Shinty round up
Kinlochshiel reached the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final for the first time following the shinty action on Saturday August 28.
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup - Semi Final Kinlochshiel 2 Kyles Athletic 0
Kinlochshiel are through to the Camanachd Cup Final for the first time in their 63-year history after beating Kyles Athletic 2-0 in their 4.10pm throw-up at Taynuilt Sports Field.
Kinlochshiel had been missing defenders Conor Cormack, David Falconer and Mark MacDonald in recent weeks but Cormack and Falconer were able to start with MacDonald taking a place on the bench.
Kyles Athletic defender George Thomson was still out through injury but Neil MacVicar and Conor Kennedy, who both sustained injuries in the previous weekend’s Artemis Macaulay Final defeat to Kingussie, were fit to start.
The pitch looked in great condition and it was a warm afternoon in complete contrast to the rain endured by Oban Camanachd and Lovat at the same venue the previous Saturday.
After two Saturdays without a match, Kinlochshiel made a sluggish start and their keeper Josh Grant twice saved well from low Colin MacDonald efforts.
Kinlochshiel settled though and Jordan Fraser dropped a teasing ball in on goal but keeper John Whyte dealt well with the bouncing ball, slapping it away for a corner. Whyte then saved with his feet to thwart Keith MacRae before sweeping the ball away for another corner and the opening 15 minutes remained goal-less.
Kyles defender Andrew King was spoken too by referee Ross Brown as the contest got feisty.
Roddy MacDonald was pulled back from the forward line to take over from his brother Innes MacDonald at centre in an attempt to turn the tie the Tighnabruaich men’s way.
But Kinlochshiel were beginning to dominate and John MacRae played a one-two with Jordan Fraser before pushing the ball into the side netting from the right of the ‘D’.
Kinlochshiel continued to press and Jordan Fraser took a ball from Duncan ‘DA’ MacRae before running forward and firing just over the bar.
Kyles finished the half on the front foot and threatened when Colin Macdonald took the ball to the right of the ‘D’ before crashing a great shot off the crossbar with the keeper helpless.
Josh Grant then had to spread himself to keep out Conor Kennedy’s low shot from the left, the keeper saving with his stick. Ross Macrae just couldn’t find the net from the rebound and the first half finished goal-less.
Kinlochshiel replaced an injured Duncan ‘WD’ MacRae with Jonny Macaskill at half-time.
Kinlochshiel created the first chance of the second half when Jordan Fraser took down a cross-field ball from Duncan Matheson and forced a John Whyte save with feet before the goalie cleared the ball wide. Meantime, an already stretched Kyles were troubled when defender Callum Millar went down with cramp whilst Scott MacDonald started to feel the effects of his hand injury. Innes MacDonald needed treatment soon after.
Kyles attacks were becoming more rare although Josh Grant had to save low from Ross Macrae’s shot. The keeper’s clearance deflected off Colin MacDonald but, luckily for Kinlochshiel, the ball went wide to safety.
Kinlochshiel forced a couple of corners and took the lead on 58 minutes.
Jonny MacAskill’s corner from the right dropped for John MacRae whose shot was blocked by Callum Millar but when the rebound came back to MacRae in a central position, he pushed a short pass to his brother Keith MacRae and the Kinlochshiel skipper fired a low shot into the net to break the deadlock.
Kyles were always a threat and with Colin MacDonald occupying two Kinlochshiel defenders, Innes MacDonald spurned a great chance when he nipped in to take the ball to his left but sent a drive over the bar with David Falconer challenging.
Kinlochshiel went back on the attack and Ali Nixon’s strike from wide on right went past the goal.
Scott MacDonald went down again and had to succumb to his hand injury with Rupert Williamson coming on and Roddy MacDonald dropping back into defence where he shadowed Keith MacRae.
Andrew King was spoken too again, this time after catching Keith MacRae on the back of the legs.
John MacRae held off Neil MacVicar to win possession but shot wide of goal, whilst at the other end, Kinlochshiel’s Finlay MacRae needed treatment after being caught by Colin MacDonald’s swing but he limped back into action.
Kinlochshiel claimed for a penalty when the ball came off John Whyte’s foot as he missed a swing in an attempt to clear the ball but the referee waved away their claims.
Andrew King and Ali Nixon were next to require treatment.
As the tie moved into the final 10 minutes, Kinlochshiel keeper Josh Grant twice saved his side as he showed great reflexes to keep out Colin MacDonald’s shot which deflected off Conor Cormack but Grant, who was moving to his right, managed to change direction as he stretched left to keep the ball out with his stick. Then Grant dived along the ground to palm away a spinning ball from Conor Kennedy.
