Marine Harvest Premiership Marine Harvest South Division 1

2017-10-05 -

Newtonmore heroes was Paul MacArthur who showed great courage to step in between the sticks on such a big occasion.

Michael Russell rarely lost a challenge, Jamie Robinson had a terrific game, especially in the first half, whilst Rory Kennedy did a great job marking Greg Matheson.

Match-winner Evan Menzies and his strike partner Glen MacKintosh were also excellent but the Albert Smith Memorial Medal for man of the match went to Newtonmore’s Drew MacDonald who starred first in attack and then midfield.

Zoe Smith, an accomplished player for Fort William, took over presentation duties from her grandmother Rene Smith and made an excellent job of handing over the coveted trophy.

A manager’s role can go unnoticed but Paul John MacKintosh made best use of his resources and called the big decisions correctly.

After the match, the Newtonmore boss said: ‘A lot went against us in the lead up to the final. We were three Scotland defenders short earlier in the week and thankfully Rory made it as he was absolutely outstanding in the game. To a man, everyone put in a superb shift and I’m absolutely delighted.

‘This is our target every year as it means so much to the players, their families and the community. I thought we were outstanding. We started really, really well and moved the ball really quickly and opened them up.

‘We caught them on their heels and we were on our toes. Twonil didn’t flatter us and we could have been three ahead quite easily. We knew Lovat would have their spell. Every team has a 20 minute spell in a game, no matter who you play.

‘We knew Lovat would come back at us and they got it back to 2-2. It was then a question of who wanted it most and I was just delighted to see Evan hit the back of the net.’

Newtonmore, who no doubt celebrated their Camanachd Cup success in the traditional manner, are due at Spean Bridge this Saturday to play relegation-threatened Lochaber.

Kilmallie P Oban Camanachd P

The only scheduled Marine Harvest Premiership fixture of the day was the noon meeting between Kilmallie and Oban Camanachd at Canal Parks.

The game was postponed tough because of an unplayable pitch.

Next up for Kilmallie is a home meeting with beaten Marine Harvest Camanachd Cup finalists Lovat this Saturday, throw-up 3pm.

Oban Camanachd play title-hopefuls Kinlochshiel at Mossfield this Saturday.

Oban Camanachd manager Iain Hay is on holiday so Fraser Inglis and Chris Eccleston will look after the side.

Kinlochshiel need a point from the match to finish ahead of Kyles Athletic, who host Glasgow Mid Argyll in a 3pm throw-up, and clinch their first Marine Harvest Premiership title.

Lochside Rovers 2 Taynuilt 2

Lochside Rovers collected another point in the Marine Harvest South Division 1 title race when they drew 2-2 with Taynuilt in their noon throw-up at Mossfield.

Lochside were without Craig MacDougall and Lennon Campbell, so Ross Campbell was given his first start. Lochside had the chance to take the lead after three minutes when referee Alex MacVicar spotted a push inside the ‘D’ and awarded the hosts a penalty. The normally reliable Michael MacQueen drove the spot-hit down the middle but the ball rose over the crossbar.

Lochside went close on eight minutes when Ruaraidh Horn’s looping shot from 15 yards out came bar off the bar.

Iain MacMillan was the best player on show throughout the match and opened the scoring on 24 minutes.

MacMillan ran forward, beating a couple of players along the way, and his head-height shot made it 1-0.

The speedy Robbie Brown equalised on 35 minutes when he collected the ball in a wide position and evaded a challenge before unleashing a rocket 40 yard shot on the angle which beat the keeper at the far post.

Lochside regained the lead four minutes before half time. Michael MacQueen took a Ruaraidh Horn ball out of the air and had time to hit a low, hard shot into the net to make it 2-1.

Taynuilt keeper Steven Parr made a brilliant save to prevent Lewis Buchanan extending Lochside’s lead. Michael MacQueen was involved in the buildup and Parr was at his best to keep out the youngster’s volley.

Lochside had enough pressure up front to see the game off but the Taynuilt defence, in which Ryan Gillies was outstanding, stood firm and the visitors got their reward with eight minutes remaining.

Steven Campbell broke forward with the ball from midfield and, with the Lochside defence backing off, Campbell played the ball to David Campbell who shot low into the net to make it 2-2. Lochside Rovers can now seal the league championship if they take something from their match against Kilmory at MacRae Park this Saturday.

‘We weren’t at our best,’ said Lochside boss Gareth Evans after the game. ‘Taynuilt were hungrier than us and we’ll need to play better if we are to take anything from our match away to Kilmory this Saturday.’

Ballachulish P Kilmory P

The noon throw-up between Ballachulish and Kilmory was postponed on Saturday morning as Jubilee Park was ruled unplayable.

Kyles Athletic P Glenorchy P The noon throw-up between the Kyles Athletic colts and

Glenorchy was postponed on Friday as Tighnabruaich was unplayable and there were no alternative venues. The noon meeting between the Bute second team and Strachur was reversed to Strachurmore when The Meadows failed a pitch inspection.

However, Strachurmore was also ruled unplayable so the fixture will be re-scheduled.

Lochaber 0 Skye Camanachd 5

Skye Camanachd are in a strong position at the top of Marine Harvest National Division 1 following the Women’s Camanachd Association shinty action on Sunday October 1. Reigning champions Skye Camanachd collected what could prove to be two crucial league points when they overcame Lochaber 5-0 in their 1.30pm throw-up at Spean Bridge.

