Marine Harvest Premiership
KINLOCHSHIEL opened up a one-point lead at the top of the Marine Harvest Premiership and Skye Camanachd clinched the Marine Harvest National Division title following a dramatic day of shinty last Saturday.
Newtonmore 2 Kinlochshiel 2
Kinlochshiel twice came from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Newtonmore in their noon throw-up at The Eilan.
Kinlochshiel agreed to Newtonmore’s request for an earlier start so that some Newtonmore players could attend a wedding later in the afternoon.
Newtonmore’s Evan Menzies was free of suspension but injury continued to rule out captain Rory Kennedy and Michael Russell was suspended.
Kinlochshiel travelled without Scott MacLean who picked up a one-match suspension for passing through the disciplinary points threshold.
Glen MacKintosh put Newtonmore ahead on nine minutes when he picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and sent a low strike into the far corner of the net. The pace of the shot beat Kinlochshiel keeper Scott Kennedy, although he did get a touch to the ball.
Kinlochshiel’s leveller a couple of minutes later fell into the bizarre category. A ball from a Kinlochshiel corner ended up at the back post where Andy MacKintosh looked in control of the situation but, in an attempt to put the ball out for a corner, he inadvertently knocked it past keeper Norman Campbell and into the net.
Newtonmore dominated from the start of the second half and got their reward on 58 minutes when Fraser MacKintosh got onto a through-ball and found himself one-on-one with the keeper. He kept his cool and flicked the ball home to make it 2-1.
It was a game of few efforts on goal but Kinlochshiel drew
level for a second time with 15 minutes remaining to pick up what could be a priceless point. The goal came from a driving Finlay MacRae run. MacRae’s initial shot was saved by Norman Campbell but Keith MacRae knocked in the rebound.
This was a very physical encounter at times.
The drama included a booking for Newtonmore defender Steven MacDonald after he was involved in a tussle with Keith MacRae. Newtonmore disputed the decision, which came on the advice of the goal judge, with Newtonmore well aware the yellow card will trigger a two-match ban which, as the fixtures currently stand, means MacDonald will be eligible to play against Kyles Athletic this Saturday but will miss the league meeting with Kilmallie and, more importantly, the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final against Lovat.
The match finished just before title challengers Kyles Athletic met Lovat at Balgate. It looked as if Kinlochshiel had dropped a point in the race for the title but events at Balgate would prove otherwise and if Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill had been offered a one-point advantage ahead of the weekend fixtures, he’d have grabbed it with both hands.
Lovat 2 Kyles Athletic 1
Kyles Athletic’s title chances suffered a blow when they lost 2-1 to Lovat at Balgate.
The match was scheduled for a 1.30pm start to allow the Kyles players to make a swift return south to attend a wedding.
However wind turbines on the road delayed the Tighnabruaich men’s journey north so throw-up was delayed to 2pm.
Lovat’s Lorne MacKay returned from suspension and went straight into the starting line-up. Defender Daniel Grieve was missing.
Kyles Athletic, who went into the match top of the table on goal difference, were still without the injured Callum Miller. Innes MacDonald and Dunkie
Kerr started on the bench. Lovat’s Marc MacLachlan tested Kyles’ keeper John Whyte on four, 11 and 29 minutes. The keeper saved the first two efforts with his stick and the third with his feet.
Lovat defended deep making it difficult for Kyles to create chances and Stuart MacDonald in the home goal was untested during the opening 45 minutes.
Kyles edged in front on 51 minutes. A shy from the right fell to Roddy MacDonald who found enough space to strike the ball low into the net from just behind the penalty spot.
Lovat’s leveller five minutes later came from a corner on the right, by the clubhouse. Greg Matheson controlled the ball and held off a couple of challenges before scoring from the edge of the ‘D’.
