to reschedule this game and play midweek though so hopefully we’ll get the match fitted in soon.
‘Hopefully the tie against
aBute will go ahead. We have Keith MacMillan and Garry Lord available but Scott MacMillan is working away and Evan MacLellan might not be available.’
Lochside Rovers host the Lochaber second team in the HIS Sutherland Cup first round at Ganavan, whilst the Oban Celtic second team do not have a fixture.
Taynuilt will travel to the Winterton to take on the Inveraray second team.
Aberdour 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 8
A strong first half performance earned Glasgow Mid Argyll an 8-0 victory over Aberdour in their 3pm throw-up at Silversands.
The surface was slippery for both sides but a sharper, fitter GMA side quickly settled into the game.
Former Oban Celtic player Ally McKerracher gave GMA the lead on three minutes with a well-worked goal. McKerracher found space at the back post where he slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
McKerracher sent a volley just a couple of feet past the post soon after and it would have been a spectacular finish had it gone in.
GMA were moving the ball around nicely and Oliver MacRae netted on his left side to make it 2-0 on seven minutes.
McKerracher got his second on 35 minutes and, a couple of minutes later, Craig Anderson, who lined up in attack after starting the season at full centre, added his name to the scoresheet.
There was some good inter-play between the visiting forwards before Oliver MacRae got his second on 39 minutes and Craig Anderson got another a minute before the break to make it 6-0 at halftime. Aberdour introduced Angus Thorburn, who was just back from his holidays, at half-time.
The GMA forward play was a joy to watch and Ally McKerracher completed his hat-trick a couple of minutes short of the hour.
Aberdour battled hard and stemmed the tide for a while but couldn’t prevent James MacLeod from making it 8-0 10 minutes from time.
Mowi South League A Lochside Rovers P Col Glen P
Lochside Rovers’ meeting with Col Glen at Ganavan was postponed because of covid concerns in Oban.
Taynuilt P Inveraray P
The clash between Taynuilt and the Inveraray second team at Taynuilt Sports Field will be rearranged because of covid restrictions.
Mowi South League B Aberdour 0 v Kyles Athletic 4
The Aberdour reserves and the Kyles Athletic reserves met for the second successive Saturday, this time in a noon throw-up at Silversands.
Kyles were 5-1 winners the previous weekend and they came out on top in this one too.
The first 45 minutes looked as if it might end up goalless before full centre Innes MacDonald, who also netted the previous weekend, put the visitors in front on the stroke of half-time.
The goal boosted Kyles, and Cairn Limbert and Stewart Taylor also scored for the second successive Saturday on 62 and 68 minutes. David Martin rounded off the scoring three minutes from time.
A youthful Aberdour fared well in defence with Calum Murray, in particular, working hard.
Glasgow Mid Argyll P Tayforth P
The match between the Glasgow Mid Argyll reserves and Tayforth at Peterson Park was another covid cancellation.
Mowi Central League Lochaber 7 Ardnamurchan 2
David Langan scored five times as the Lochaber second team defeated Ardnamurchan 7-2 at Spean Bridge.
Gregor Cameron and Darris Riddle scored the others for the hosts with Sam MacKenzie and Seamus Buchanan countering for Ardnamurchan.
Kilmory P Oban Celtic P
The 2pm throw-up between Kilmory and the Oban Celtic second team at MacRae Park was postponed earlier in the week because of the rise of covid cases in Oban.
All throw-ups were at 2.30pm unless stated.
Women’s Camanachd Association (WCA) shinty action
The 2021 Women’s Camanachd Association shinty season is up and running with most of the fixtures taking place on Sunday June 27.
Clubs will play in an agreed one-off format incorporating regional groups to limit travel. These groups compromise of four senior leagues and three development divisions.
WCA Mowi North Senior League Glenurquhart 2 Strathglass 1
Hazel Hunter’s double helped Glenurquhart defeat Strathglass 2-1 in their 10am throw-up at Drumnadrochit on Saturday June 26.
Morgan Redpath countered for neighbours Strathglass.
WCA Mowi West Senior League Ardnamurchan B 0 Ardnamurchan A 2
Roslyn Ritchie scored twice as Ardnamurchan A defeated Ardnamurchan B 2-0 in their 2pm throw-up at Strontian.
Skye Camanachd P Kinlochshiel P
The match between Skye Camanachd A and Kinlochshiel was brought forward to Friday June 25 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
However, a covid concern within the Kinlochshiel club led to a postponement.
WCA Mowi North Senior League Lochaber P Badenoch B P
Lochaber’s meeting with Badenoch B at Spean Bridge was postponed because of covid concerns.
Inverness 4 Lovat 4
Inverness and Lovat drew 4-4 in their 2pm throw-up at the Bught Park.
Katie McMillan scored all four Inverness goals, with Laura Gallagher’s hat-trick and Jade Longworth’s strike earning Lovat a draw.