Shinty round-up - Lochside win Mowi South Division 1

Mowi Premiership

 

Caberfeidh 0 
Oban Camanachd 2

 

Despite having to field a make-shift side, Oban Camanachd collected another two points and still have their sights set on finishing in second place in the Mowi Premiership after winning 2-0 against Caberfeidh at Castle Leod.

 

Oban Camanachd were without a number of players including Daniel Cameron, Evan MacLellan and Alexander Macdonald who were on holiday whilst James MacMillan was working and Craig Macmillan was unavailable. 
Garry Lord gave the visitors a boost when he confirmed his availability on Friday evening and Scott McMillan travelled with the senior side following suspension.

 

Michael MacQueen and manager Gareth Evans were the only Oban substitutes although neither took the field. 
Caberfeidh manager Garry Reid was unavailable for the game, so his assistant Brian MacDonald took charge of the side. 

 

Connor McGregor and Gavin McLauchlan were on holiday and Ben MacDonald was working offshore. Top scorer Craig Morrison picked up a knock in the defeat at Kyles the previous week but was passed fit to play.

 

Scott MacMillan celebrated his return to the side by scoring the opening goal after three minutes. 

 

The goal followed a throw-up called by referee John Angus Gillies which Malcolm Clark won before MacMillan finished with a low backhand strike across the keeper from the right of the penalty spot. 
Oban keeper Cammy Sutherland was in excellent form and when the impressive Kevin Bartlett blasted the ball from the left, it hit the underside of the crossbar and Sutherland saved Craig Morrison’s attempt from the re-bound.

 

Caberfeidh pressed for a leveller in the second half but Oban Camanachd claimed victory with four minutes remaining. Ross MacMillan finished off a good move, started near the corner flag on the right, to consign Caberfeidh to a third successive defeat.

 

Gareth Evans said: “We were short today but our starting 12 did brilliantly, in what was one of the best results of my time in charge. We rode our luck at times in the second half, but all the boys put a shift in. 
“Garry Lord got in touch at 7pm on Friday evening to say he had managed a late work switch and was able to play which meant Craig Easton was able to go with Lochside.

 

“Daniel Madej was superb against Craig Morrison and Cammy Sutherland made some great stops in goal.
“When you factor in Lochside’s result, it was a great day for the club.”

 

Cameron Sutherland said: “It’s not an easy place to come to, especially so late on in the season, with a few injuries and when our second team had a league decider. It was a really good result.” 

 

Brian MacDonald added: “It was a bit frustrating. We got off to a slow start and they got a quick goal. We hit the bar so could have been level at half-time. 

 

“We asked the boys for a reaction in the second half and I couldn’t have asked for more as it was a really good second half performance. 

 

“We’ll take it on the chin and hope to get two points at Skye in our next game.”
Oban Camanachd, sponsored by TSL Contractors, are at home this Saturday when they welcome Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup runners-up Lovat to Mossfield. 

 

This will be a double-header with the Mòd Cup also up for grabs in the match, marking this year’s Royal National Mòd taking place in Oban. 

 

Gareth Evans said: “Now that Lochside have completed their season, and a successful one at that, our team-raising difficulties will ease for our final three games. 

 

“Andy MacDonald is on holiday, but we should have other players back. If we can win our final three matches, we could still finish second in the table.” 

Kyles Athletic 4 
Lovat 3

 

Kyles Athletic’s final game of the season was a 4-3 win over Lovat at the Playing Fields, Tighnabruaich.

 

Kyles player/coach Roddy Macdonald was sidelined after suffering an ankle injury, including nerve damage, in the previous week’s win against Caberfeidh. 

 

John Whyte returned in goal to take over from stand-in goalie Callum Millar. Conor Kennedy, Cammy Jack and Roan MacVicar were all unavailable and Andrew King was still out.

 

Lovat pair Lorne Mackay and Fraser Heath started two-game bans following the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup final defeat to Kingussie. Callum Cruden and Calum MacAulay were also unavailable. 

 

Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald was ruled out after suffering a cracked a rib in the Camanachd Cup final so Cameron Macmillan played in goal, joining his brother Ronan Macmillan and father Graeme Macmillan who have also played as keeper in shinty’s top flight. 

 

Ross Donald turned home James Pringle’s pass on 10 minutes, striking the ball from 18 yards out, and although Lovat keeper Cameron Macmillan got a stick to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out. 

 

Will Cowie then played in Scott Macdonald, following James Pringle’s clever pass and Macdonald’s backhand finish into the corner of the goal made it 2-0 four minutes later. 

 

Lovat fought back and in a complete turnaround, Marc MacLachlan on 31 minutes, Lewis Tawse a minute later and Greg Matheson on 37 minutes had the Balgate men 3-2 ahead at half-time. 

 

Former Skye players Will Cowie and James Pringle combined to give Kyles victory as Cowie scored from Ross Macrae’s free-hit on his backhand from just outside the D  before turning provider, finding James Pringle who finished well from the left of the penalty spot to make it 4-3.

 

Kyles Athletic’s Will Cowie said: “We went into the match hoping to enjoy our final game of the season. It was end-to-end but considering we were missing the likes of Roddy Macdonald, Andrew King, Conor Kennedy and Innes Macdonald, we’re delighted to win. 

 

“We’re disappointed with our season overall but recent wins over Caberfeidh and Lovat show what we’re capable of, even with a small squad.”  

 

Lovat visit Oban Camanachd this Saturday.

Mowi South Division 1

 

The 1pm throw-up between Ballachulish and the Kyles Athletic second team at Jubilee Park was postponed for the second successive Saturday. 

 

Mowi National Division

 

Inveraray 2 
Glasgow Mid Argyll 1

 

Inveraray closed the gap on third-placed Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA) to a single point after winning 2-1 at the Winterton. 

 

Inveraray’s Allan Cameron and GMA’s Andrew Morrison were both free of suspension although Cameron was a late call-off through work commitments. 

 

Alan MacDonald put the home side ahead on 34 minutes but Calum Morrison equalised straight from the re-start. 

 

Inveraray’s Fraser Watt scored what proved to be the winner a couple of minutes into the second half.
Inveraray host Bute in their final game this weekend whilst GMA travel to Bute the week after.

Women’s Camanachd Association

 

Mowi National Division

 

Ardnamurchan 0 
Kinlochshiel 9

 

Kinlochshiel won 9-0 against Ardnamurchan in their 1pm throw-up at Strontian. 

 

Mowi South Division 2

 

Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA)  B are Mowi South Division 2 champions after beating Tayforth 7-4 in their title decider, a 1.30pm throw-up at Stepps Playing Field. 

 

Both teams had finished the season on 14 points, losing only once to each to each other.
Lisa MacColl presented GMA captain Kirsty Gray with the Mowi South Division 2 trophy.