Shinty round-up
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup – first round Northern Section Glenurquhart 2 Strathglass 0
Glenurquhart were 2-0 winners in their tie against Strathglass, a 3pm throw-up at Blairbeg.
The sides met in their annual MacDonald Cup clash during the pre-season when Strathglass were 4-2 winners. However this time Glenurquhart got revenge.
One of the most significant changes since the previous meeting was Lachie Smith’s return at full back for Glenurquhart, allowing Ally MacKintosh to push forward to full centre where he was influential.
It was a warm day and the ground was hard and the game definitely missed the edge supporters would have brought to the occasion.
Both sides have changed significantly since pre-covid times and were full of young players.
Glenurquhart took the lead on 23 minutes when David Maclennan took a pass from Connor Golabek before firing past Adam Todd in the visiting goal.
A neat passing move created Glenurquhart’s second goal five minutes into the second half with Jed Stoddart firing a rasping shot home to make it 2-0. Adam Todd was a busier keeper than Stuart MacKintosh, whilst both teams were missing the inclusion of an all-out scorer.
Beauly P Inverness P
The match between Beauly and Inverness at Braeview Park was called off because of covid restrictions. Beauly Shinty Club issued a statement saying they had been made aware of a covid case within their playing members so had postponed all club activity for at least a week.
The statement concluded by saying that although the outbreak at the club is minimal, the connection the club has to the community, and the duty of care they have to other clubs in shinty, meant the only choice available was to suspend activity for a minimum of seven days.
Mowi Senior League A Fort William P Skye Camanachd P
The clash between Fort William and Skye Camanachd at An Aird was called off on Friday afternoon because of covid concerns.
Fort William manager Victor Smith said: ‘The players affected hadn’t been training or involved with the rest of the group so it is disappointing Saturday’s match didn’t go ahead. I guess that’s just where we are at the moment.
‘I do worry clubs will end up losing players if they don’t have shinty matches to play as they’ll find something else to do instead. I fully expect Saturday’s MacTavish tie against Kilmallie to go ahead though. We have Sean Cameron back which is a boost and youngsters Craig MacDonald and Lewis Murphy will keep their places in the squad after doing so well against Kinlochshiel in our last game.’
Kilmallie P Kinlochshiel P
Covid issues have prevented the Kilmallie first team from taking the field this season and just when their match against Kinlochshiel at the Canal Parks looked to be going ahead, it was called off because of covid concerns on the Kinlochshiel side.
Kinlochshiel issued a statement confirming that due to covid in the area, the club has postponed the first team game against Kilmallie, the second team game against Glengarry and the ladies’ game against Skye.
The statement went on to say that one of the Kinlochshiel coaches was in close contact with a work colleague whose family are showing covid symptoms. They have been tested but the result will not be known until Monday so club activity has ceased until the results are known.
Mowi Senior League B Kingussie P Newtonmore P
The first Badenoch derby of the season, which was due to take place at the Dell, was postponed because of covid issues in Newtonmore.
Newtonmore issued a club statement notifying supporters that due to a positive covid case within the club, and some other players having to isolate, the Mowi Senior League B fixture with Kingussie has been postponed.
The club stated that the health and well-being of members and the community were a priority at this time before wishing everyone affected a speedy recovery.
Caberfeidh P Lovat P
Lovat and Caberfeidh were due to meet at Castle Leod for the second time in 10 days.
Lovat won 4-0 last time around but covid restrictions have delayed Caberfeidh’s chances of revenge.
Caberfeidh have suspended all club activity until July 5 at the earliest.
Strathdearn Cup – first round
Beauly 3 Strathglass 6
The Strathglass second team were 6-3 winners against the Beauly second team in their 7pm throw-up at Braeview Park on Monday June 21.
Strathglass took an early lead when Steven Hyslop netted after three minutes.
However youngsters Callum Flynn on 20 minutes and Finlay MacLennan four minutes later had Beauly 2-1 ahead.
Ronan Melens pulled Strathglass level on 35, but Duncan Anderson put Beauly back in front three minutes after.
A Robbie Stokes goal on 42 minutes meant it was 3-3 at the end of a goal-ridden first half.
Strathglass pulled away in the second half with Robbie Stokes getting his second on 52 minutes to give his side a 4-3 lead.
A second from Steven Hyslop on 55 minutes and an effort from Donald Fraser on 69 minutes completed the 6-3 win, sending Strathglass through to the next round.
Newtonmore 9 Strathspey Camanachd 0
The Newtonmore seconds ran out 9-0 winners against Strathspey Camanachd at the Eilan.
Brodie MacBean scored on three and 13 minutes to put Newtonmore 2-0 ahead, whilst efforts from Arron MacBean on the half-hour and Struan Ross on 39 minutes made it 4-0 at the break.
Sorley Thomson added a double on 53 and 57 minutes to make it 6-0.
Struan Ross added a seventh on 68 minutes, whilst Brodie MacBean completed his hattrick on 75 minutes. Ritchie Irvine rounded off the 9-0 win three minutes from time.
Newtonmore’s young team played very well and Strathspey were limited to just one shot on target during the match.
Duncan MacPherson was outstanding at half back for Newtonmore whilst young Rasmus Cheyne at left wing back also caught the eye. Sorley Thomson was excellent up front.
This was a good sporting derby contest and despite the defeat, Strathspey will take positives from the experience against their higher league opponents.
Skye Camanachd walk-over v Kilmallie
The Skye Camanachd second team were given a walk-over as their Kilmallie counterparts were unable to raise a team for their Strathdearn Cup first round tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye travel to face the Fort William reserves in the second round.
Mowi North League A Kinlochshiel P Glengarry P
The meeting between the Kinlochshiel second team and Glengarry at Rèaraig was called off because of covid issues.
Lochcarron P Fort William P
The clash between Lochcarron and the Fort William second team at Battery Park didn’t go ahead because of covid issues affecting the An Aird side.
Mowi North League B Glenurquhart 1 Kingussie 4
The Kingussie colts came from a goal down to beat the Glenurquhart colts 4-1 in their noon throw-up at Blairbeg.
Daniel MacKintosh gave Glenurquhart the lead on 10 minutes but Pavel Nagle pushed forward from midfield to score from distance on 20 minutes.
Martin Dallas on the half hour and five minutes later made it 3-1 at the break.
Dylan Borthwick’s goal a couple of minutes into the second half made it 4-1 and was the last goal of the game.
Lovat P Caberfeidh P
The match between the Lovat seconds and the Caberfeidh seconds at Balgate was rearranged for Tuesday June 29 with a 7pm throw-up but was unlikely to go ahead given covid restrictions in the area.
Mowi North League C Inverness P Beauly P
The game between the Inverness second team and the Beauly second team at the Bught Park was another covid casualty.
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.
The groups will compromise 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 2021.
Morgan Redpath countered for neighbours Strathglass.
WCA Mowi West Senior League Glengarry 0 Skye Camanachd B 5
Skye Camanachd B were 5-0 winners in their 1pm throw-up at Craigard.
Meghan Campbell scored four times for the islanders with Rhianna Kirk getting the others.
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.