Kinlochshiel’s Ali Nixon shot wide and with his calf injury worsening, under 17 player Archie MacRae came on in his place.
Kyles pushed Roddy MacDonald forward again in an attempt to take the tie to extra time.
Cairn Limbert came on for a limping Thomas Whyte as 90 minutes approached.
Referee Ross Brown signalled eight minutes of stoppage time and Kyles now pushed almost everyone forward including full back Callum Millar, but they couldn’t breach the Kinlochshiel back line.
This meant the Tighnabruaich men were vulnerable to a counter-attack and following a stray ball in midfield, Jordan Fraser found Archie MacRae whose backhand shot was saved but John Whyte couldn’t clear the ball and Jordan Fraser nipped in and kept his balance, taking the ball by the keeper as he cut in from the right before knocking it over the line to make it 2-0.
Archie MacRae could have added a third after a great John MacRae run but two goals were enough as Kinlochshiel enjoyed the late pressure and Kyles looked spent.
Scotland head coach Garry Reid’s choice as man of the match was Kinlochshiel keeper Josh Grant who made good stops at important times. His team mate Jordan Fraser must have run him close.
Kinlochshiel now await the outcome of this Saturday’s Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi final between Kingussie and Lovat at an Aird.
Alvance British Aluminium Balliemore Cup semi-final Skye Camanachd P Inveraray P
The semi-final between Skye Camanachd and Inveraray at Spean Bridge was postponed because of Covid restrictions as Skye suspended all shinty for a week.
Beauly P Bute P
The tie between Beauly and Bute was also postponed because of Covid restrictions which affected the islanders.
The tie has been re-arranged for this Saturday at the Jubilee Park with a 3pm throwup. Skye Camanachd and Inveraray meet in the other semi-final at the same venue with a noon throw-up.
cottages.com MacTavish Cup first round
Lovat 2 Glenurquhart 3
Glenurquhart beat Lovat 3-2 in their 3pm throw-up at Blairbeg to take their place in the cottages.com MacTavish Cup quarter-finals.
Glenurquhart got off to a great start with David MacLennan scoring in the opening minute. It remained that way until 20 minutes from time when Connor Golabek added a second.
Greg Matheson pulled a goal back from the penalty spot three minutes later but John Barr’s effort on 76 minutes made it 3-1.
Greg Matheson’s second on 87 minutes sent up a tense end to the tie, but Glenurquhart stayed in front and now play Fort William in the quarter-finals with the prize a meeting with Kingussie in the semi-finals of the competition.
Mowi Senior League A Fort William 2 Lochaber 1
Fort William enjoyed a 2-1 derby win over Lochaber in a thrilling match at An Aird.
Fort William were 4-0 winners when the sides met at Spean earlier in the season but they were missing a number of players for this game. Jay MacLeod, Cameron Grant and Sean Cruickshank all played, with the latter making his first appearance in more than two years.
Referee Calum Girvan signalled a minute’s silence ahead of throw-up as those present remembered much-respected Fort William Chieftain Bobby MacLeod who died the previous week.
There was early action at both ends before Grant Disher found space on the left and his low, hard shot from a tight angle went into the far corner of the net to give the hosts the lead on 10 minutes.
Lochaber showed their mettle, however, as Jack Dignan continued his scoring spree to level from in front of the goals a couple of minutes later.
Lewis Morrison, who suffered a knock moments earlier, put Fort William back in front on 20 minutes. The goal came out of nowhere as Morrison’s 25-yard shot from out on the right went just inside the post.
Referee Calum Girvan awarded the visitors a penalty for a ‘kick’ with Fort William claiming there was an offside ahead of the infringement. Gregor Cameron stepped up and hit the ball well enough but Paul MacKay made a brilliant save with the ball cannoning back off his stick to the extent it almost went out for a hit-in.
If that save was top drawer, Lochaber keeper Callum MacDonald bettered it. MacDonald’s initial save saw the ball go wide and Arran MacPhee unleashed a rocket-shot which MacDonald palmed away to safety. Lochaber went all-out for a leveller although the final 20 minutes of the contest was more even.
Speaking after the match, Fort William co-manager Victor Smith said: ‘It was a cracking derby match. The players loved it, the crowd loved it and there was plenty banter around the touchline.
‘We struggled to get a side together. I called Addie Adam Robertson - on Friday morning to tell him we only had seven confirmed players at that point. We didn’t want to disrupt the second team as they had a semi-final to play so Jay MacLeod, Cameron Grant – who was terrific at wing centre – and Sean Cruickshank dusted down their camans to play for the first time in a while. Grant Disher also came in and did well too, scoring a great goal.