Two minutes then defined the outcome of the match and maybe the winner of the title race. On 62 minutes, Callum Cruden took a Lovat shy, leaving his opponent Dunkie Kerr unmarked. Grant Irvine did well to win possession and found Kerr who burst forward. Kerr could have gone for goal but picked out Roddy MacDonald who was in a better position. With keeper Stuart MacDonald off his line, Roddy MacDonald steered the ball towards the empty net. Stuart MacDonald produced a miraculous save though, throwing himself full-length towards his goal to one-handedly scoop the ball off the goal-line with his club.
A couple of minutes later, Roddy MacDonald was hit hard in the back by a heavy Martin Mainland challenge near the corner flag. MacDonald retaliated, swinging his caman at the Lovat player, leaving referee Archie Ritchie with no option but to produce a red card. The Kyles man instantly regretted his actions as his sending off comes at a massive cost for James Perlich’s side as MacDonald now misses the crucial league matches against Newtonmore and Kinlochshiel.
In the space of 120 seconds, Kyles could have been leading 2-1 but were instead on level terms and a man down.
The Kyles players responded positively to the situation and showed great fight in an attempt to win the game. Grant Irvine and Dunkie Kerr were linking up well but couldn’t get their team in front.
A Marc MacLachlan shot was well-saved with his feet by John Whyte. The keeper may have known little about it but his reactions didn’t let him down.
The winning goal came on 83 minutes. Lovat’s spare man Callum Cruden took a short corner which Greg Matheson ran out to collect. Matheson flicked the ball into a crowded goal area before running into the ‘D’ and producing a composed finish as he turned the ball past the keeper to make it 2-1.
Both sides put so much into this game and there was a lot of good out-field play. However, with both defences on top, there were few efforts on goal over the 90 minutes. Lovat manager Fraser Gallacher must be pleased with his team’s form ahead of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final and this was their fourth successive victory.
Callum Cruden and wing centre Calum MacAulay were best for Lovat with Craig Mainland winning a lot of the ball, although he may have suffered a hamstring problem which could be a concern.
Donald Irvine and Grant Irvine shone for Kyles, whilst Cammy Keith stuck to the task of marking Greg Matheson, especially in the first half.
Kyles may have fallen a point behind in the title race but they still know that three wins from their final three matches, including against Kinlochshiel at Kirkton, will make them champions.
It’s a task that will be all the more difficult as Roddy MacDonald will miss two of these games.
Glenurquhart 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 2
There were two crucial points up for grabs as Glenurquhart and Glasgow Mid Argyll, both threatened by relegation, met at Blairbeg.
Glenurquhart were without the suspended John Barr and Lachlan Smith, the former now free of his ban for the final match of the season against Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. Fraser Heath returned to the side and started at full centre.
Glasgow Mid Argyll travelled north without Stuart Reid and Duncan ‘Ach’ MacRae.
With both teams desperate for points, this game was always going to have a cup final feel about it.
Both sides started well and, after a period of early pressure, the home side came close to taking the lead when a low James MacPherson shot went just past keeper Robert Dunning’s lefthand post.
James MacPherson found his range when he put Glenurquhart ahead on 13 minutes. An Eddie Tembo pass from the right wing fell to Daniel MacKintosh who threaded the ball through to James MacPherson who slotted home to make it 1-0.
The Glenurquhart forwards put a lot of pressure on the GMA defence but a fine defensive display from Ryan Harrison, who was excellent in the first half, along with Finlay MacMillan and Innes MacMillan, kept the hosts at bay.
Glenurquhart keeper Stuart MacKintosh kept his side in front when he made a fine save from Jamie McFadyen’s shot with 30 minutes played.
Tempers frayed when John Don MacKenzie accidently knocked David Smart on the head. Smart retaliated with a reckless swing which earned the Glenurquhart man a caution from referee John Angus Gillies who also had a stern talk with both players to take the heat out of the situation.
Both teams displayed some good, open shinty in the first half, and Glenurquhart were probably aggrieved only to take a one goal advantage into the break.
GMA made a perfect start to the second half, drawing level within a minute of the re-start. Connor Golabek lost possession on the Glenurquhart right wing and an Innes MacMillan ball over the Glen defence reached Craig Anderson who hit an unstoppable shot past the keeper to make it 1-1.
