Shinty round up
The Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup took centre stage on Saturday July 17. South shinty
Southern Section Ballachulish 2 Bute 3
Bute are through to the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup second round following their hard fought 3-2 victory over Ballachulish at Jubilee Park.
Cain MacPhee was free to play for Ballachulish ahead of a two-match suspension.
Bute took the lead when Ryan James Clark's long free-hit dropped for Thomas Morrison just inside the penalty spot and his backhand shot beat the keeper at his right post.
The islanders added a second just a minute later when Scott Harvey played a smart onetwo with Craig Fisher before scoring on his backhand from left of centre.
Scott Harvey got his second and Bute's third when he ran left to get onto Marcus Planck's long free-hit before turning inside and shooting low into the net to make it 3-0 at the break.
Ballachulish introduced John MacDonald at half back and he helped turn the tie in the hosts's favour.
David Grant got Ballachulish back into it when he gathered Cian MacPhee's free-hit with his back to goal and quickly turned before tucking the ball into the net with a backhand shot from the left.
Things got interesting when Michael Slezas made it 3-2, turning the ball home from a tight angle on the left.
Bute stayed in front, however, and they now travel to Kilmallie for their second round tie this Saturday, July 24.
Bute's James Craig said: 'I watched Ballachulish in Oban last week and thought they stepped their game up this week. We looked like we'd win quite convincingly in the first half but they put John MacDonald on at half back and he tidied things up at the back. But we got there in the end and it was a job well done.'
Ballachulish's Alan Clark added: ‘I'd like to congratulate Bute and wish them all the best in the next round. It was a game of two halves. They were the better team in the first half but we came into it in the second half and if the game had gone on for an extra 10 minutes, I think we could have got an equaliser to take it to extra time.'
Southern Section Oban Celtic 3 Glasgow Mid Argyll 2
Mowi National Division side Oban Celtic recorded one of their best results over recent seasons, coming from behind to beat Mowi Premiership side Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA) 3-2 at Mossfield.
Craig MacMillan made a surprise return from injury for Oban Celtic, taking his place at half back where he played the 90 minutes in a defence also containing Peter Currie, David
Hill and Andy MacDonald. Lewis Mcphee was on holiday.
GMA were without Garry Luke and Ally McKerracher, the latter missing the chance to face his former club. Stewart
Grant returned and manager Mark Bain was one of his side's two substitutes. Oban Celtic made a powerful start to the game, forcing two early corners and testing visiting keeper Jonathan Oates.
Daniel MacMillan, in particular, was causing the GMA defence problems, testing marker Jon Don MacKenzie with his pace.
So when GMA broke the deadlock on 21 minutes, the goal came against the run of play. The ball was initially played up the middle before being spread out to the left and back in where Ewan Fraser finished well with a low, hard shot.
Oban Celtic scored a deserved equaliser on 33 minutes. Andy MacDonald, who was solid with a good range of passing throughout, drove a long ball out of defence to Daniel MacMillan who got by Jon Don Mackenzie before sending a shot screaming into the net from 30 yards.
Neil Carmichael at centre, flanked by Dylan Cooke and George MacMillan, ensured Oban forwards Ross MacMillan, Daniel MacMillan, Lennon Campbell and Duncan MacDonald, who were full of running, saw plenty of the ball.
Oban Celtic lost Daniel MacMillan on 43 minutes. He suffered a blow under the kneecap just a couple of minutes after suffering a foot injury so youngster Ewen Campbell, a similar type of player, came on in his place.
GMA, who moved Oliver MacRae up front from centre, started the second half well, pinning the hosts back as they enjoyed their best spell of pressure in the tie. Allan Duncan in the Celtic goal had to save well on a couple of occasions to keep his side level.
It was Oban Celtic's turn to score against the run of play on 63 minutes. Dylan Cooke sent the ball across to Ewen Campbell who lost his marker and, from a tight angle on the right, Campbell rifled the ball into the opposite top corner of the net to follow up the previous week's debut goal in the Macaulay with one in the Scottish.
Oban Celtic had to make another change when Andy MacDonald was hit in the mouth. William MacEwan came off the bench to go onto the wing, with George MacMillan moving to half back where he again did well. MacDonald tried to come back on but the bleeding wouldn't stop sufficiently to referee Des McNulty's satisfaction.
GMA drew level with just 14 minutes to go. A ball into the home defence was only cleared as far as Oliver MacRae and the former Kinlochshiel player fired the ball low into the net to make it 2-2.
But Oban Celtic's response was immediate and they were back in front just a minute later. Neil Carmichael won the centre, playing the ball to William MacEwan. MacEwan's ball forward found Ross MacMillan who beat his marker before racing in on goal and flicking the ball past advancing keeper Jonathan Oates.
Daniel MacMillan came back on for the injured Dylan Cooke.
GMA pressed in an attempt to take the tie into extra time, but Oban Celtic dropped deep and the home keeper and defence stood up to the challenge.
The sides are scheduled to meet again this Saturday in a Mowi Senior League C clash at Peterson Park.
With Dougie MacIntyre still unavailable, Les Kinvig again took the side, assisted by Allan Duffy, making it two wins out of two. Speaking afterwards, Les Kinvig said: 'We didn't do anything different. It was the same players in the same positions but it just shows what the boys can achieve when they are on their game.
‘It was a good all-round performance and it wouldn't be fair to pick anyone out. We deserved to win and other than a spell at the start of the second half when we struggled a bit, it was a great performance.
‘We have a busy week ahead with the first team playing GMA again and the seconds at Kilmallie. I'm particularly pleased for the seconds as the youngsters are desperate to get regular games.'
Oban Celtic and Oban Camanachd have agreed to play their Artemis Macaulay Cup quarter final tie at Mossfield on Wednesday July 28. Lachie Wood will be the match referee.
Fort William P Oban Camanachd P
There was disappointment for Fort William and Oban Camanachd as their much anticipated tie at An Aird was postponed because of Covid restrictions.
The tie has been rescheduled for this Saturday.
Kyles Athletic P Inveraray P
Kyles Athletic and Inveraray were left idle as their 3pm throw up at the Playing Fields, Tighnabruaich, was postponed because of Covid restrictions.
Section 4
Kyles Athletic P Glenorchy P
The clash between Kyles Athletic reserves and Glenorchy at the Playing Fields, Tighnabruaich, was another Covid-related cancellation on Friday afternoon.
Taynuilt P Lochside Rovers P
Taynuilt and Lochside Rovers agreed to reschedule their match at the Taynuilt Sports Field to Wednesday July 21.
Inveraray P Col Glen P
The tie between the Inveraray seconds and Col Glen at the Winterton was postponed because of Covid restrictions.
Glasgow Mid Argyll P Aberdour P
The Glasgow Mid Argyll colts and the Aberdour colts were due to meet for the second successive Saturday, this time at Peterson Park. However, the game was another Covidrelated cancellation.
Kilmory P Ardnamurchan P Kilmory's 2pm throw-up with Ardnamurchan at MacRae Park was postponed because of the current travel restrictions.