‘Paul MacKay made a great save from their penalty but Callum MacDonald’s stop with his hand from Arran MacPhee was even better.
‘We have another derby to look forward to this Saturday against Kilmallie.’
Mowi Senior League B Newtonmore 5 Caberfeidh 1
After three Saturdays without a fixture, Newtonmore returned to the field to beat Caberfeidh 5-1 in their 3pm throw-up at the Eilan.
Newtonmore manager Orsten Gardner was unavailable so Michael Russell looked after the side.
Caberfeidh have been boosted by Blair Morrison’s return to their defence after a nasty hand injury.
Drew MacDonald put Newtonmore ahead on 40 minutes with the only goal of the first half.
Iain Robinson made it 2-0 on 52 minutes with the goal of the game. Robinson and Drew MacDonald linked up really well in the build-up before Robinson finished.
Kevin Bartlett pulled a goal back on 67 minutes, only for substitute Max Campbell to make it 3-1 on 74 minutes.
Referee Willie MacDonald spotted an off-the-ball incident between Max Campbell and Connor MacGregor with 10 minutes remaining and sent both players off.
There were no complaints from either camp.
Late goals from Declan Brannan and Drew MacDonald put the gloss on the win.
The final scoreline was harsh on Caberfeidh who were foiled on several occasions by fine Kenny Ross saves.
Beauly P Kingussie P
The clash between Beauly and Kingussie at Braeview Park was called off because of Covid restrictions.
Strathdearn Cup semi-finals Newtonmore 4
Fort William 3
The Newtonmore colts edged out the Fort William colts 4-3 in their noon throw-up at the Eilan.
Mark Fraser got Fort William off to a great start with a fantastic strike from the left after two minutes.
Savio Vastano’s deflected shot drew Newtonmore level on 20 minutes and Craig Macleod gave them the lead for the first time on 38 minutes.
Graham Campbell turned home Rhys Kennedy’s corner from the right to make it 2-2 a couple of minutes later, only for Fraser MacKintosh to score on 44 minutes to give Newtonmore a 3-2 advantage at the interval.
Craig Macleod’s second on 67 minutes made it 4-2 and Newtonmore looked set for the final.
However when referee Steven MacLachlan awarded the hosts a penalty with five minutes remaining, Mark Fraser held his nerve to score his second goal of the afternoon.
Fort keeper Stuart Disher made some great saves during the 90 minutes. Newtonmore saw out the closing stages and their experienced forward line of Glen MacKintosh, Fraser MacKintosh and Craig Macleod made the difference.
Newtonmore will meet the winners of this Saturday’s semi-final between the Lovat and Kingussie second teams in the final.
Lovat P Kingussie P
The noon throw-up between the Lovat seconds and the Kingussie seconds at Balgate was postponed because of Covid restrictions.
Mowi North League A Glengarry P Lochcarron P
Team raising difficulties forced the postponement of Glengarry’s meeting with Lochcarron at Craigard.
Skye Camanachd P Kinlochshiel P
The game between Skye Camanachd’s seconds and the Kinlochshiel seconds was brought forward to Thursday August 26 to allow both sets of players to attend their first team’s important semi-finals on the Saturday.
However, the game was called off when Skye suspended shinty activity for a week as a Covid precaution.
Mowi North League B Inverness 2 Glenurquhart 2
Inverness and the Glenurquhart second team drew 2-2 at the Bught Park.
After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Angus MacCallum gave Glenurquhart the lead on 50 minutes but Alan MacPherson levelled five minutes later.
Angus MacCallum’s second and Ruaraidh Hughes strike, both around the hour mark, made the final score 2-2.
Mowi North League C Aberdeen University P Beauly P
Travel issues forced the postponement of the match between Aberdeen University and the Beauly’s second team at Balgownie.
Strathglass P Strathspey Camanachd P
The meeting between the Strathglass second team and Strathspey Camanachd at Cannich was an early postponement due to Covid restrictions affecting the home club.
Mowi Central League Kilmory 0 Lochaber 3
The Lochaber second team made their first visit to MacRae Park and returned with both points after beating Kilmory 3-0.
David Langan scored on 37 minutes to give Lochaber an interval lead and added a second a couple of minutes after the re-start. Darris Riddle made it 3-0 on 66 minutes.
Glenorchy P Kilmallie P
Glenorchy’s game against the Kilmallie colts at Mart Park was called off because of Covid restrictions.