GMA tried to take control of the game over the next 20 minutes and their fitness showed in all areas of the park. They deservedly took the lead on 76 minutes when a Jamie McFadyen corner found its way into the box.
Referee Gillies played advantage when Glenurquhart keeper Stuart MacKintosh fouled Craig Anderson, but the ball fell to young Calum Mclay who scored to make it 2-1.
It looked as if GMA were going to take a valuable two points but, on the 90 minute mark, a ball out of the GMA defence landed for David Smart on the right and he thundered a shot from an y acute angle which went into the net off the post.
There was still four minutes of injury time to play but neither side could find a winner.
Michael Fraser and Andrew Corrigan were solid in the Glenurquhart defence and Arran MacDonald was strong in midfield.
GMA were well-marshalled by Ryan Harrison in defence and benefited from a man of the match performance from Gary Luke who proved a real handful for Eddie Tembo in midfield.
Glasgow Mid Argyll stay bottom of the table with six points and three games to go, beginning with a home match against Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup finalists Lovat this Saturday.
Kilmallie are a point better off with the same number of games remaining. Lochaber and Glenurquhart are both on nine points with just one match to go but they are difficult encounters against Newtonmore and Kinlochshiel respectively.
Oban Camanachd 3 Kingussie 4
Third-placed Kingussie came from 3-1 down to eventually beat Oban Camanachd 4-3 at Mossfield.
Oban Camanachd keeper Gavin Stobbart served a onematch ban for passing through the disciplinary points threshold so Scotland U17 keeper Cameron Sutherland took over between the sticks. Captain Garry Lord was also banned, whilst Matt Rippon and Scott MacKillop remained out injured. Young guns Craig Easton and Lewis Buchanan were given valuable game time.
Robert Mabon was free of suspension for Kingussie.
Daniel Cameron put the home side in front with a goal after four minutes. Malcolm Clark found Cameron to the right of the penalty spot and he finished well, sending the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Kingussie levelled on 10 minutes when Chris Holleysong ran onto a ball over the top which caught out the Oban Camanachd back-line. Holleysong beat keeper Cameron Sutherland from 10 yards out.
Malcolm Clark tapped home a rebound on 20 minutes following an Oban Camanachd free-hit to put his side back in front.
Daniel Cameron got his second on 34 minutes to make it 3-1. Cameron had time to send a 20- yard shot low past Craig Dawson in the Kingussie goal, beating the keeper on his right side.
Oban Camanachd didn’t look in any real danger at this point but another defensive lapse on the stroke of half-time cost them dear and Roddy Young took
advantage to score. Kingussie made a strong start to the second half and, when they won possession following a clearance from the Oban Camanachd defence, the ball was played on to Ruaridh Anderson who made it 3-3.
The winning goal came on 53 minutes. Cameron Sutherland in the Oban Camanachd goal made a save but as the ball rose into the air, Kingussie won possession and Scotland U17 forward Ruaridh Anderson got his second to make it 4-3.
After the match, Oban Camanachd Iain Hay said: ‘A draw would probably have been a fair result as I don’t think we deserved to lose the game. However, some defensive lapses cost us. The match had an endof-season feel to it so I want the players to pick things up for our remaining games this season.
‘We started the season with a very small squad and the good thing in recent weeks is that we have been able to give some of our younger players first team experience which we hope will mean they can be part of the senior set-up on a more regular basis next season. Craig Easton, for example, played against Kingussie and did really well.’
Oban Camanachd were due to play Kilmallie at Canal Parks this Saturday but the match has been postponed so the squad can watch Lochside Rovers against the Kingussie reserves in the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final at An Aird. Marine Harvest National Division Skye Camanachd 2 Caberfeidh 0 Skye Camanachd secured the Marine Harvest National Division title and promotion back to shinty’s top flight after they beat Caberfeidh 2-0 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye needed at least a point from the game as both Caberfeidh and Fort William could either beat or match their points total ahead of the match.
