Artemis Macaulay Cup - first round
Oban Camanachd were comfortable 4-1 winners against Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA) at a rainy Mossfield.
Malcolm Clark and Evan MacLellan returned from injury to the Oban Camanachd starting line-up but defender Garry Lord was still out. Ross Campbell, David Cameron, Innes Jackson and Scott MacMillan made up a strong bench.
GMA's Craig Anderson remained sidelined with a broken finger, whilst top scorer Ewen Fraser and Jamie McFadyen were also missing. Former Lochaber player John Sweeney returned to the side and former Oban Celtic player Ally McKerracher featured in attack.
Oban Camanachd hit the front on 26 minutes when Connor Howe got onto Daniel Madej's low ball from the left before slotting it home from inside the ‘D'.
Daniel Madej added his name to the scoresheet on 35 minutes. Malcolm Clark's hitin from the right dropped into the danger area where Connor Howe shot goalwards. GMA goalie Jonathon Oates saved with his legs but Daniel Madej turned the rebound home.
The Oban side passed up chances to put the tie out of sight and were made to pay on 63 minutes. Former Skye midfielder Stewart Grant played James MacLeod's hit-in forward and John McNulty found Chris Holly-song. Daniel Sloss stretched to divert Holly-song's shot and the ball fell kindly for McNulty who had continued his run and he swept the ball into the net.
The home forwards passed up a couple of more opportunities before defender Daniel Cameron ran forward unmarked to get on the end of Malcolm Clark's free-hit from the right and he crashed the ball low into the net to make it 3-1 with 71 minutes played.
Connor Howe marked a good individual performance when he added a fourth on 81 minutes. Howe exchanged passes with Daniel Madej on the left before despatching the ball low into the net to make it 4-1.
Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans said: ‘I'm happy with the win. GMA are always tough opponents and it was good to get the first two goals. We passed up some chances and knew the third goal would be important. GMA got it. We wobbled a bit without GMA creating any real chances, although Ally McKerracher caused us problems, but Daniel Cameron gave us breathing space with a good finish.
‘Connor Howe got his second and he can be pleased with his performance. He did very well, as did Daniel Cameron.'
GMA boss Alan MacRae added: ‘Oban Camanachd deserved the win. We played well in the first half but were troubled by a couple of hamstring injuries early on.'
Johnston Gill's Kinlochshiel side have been showing a bit of form in recent weeks and they visit Mossfield in the Mowi Premiership on Saturday.
Kinlochshiel have fielded a full strength side in their last two matches but Gareth Evans faces a selection headache for this one.
‘Garry Lord will still be out,' said Evans, ‘and we'll also be without Daniel Cameron, Malcolm Clark, Daniel Madej and David Cameron.'
Oban Celtic gave Kyles Athletic a scare before the Tighnabruaich men eventually won 4-2 at Mossfield.
Celtic's Lennon Campbell returned whilst 2021 runners-up Kyles Athletic had Callum Millar back in attack.
Kyles had reason to feel optimistic when, ahead of throwup, captain Innes MacDonald won the toss for the first time in seven matches.
Lennon Campbell gave Celtic the lead on 15 minutes when he finished well from the right following a sweeping move forward but when referee Des McNulty awarded Kyles a penalty on 55 minutes, Ross MacRae sent the ball low into the net to the keeper's right.
Callum Millar turned home a rebound off the keeper following Ross MacRae's strike from wide on the left on 65 minutes to put Kyles ahead for the first time in the tie and Millar scored again on 73 minutes when Celtic couldn't clear Ross MacRae's free-hit.
Roddy MacDonald, a substitute following his late return from a certain football match in Leipzig, sent the ball high into the net on his back-hand from wide on the left following Max Carr's 81st minute hit-in from the right to make it 4-1.
Celtic's Scott Dempster tucked home a rebound off the keeper on 83 minutes to make the final score 4-2.
Oban Celtic manager Dougie MacIntyre was pleased with his team's efforts. He said: ‘Our boys played great today. Kyles are a higher league team and they deserved to win. We've been struggling lately and our player pool isn't big enough but there were positives for us.
‘We had a junior game last week featuring eight 15 and 16-year-olds and some were involved today so the future is looking bright. We aren't going to win anything anytime soon but I want us to be competitive.'
Kyles Athletic boss Robert Baxter said: ‘All credit to Oban Celtic as they made us work for that. I know we were short of players but we didn't get going in the first half and that was down to Oban Celtic and how they played.'
Kyles talisman Roddy MacDonald added: ‘We were a bit lacklustre. We're short of bodies so we'll take the result and hopefully get some boys back for our next game.'
Oban Celtic are on their travels to Glasgow Mid Argyll in the Scottish Sea Farms Glasgow Celtic Society Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Ballachulish and Cruachanside served up a thriller at Jubilee Park.
There was little sign of goal feast to come when first half finished scoreless.
The second half was just three minutes old when Ally Banks gave Ballachullish the lead.
Kyle MacFarlane drew Cruachanside level on 56 minutes, only for former Scotland international John MacDonald to put Ballachullish back in front on 77 minutes. Another the the
Kilmory defeated the English Shinty Association 5-0 at MacRae Park.
Alec Cunningham gave Kilmory the lead on the half-hour with Euan Gilmour getting a second a couple of minutes later.
Euan Gilmour got his second on 51 minutes with Alec Cunningham going on to complete his hat-trick when he found the net on 76 and 85 minutes.