Shinty round-up - Kingussie seal quintuple with Mòd Cup win over Oban Camanachd

With Iomain Cholmcille and Camanachd na h-Alba organising shinty at the Royal National Mòd in Oban, Oban Camanachd and Lovat were to contest the Mòd Cup a week earlier. 

However, when that game was postponed, National Mòd organisers moved quickly to confirm the Aviemore Trophy would be contested between Oban Camanachd and Kingussie. 

A Royal National Mòd spokesperson said: “We are happy the men’s Mòd Cup was played in Oban at the time of the Mòd and thank Lovat for graciously letting their opportunity to contest the trophy pass to allow this to happen.”
The victory meant Kingussie won the trophy for the first time to complete a unique quintuple. 

There were player of the match awards for both sides, collected by Cameron Sutherland, Oban Camanachd, and Alexander Michie, Kingussie. 

Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans said: “I hope Scotland manager Garry Reid watches the video of the game as Cammy Sutherland in goal was excellent. He kept us in it,  in the first half especially. 

“It was a difficult game against a team in form. We faltered at the end and were chasing shadows after they scored their second goal. 

“I thought Alexander Michie was excellent for Kingussie;  he has it all. I was impressed with Iain Fraser at full centre too.

“If that’s to be my last game as manager, it was a bit of a damp squib.
“It could also be a final game for Daniel Cameron and, if so, he’ll be a massive miss on the field. We were talking recently and, especially given the number of games that are played these days, he has probably played more times for the club than anyone else in our history.” 

Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “After the early goal, I thought we’d add a few more before half-time but Oban finished the first half strongly.

“We had the wind in the second half but couldn’t get the second goal until 20 minutes from time. But it was goal after goal after that.

“Oban keeper Cameron Sutherland made good saves in both halves.”

Oban Camanachd, sponsored by TSL Contractors, have two games remaining, home and away against Lovat with the games currently scheduled for Saturday November 2 at Mossfield and at Balgate a week later. 
However, both sides have contacted the Camanachd Association suggesting a share of the points to bring their respective seasons to a close. The matter will go before the game’s competitions committee with a decision expected before the end of the month.

Mowi National Division

Bute 2 
Glasgow Mid Argyll 4

Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA) will finish third in the Mowi National Division after winning 4-2 against Bute at the Meadows. 

GMA travelled without Craig Anderson, Andrew Morrison and Finlay MacMillan but still raced into a 4-0 lead through goals from Cailean MacLeod on six minutes, Logan Adam on 16 minutes, Calum Morrison on 24 minutes and a second from Cailean MacLeod on 34 minutes. 

Bute fought back after the re-start and the second half was just three minutes old when Scott Harvey pulled a goal back. Craig Fisher made it 4-2 on 68 minutes.

Six new caps In Scotland squad

Scotland manager Garry Reid has named six new caps in his 20-player squad for the shinty-hurling international against Ireland at Cusack Park, Ennis, on Saturday October 26.

There are first call-ups for Cameron Sutherland, Daniel MacVicar, Andy MacDonald, Lachie Shaw, Ben Delaney and Alexander Michie.

Three of the new caps, Cameron Sutherland, Daniel MacVicar and Andy MacDonald, come from Oban Camanachd and their manager Gareth Evans said: “Cammy Sutherland deserves this as he is such a steady keeper. Along with Stuart MacDonald and Rory McGregor, they are at the top of their game. I’ll always say Cammy is the best in Scotland.

“His all-round game is terrific and he’s consistent. He rarely makes mistakes and he’s an excellent shot-stopper.
“I’m also delighted for Daniel MacVicar. He’s taken his game to a new level over the second half of this season. He loves a physical battle and has added goals to his game. Daniel’s a hard trainer and his call-up is well overdue. He’ll take to shinty-hurling like a duck to water.

“Andy MacDonald’s shinty career is a perfect story of where hard work and dedication can get you. Andy knew he had to get fit to do himself justice in the Premiership and he used a personal trainer. He also changed his diet and the end result is that he has arguably been our most consistent player this season. He’s a manager’s dream - always putting the team first.”

Andy’s grandfather Andrew MacKenzie and Gareth Evans’  father Nigel Evans were both part of the Scotland squad for the international against Ireland in 1972 at the Bught Park, Inverness. 

Fort William’s Lachie Shaw was rewarded for his contribution to a season in which Fort William won the Mowi National Division and promotion back to shinty’s topflight. They were also cottages.com MacTavish Cup and Ferguson Transport & Shipping Balliemore Cup beaten finalists and reached the semi-finals of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup. 

Fort William co-manager Alan Knox said: “Neil Robertson and I are very happy for Lachie. He’s worked extremely hard this year and has been an important figure on and off the park. He is a fantastic player and deserves the chance to play at this level. We are also happy that Fort William has a representative at international level again, so Lachie has done us all proud. He’ll be great and hopefully this is the first of many call-ups.”

Ben Delaney has fired in 30 goals for Lochaber this season and his club manager and former Scotland boss Ally Ferguson said: “I’m delighted for Ben that he’s been selected for the Scotland squad. It is just reward and great recognition for his goal scoring prowess this season in the Premiership. Ben played in every game for for Lochaber this year and trained outwith club training which has paid off for him with this selection. 
“The club is proud of him. He joins a great squad on merit.  Good luck and best wishes to Ben and the rest of the  Scotland team for Saturday’s match.” 

There are nine changes overall from last year with Lovat’s Craig Mainland and Kinlochshiel pair Conor Cormack and Donald Nixon returning to the fold. 

Garry Reid was disappointed yet encouraged following his side’s 22-14 defeat to Ireland in last year’s international at Páirc Esler, Newry. 

He said: “It’s small margins but we need to play with a bit more composure this year.  If I have one regret from last year, it’s that we ended up chasing points and stopped playing shinty. We were trying to fire the ball over the bar from ridiculous positions at times.”

Scotland from: Stuart MacDonald, Lovat;  Cameron Sutherland, Oban Camanachd;  Robert Mabon, Kingussie; Blair Morrison, Caberfeidh;  Alexander Michie, Kingussie;  Craig Mainland, Lovat; Conor Cormack, Kinlochshiel; Danny Kelly, Lovat; Steven Macdonald, Newtonmore; Finlay MacRae, Kinlochshiel; Roddy Macdonald, Kyles Athletic; John Gillies, Skye Camanachd; Donald Nixon, Kinlochshiel; Andy MacDonald, Oban Camanachd; Ruaridh Anderson, Kingussie; Daniel MacVicar, Oban Camanachd; Craig Morrison, Caberfeidh; Ben Delaney, Lochaber; Kevin Bartlett, Caberfeidh; and Lachie Shaw, Fort William.

The teams will contest the Mowi Quaich. Throw-in is at 3.30pm and the game will be broadcast live on the official TG4 YouTube channel.

Kilmory seek new manager 

Kilmory are on the lookout for a new manager after Ronnie Campbell stepped down at the end of last season. 
Kilmory finished second to Lochside Rovers in Mowi South Division 1 last season and reached the Camanachd Association Single Team Cup Final where they lost out to Glengarry. 

A Kilmory spokesperson said: “Thank you to Ronnie Campbell who is stepping down as team manager. We have made a lot of progress over the years under Ronnie’s stewardship with two league titles and reaching four cup finals.

“We are now on the lookout for a new management team to hopefully take the team to the next level.”