Skye boss Willie Cowie made just one change from the 17-man squad which lost out to Newtonmore in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi-finals a fortnight earlier as Jordan Murchison was ruled out through injury. Keeper Iain MacLeod played his last match of the season as work commitments will keep him out of the meetings with Inveraray and Fort William.
Caberfeidh manager Jodi Gorski’s selection was hampered by three suspensions. Martin MacDonald is working his way through a four-match ban whilst Liam Symonds and Kevin Bartlett both collected bookings in Caberfeidh’s 3-2 defeat to Fort William in the league a fortnight before so both missed this encounter, collecting one-match bans for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. Ryan Symonds was also missing, as were the injured Ally MacLennan and Jamie Matheson who was unable to travel.
Caberfeidh started well but it was the home side who went in front when Iain MacLellan crashed a shot into the roof of the net on 13 minutes to give Skye the lead.
Ewan Pilcher made a brilliant save to deny Danny Morrison, stretching high to his right to turn Morrison’s piledriver away for a corner with his caman.
Caberfeidh full-back Scott MacLachlan then managed to deflect a Will Cowie effort off the post and away to safety after the Scotland U21 forward had rounded the keeper.
Skye clinched the win five minutes from time when Will Cowie showed great persistence to burst through the visiting defence before forcing the ball low over the line.
Caberfeidh’s Kenneth MacKenzie took unwell during the match but is recovering well after treatment.
This was Caberfeidh’s penultimate game of the season. They are currently in second place in the league with a home meeting with Beauly to come. Inverness 1 Fort William 6 Fort William remain in the promotion race after they beat Inverness 6-1 at The Bught Park.
David Campbell was still banned for Inverness.
Fort William were without suspended trio James Tangney, Lewis Clark and Cameron Grant.
Lachie Shaw settled Fort William into the match with a goal after four minutes.
Graham Campbell made it 2-0 a minute before the break but Inverness got themselves back into the contest when James Cameron scored on 53 minutes.
Lachie Shaw got his second on 57 minutes with Graham Campbell doing likewise on the hour to make it 4-1.
Brothers Jack Fraser on 72 minutes and Mark Fraser on 87 minutes rounded off the 6-1 win.
Fort William are now three points behind second-placed Caberfeidh but they have two games in hand. Oban Celtic P Inveraray P There was a Saturday morning pitch inspection ahead of Oban Celtic’s meeting with Inveraray andthe match was called off as Ganavan was waterlogged.
This would have been Celtic’s first match since Saturday August 5 and they will now have to wait until September 23 when they are scheduled to play Inveraray again, this time at The Winterton. Marine Harvest North Division 1 Newtonmore 3 Beauly 0 The Newtonmore second team extended their lead at the top of the table, beating Beauly’s second team 3-0 in their 3pm throw-up at The Eilan.
Chris Sellar, on his return from injury, scored the only goal of the first half on 21 minutes.
Declan Brennan made it 2-0 on 61 minutes and John MacKenzie added a third just three minutes later.
The Newtonmore seconds are now three points ahead of Aberdeen University but have played a game more. Kingussie 7 Fort William 1 The Kingussie colts warmed up for this Saturday’s Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final with a 7-1 win over an under-strength Fort William colts at An Aird.
A James Falconer double and goals from Kevin Thain and Dylan Borthwick had Kingussie 4-0 up at the break.
James Falconer went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half. Dylan Borthwick got his second with Kieran MacPherson also scoring.
Zoe Smith was on target with a consolation goal for Fort William. Kinlochshiel 0 Glenurquhart 1 When it became clear Kinlochshiel’s Kirkton pitch would not be playable, their second team game against their Glenurquhart counter-parts was switched to Blairbeg with an 11.45am throw-up.
Jed Stoddart came close to giving Glenurquhart an early lead but was unable to knock the ball home.
The early start didn’t affect Glenurquhart’s Christopher Mack who netted with a shot from the left after three minutes.
There were good battles at either end of the field between Glenurquhart full back Paul MacKintosh and Kinlochshiel full forward Graham Kennedy at one end and Kinlochshiel full back Neil Fraser and Glenurquhart full forward Callum Miller at the other.