Doubles from Sarah Corrigall and Lorna MacRae and a Jenna Beaton goal gave Skye the win. Aberdour were awarded the points as Lovat were unable to raise a team for their meeting at Silversands.

Glasgow Mid Argyll P Fort William P Fort William were unable to

raise a team for their match against Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker so the game will be rescheduled for a later date. Glengarry defeated Strathglass 4-2 in their 3pm throw-up at Craigard.

An Elaine Cameron brace, Leona Falconer and Joanne Gillanders gave Glengarry the win, cancelling out a Cassie Dorins’ double for Strathglass.

Marine Harvest South Division 2

The Glasgow Mid Argyll second team were unable to raise a side for their journey north to face league champions Ardnamurchan, so the league champions were awarded the points.

Cowal & Bute P Dunadd P

The meeting between Cowal & Bute and Dunadd was postponed because of an unplayable pitch.

Lorne Ladies P Oban Lorn P

The 1.30pm throw-up between Lorne Ladies and Oban Camanachd was postponed as Ganavan was unplayable. The Women’s Camanachd Association has introduced a new category of U14 match in the hope of providing a better pathway for younger players.

This representative match will take place as the curtain raiser ahead of the shinty/hurling international between Scotland and Ireland at The Bught Park, Inverness, on Saturday October 21. Throw-up will be 10.30am. The 2017 Camanachd Cup Final was preceded by the Kenneth MacMaster Cup Final between Lochaber U14s and Kingussie U14s.

Kingussie went into this 11am throw-up as pre-match favourites but they had to fight all the way to win the contest 6-4.

Kingussie enjoyed the early pressure and Ewan Baker put them ahead when he closed down a clearance to score from the right of the ‘D’. Michael Slimon made it 2-0 when he nudged a re-bound off Lochaber keeper Ryan Ferguson into the net. Lochaber captain Max Campbell pulled a goal back from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 at the break.

Lochaber’s Max Campbell then broke down the right to score his second and level the match.

Ally Douglas put Kingussie back in front after Lochaber goalie Ryan Ferguson had stopped a fierce Ewan Baker drive.

Dillon Brockie dribbled through the heart of the Lochaber defence to score a great solo goal to make it 3-3.

Lochaber took the lead for the first time in the final when Robbie Rydings netted after good play from Max Campbell.

Michael Slimon turned and notched his second from the right of the ‘D’ to make it 4-4. A minute later, Iain Lynch drove the ball high into the goal area and Ewan Baker deflected it into the net to put Kingussie back in front.

This time there was to be no comeback and a ball forward from Iain Lynch was controlled by Ewan Baker who scored to complete his hat-trick and make the final score 6-4.

Kingussie captain Cameron Leiper was presented with the MacMaster Cup by David MacMaster.

North U14 11 South U14 2

The North U14s were convincing 11-2 winners over the South U14s in their noon throw-up at An Aird on Sunday October 1.

Lochaber’s Max Campbell on 10 minutes and Beauly’s Euan Maccormick on 23 minutes had the North 2-0 ahead midway through the first half.

The North went on to dominate and won the game with something to spare to retain the Fraser MacPhee Memorial Cup which was presented to North captain Michael Slimon by Rosemary MacPhee.

The North scorers were Max Campbell and Euan Maccormick with doubles from Taylor Matheson, Declan Brannan, Michael Slimon and Ross MacKinnon.

Ross Campbell and Gregor MacDonald scored for the South.

North U17 3 South U17 1

The meetings between the North and South at U17 level are usually keenly contested and this 2.30pm throw-up at An Aird on Sunday October 1 was no exception.

Kingussie’s Dylan Borthwick gave the North the lead on 15 minutes with the only goal of the first half.

Skye Camanachd’s Martin Pringle made it 2-0 on 58 minutes.

Fort William’s Victor Smith scored 10 minutes from time, but Oban Camanachd’s Lewis Buchanan pulled a goal back three minutes from time.

Fixtures Saturday October 7 Marine Harvest Premiership

Kilmallie v Lovat Calum Girvan - 3pm Kyles Athletic v Glasgow MA Innes Wood - 3pm Lochaber v Newtonmore Graham Cameron

Oban Caman v Kinlochshiel Deek Cameron

Marine Harvest National Division

Fort William v Skye Martin MacLean - 3pm Oban Celtic v Beauly Lachie Wood

Marine Harvest North Division 1

Fort William v Aberdeen Uni John Angus Gillies - noon Beauly v Kingussie Andy MacLean

Marine Harvest South Division 1

Bute v Aberdour Robert Baxter - 3pm Glenorchy v Ballachulish Iain Kennedy Kilmory v Lochside Rovers Des McNulty

Kyles Athletic v Tayforth Ross Brown - noon

Marine Harvest North Division 2

Caberfeidh v Lochaber Willie MacDonald Kilmallie v Glengarry Scott McNeil - noon Lochcarron v Strathspey John Matheson Strathglass v Lovat Brian MacKay

Marine Harvest South Division 2 Aberdour v Oban Lorn Graham Fisher

Bute v Dunoon

Neil MacDonald - noon Inveraray v Glasgow MA Ronnie Campbell

All throw-ups 2.30pm unless stated.

Saturday September 30

Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final

Lovat 2 v 3 Newtonmore

Marine Harvest Premiership

Kilmallie Pv P Oban Caman Unplayable field

Marine Harvest South Division 1

Ballachulish Pv P Kilmory Unplayable field

Kyles Athletic P v P Glenorchy Unplayable field Lochside Rovers 2 v 2 Taynuilt