The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Kyles high five as two from Kerr seals final triumph
Shinty: Nap hand of Celtic Society Cups for Athletic
Holders Kyles Athletic retained the Gregor Cameron Celtic Society Cup with a 3-1 win against Oban Camanachd at Taynuilt to take possession of the trophy for the fifth consecutive year.
The Celtic Society Cup is shinty’s oldest competition with Kyles holding the record for the most wins with their latest taking their tally to an impressive 33 triumphs.
Kyles have not lost this season and top the Marine Harvest Premiership and on course to halt Newtonmore’s bid for an eighth successive title.
With a Camanachd Cup quarter-final tie against More and a MacAulay Cup semi-final appearance against Oban to look forward to, a grand slam of the sport’s major trophies is on for James Perlich’s men.
Kyles went in front after just six minutes through Duncan Kerr, making a welcome return to the Kyles forward line. Full centre Donald Irvine did well to win the ball and his pass to Roddy MacDonald was flicked on for skipper Gordon Whyte to neatly set up Kerr for a deft volley past the helpless Gavin Stobbard in the Oban goal.
With the second half barely started, Oban conceded a free hit 20 yards from goal and Gordon Whyte was again the provider and Kerr the finisher.
Oban’s task became even more difficult in the 65th minute when MacDonald got his name on the scoresheet to finish off a fine sequence of play from Kyles.
Oban tried to force themselves back into the match and it was international defender Daniel Cameron who kick-started their rally in the 80th minute with a goal, but there was to be no comeback.
Kyles manager James Perlich said: “We had good spells and had the majority of the play. It was a decent performance but we need to be more disciplined in getting the ball wide rather than through the middle.
“We had a few players who soldiered on with knocks and I
“The next five matches will make or break our season and it will be back to the hard work on Monday night”
almost had to take two of our most influential players off at half-time, but Roddy MacDonald and Calum Millar were determined to play on.
With one trophy now in the cabinet, Perlich is looking forward to the rest of the season and added: “The next five matches will make or break our season and it will be back to the hard work on Monday night.
“It’s a very similar situation to what we experienced last year when we were sitting near the top of the league with just a couple of points dropped, and involved in all the cup competitions.
“Things didn’t go well and we were out of contention for everything by mid-July. We must do everything we can to avoid that happening again.
“Our policy regarding training is a strict one – no train, no play. And our Monday and Wednesday training sessions have to be attended.” Mark MacPherson’s Kilmallie travelled to face Glen Urquhart at Drumnadrochit and secured a 3-2 win, their second league victory this year which will be a massive boost for the Caol-based outfit as they attempt to stave off the threat of a quick return to the National Division.
Kilmallie took an early lead when Calum MacDougall’s shot on goal was palmed into his own net by Glen stand-in goalkeeper Garry MacKintosh with this lead extended in the 12th minute by Daniel Stewart, with his first goal for Kilmallie since joining from Fort William.
Stewart was again the scorer in the 75th minute however Glen rallied and goals from former Caley Thistle, Ross County and Motherwell goalkeeper Michael Fraser and Lachie Smith gave the Blairbeg Park crowd hope of snatching a point.
A delighted Kilmallie manager Mark MacPherson said: “It was a nervy end to proceedings after we conceded the two goals, the second of which was a screamer.
“We were well on top and I would have been raging if we left Drumnadrochit with just a point. If we can keep this up, getting wins, we don’t need to rely on anyone else. It is good to have John Stewart back and this was his first 90 minutes in a long time, he can be such an influential player.”
The situation at the bottom half of the Premiership is looking very tight.
Kilmallie have moved off bottom spot on goal difference from Lochaber and are one of three teams on five points, with Glen Urquhart in sixth place just three points ahead.