With no further scoring, Glenurquhart recorded only their second league win of the season. Marine Harvest South Division 1 Tayforth 2 Taynuilt 1 Third-placed Tayforth came from a goal down to beat Taynuilt 2-1 at Levenhall Links.
Taynuilt’s Ewan MacCorquodale opened the scoring on seven minutes but they only stayed in front for a couple of minutes with Sean Taylor levelling.
Finlay Stark got the winner on 30 minutes. Kilmory 5 Ballachulish 3 Kilmory ran out 5-3 winners against Ballachulish at MacRae Park.
Ballachulish travelled with just 11 players and went in front through Pat MacLean on 16 minutes.
Hal Jones equalised on 19 minutes and Rhys Williams put the hosts 2-1 ahead just a couple of minutes later.
Duncan MacBrayne made it 3-1 three minutes into the second half and Hal Jones got his second to make it 4-1 on the hour mark.
Ballachulish fought back though and a second from Pat MacLean on 67 minutes and Conor MacGregor four minutes later made it 4-3.
Kilmory sealed the win through Alex Cunningham with 15 minutes remaining. Bute P Lochside Rovers P The match between Bute and Lochside Rovers was transferred to Yoker on Thursday when The Meadows was ruled unplayable.
However the 1pm throw-up eventually fell foul of the weather when Yoker was also deemed unplayable on Saturday morning.
With Saturday’s game postponed, managers Gareth Evans and Brian MacCallum arranged an additional training session at Ganavan before Daniel MacCuish, Craig Easton, Lewis Buchanan and Daniel Sloss were given game time for the senior team against Kingussie at Mossfield. Kyles Athletic P Aberdour P The game between Kyles Athletic’s second team and Aberdour was called off on Friday when the pitch at Tighnabruaich was deemed unplayable. Col Glen P Glenorchy P Col Glen moved their meeting with Glenorchy to Otter Ferry but that also failed a pitch inspection so the game will be re-scheduled. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lochaber 4 Glengarry 0 The Lochaber seconds made it very interesting at the top of the table by beating league leaders Glengarry 4-0 at Spean Bridge.
Youngster Max Campbell gave Lochaber the lead on 10 minutes.
Lachie Campbell extended the home team’s advantage with a brace either side of half-time, the goals coming on 40 and 49 minutes.
Ryan Andrews rounded off the win 15 minutes from time and second-placed Lochaber now trail Glengarry by four points but they have a game in hand.
Glengarry know that five points from their remaining three matches against Strathspey Camanachd, the Kilmallie seconds and the Lovat seconds will guarantee them the league title. Caberfeidh 4 Lewis Camanachd 1 A Jamie Matheson hat-trick helped the Caberfeidh second team to a 4-1 win over Lewis Camanachd at Castle Leod.
Caberfeidh’s Declan Wilson missed out through suspension and whilst first team absences deprived them of Connor MacGregor and Callum MacKinnon, Jamie Matheson was included as he was unable to travel to Portree with the first team.
Lewis Camanachd were without keeper Graham Cay so Euan Gilmour was in goals and they gave youth a chance, with Daniel Harrison making a second half debut, in the first of three away fixtures which will complete their season. Caberfeidh had the early pressure although Stewart MacRitchie went close for the visitors.
Jamie Matheson forced Euan Gilmour to make a good save when one-on-one with the Lewis custodian.
Caberfeidh broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Stuart Krzyzanowski won a tussle with his marker before firing home.
An Ally Lamont effort from distance went just over the top before Lewis Camanachd equalised on the hour. Stewart MacRitchie set up Kieran MacDonald – both 14 year olds – and MacDonald found the back of the net to make it one each.
Caberfeidh’s Jamie Matheson then took centre-stage with three blistering finishes on 71, 76 and 80 minutes to seal a 4-1 win.
The victory lifts Caberfeidh to third in the table behind secondplaced Lochaber reserves by four points but they have two games in hand. Boleskine 3 Strathspey Camanachd 3 A late Conor Aubrey double earned Strathspey Camanachd a 3-3 draw against Boleskine at Smith Park.
Graham Black put Boleskine ahead on six minutes but Martin Ross equalised on 27 minutes.
James Anderson restored Boleskine’s lead a couple of minutes later and when Duncan MacPherson made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time, the league’s bottom side looked good for a morale-boosting win.
Conor Aubrey scored on 72 minutes to make it 3-2 and it was Aubrey again, with three minutes remaining, who snatched a share of the points for Strathspey. Strathglass 0 Kilmallie 4 The Kilmallie seconds were 4-0 winners against the Strathglass seconds at Cannich.
Stuart Ross on 23 minutes and Brian MacKay on 28 minutes had Kilmallie two up at the break.
Donnie MacRae on 61 minutes and Donald MacIntyre in the final minute completed the win, extending Kilmallie’s winning run to four matches. Inverness 1 Lochcarron 2 Lochcarron beat the Inverness second team 2-1 in their noon throw-up at The Bught Park outside pitch.
Peter MacKenzie gave Lochcarron the lead on 22 minutes with the only goal of the first half.
Stuart MacRae netted five minutes after the re-start to draw Inverness level.
Lochcarron’s Fraser Stewart got the winner, sending the ball past Inverness goalie Allan MacLeod on 77 minutes. Marine Harvest South Division 2 Dunoon Camanachd P Inveraray P Inveraray’s second team will have to wait to secure the point they need to clinch the Marine Harvest South Division 2 title and a quick return to Marine Harvest South Division 1 following their relegation at the end of the 2016 shinty season.
Their game against Dunoon Camanachd was postponed on Friday evening as The Dunoon Stadium was unplayable. Aberdour P Oban Lorn P The meeting between The Aberdour second team and Oban Lorn was postponed on Friday when it was clear Silversands would be unplayable. Bute P Strachur P The noon throw-up between the Bute second team and Strachur was switched to Strachurmore on Wednesday as The Meadows could not host two matches.
However it became clear the following day that Strachurmore was also unplayable so the match was postponed. WCA round-up Some Women’s Camanachd Association fixtures beat the weather this weekend. Marine Harvest National Div 1 Lochaber 4 Aberdour 0 Lochaber kept up their title push with a 4-0 win over Aberdour in their 1pm throw-up at Spean Bridge.
Kirsty Delaney scored twice, whilst Christy Macintyre and Missy Cameron got the others. Lovat 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 9 Glasgow Mid Argyll were too strong for Lovat, winning 9-0 in their 2pm throw-up at Balgate.
Christy Doherty scored five times, Rachel McCafferty netted twice whilst Amy Harris and Katie Drain got the others. Fort William P Badenoch & Strathspey P The clash between Fort William and Badenoch & Strathspey will be re-scheduled as The Canal Parks was unplayable. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Glengarry P Strathglass P The 1.30pm throw up between Marine Harvest Challenge Cup winners Glengarry and Strathglass was postponed as Craigard was unplayable.
The match will be re-scheduled for a later date. Marine Harvest South Division 2 Lorn P
Cowal & Bute P Lorn’s meeting with Cowal & Bute was an early postponement because of an unplayable field. Lachie Wood to referee Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup final THE CAMANACHD Association has confirmed Lachie Wood from Lochgilphead will referee the 2017 Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final between Lovat and Newtonmore at The Bught Park, Inverness, on Saturday September 30.
During his playing days, Lachie turned out for Kilmory, Glasgow Mid Argyll and Oban Celtic.
Following a spell as coach/ manager of Kilmory, Lachie took up refereeing in 2012 and has steadily progressed through the grades and has been officiating at Grade One level for three years.
Since taking up refereeing, Lachie has taken charge of the Bullough Cup Final in 2013, the Balliemore and Valerie Fraser Cup Finals in 2014 as well as the 2015 Macaulay Cup Final. He also refereed the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final in 2014 and 2017.
Speaking on his appointment, Lachie Wood said: ‘I am delighted to be chosen to referee the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final.
‘It is a great honour and I am very much looking forward to what should be a great match.’