Shinty round-up - Saturday August 3 2024
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi-final
Oban Camanachd 2
Lovat 3
Lovat are through to next month’s Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup final after coming from two goals down to beat Oban Camanachd 3-2 in their 4.05pm throw-up at An Aird.
Daniel Cameron, Gregor Macdonald and Alexander Macdonald all returned for Oban Camanachd, with Cameron starting at wing centre and the other two on the bench.
Garry Lord’s performance against Newtonmore the previous week earned him a starting place on the other wing.
Daniel MacVicar, Malcolm Clark, Craig Macmillan and Ross Macmillan lined up in attack as the Oban side looked to match Lovat’s physicality.
Lovat started Greg Matheson and Fraser Heath in their forward line alongside Lewis Tawse and Graeme MacMillan. Callum Cruden and Calum MacAulay flanked full centre Danny Kelly across the midfield.
Maintenance work on the pitch in the lead-up to the game left the surface sandy in places as Oban Camanachd made a bright start to the tie.
But it was Lovat who had the chance to take the lead when referee Des McNulty awarded them a penalty, penalising Oban keeper Cammy Sutherland who flew off his line as Graeme MacMillan ran in on goal with the Oban side claiming for a foul on Daniel Sloss earlier in the move.
Greg Matheson had missed Lovat’s previous spot-hit so Fraser Heath stepped up, but his strike was too straight and keeper Sutherland saved with his midriff before clearing the danger.
Moments later, Oban Camanachd forced a corner on the right and Daniel MacVicar lost his marker to run across goal before striking a brilliant snapshot into the top corner of the net, to keeper Stuart MacDonald’s left, and the Oban side led 1-0 with 14 minutes played.
Oban Camanachd continued to press and Craig Macmillan skimmed the post to the keeper’s left before Malcolm Clark went close after turning his marker with the rain now pouring down.
Daniel MacVicar sent a great shot from the left just by the far junction between post and bar as Oban Camanachd dominated the first half-hour.
There was drama as Craig Macmillan’s low shot from the left of the ‘D’ ended up in the net, but the ball had clearly gone under the side-netting to the keeper’s right.
It was important Oban Camanachd made this period of pressure count and they doubled their lead on 38 minutes.
Lovat failed to deal with Daniel Cameron’s ball forward and with Craig MacMillan shielding a couple of Lovat defenders, his brother Ross Macmillan sent a low, hard backhand strike through the keeper’s legs to give the Oban side a deserved 2-0 lead.
Lovat needed a goal and Fraser Heath’s shot from far out was saved well with his legs and then cleared by Cammy Sutherland before the Balgate side halved the deficit in first half stoppage time.
Greg Matheson was fouled in a central position and Graham MacMillan played the resultant free-hit to the Lovat left where Grag Matheson ran onto the ball, sending a superb strike into the top corner of the net to the keeper’s right to make it 2-1 at the break.
Ross Macmillan’s low shot forced a Stuart MacDonald save with his feet following a free-hit.
Lovat then went on the attack and Oban defender Louie MacFarlane was booked by referee Des McNulty for bringing down Lewis Tawse. Daniel Sloss was also shown a yellow card for kicking the ball away following the subsequent free-hit.
When Lovat did play in the set-piece, they made Oban Camanachd pay in devastating fashion as Graeme MacMillan found Greg Matheson wide on the left and he struck a powerful shot into the top corner of the net to the keeper’s right, similar to his first goal, to make it 2-2 with 63 minutes played.
Oban Camanachd almost regained the lead, but Malcolm Clark lifted the ball agonisingly over the bar from close in.
With 10 minutes to go, Daniel MacCuish fired wide after substitute James MacMillan had lofted the ball into the middle.
Lovat defender Drew Howie was booked for persistent fouling soon after.
The winning goal came with seven minutes remaining.
Craig Mainland played a good ball forward, picking out Graeme MacMillan to the right of the ‘D’.
MacMillan sent a measured shot goalwards which was saved with his legs by Cammy Sutherland. However, there was nothing Sutherland could do to prevent an unmarked Danny Kelly from knocking the rebound home from close range to make it 3-2.
Referee Des McNulty played eight minutes of stoppage time and Greg Matheson fired over at the death with Daniel MacCuish the next to be booked so it’s Lovat who will play in next month’s final at the same venue.
The second semi-final between Fort William and Kingussie takes place at Spean Bridge this Saturday.
Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans said: “We had the better of the game in the first half and I said to the boys at half-time to keep playing the way we were. We just didn’t do the things we did well in the first half though. We didn’t keep the ball up front and we allowed Lovat to clear their lines far too easily.
“We spoke about Lovat’s danger at free-hits before the game and again at the interval, so it was disappointing to be caught out twice from set-pieces.
“The turning point was when Garry Lord had to come off; he was excellent and we really missed him. Daniel MacVicar was outstanding and Craig Macmillan was very good too.
“Fair play to Lovat but it’s disappointing for everyone on our side as we should have seen it out.”
Lovat boss Jamie Matheson said: “We don’t make it easy for ourselves, but Greg gives us a real goal threat. He probably wasn’t at his best, understandably given his injury problems, but he’s the man you’d want on the end of these chances.
“We’ve worked really hard on free-hits this past month so to score twice from set-pieces is pleasing. I don’t think we played well and Oban moved the ball really well in the first half. We were lucky to only be a goal down at half-time.
“I said at the break that the next goal was vital and once we got it, I fancied us to push on from there.
“I can’t do anything but praise my lads for that second half display. We might not have played that well, but it would have been easy to lie down and take the defeat. These boys don’t know when they’re beaten and that’s a real testament to them.”
BBC ALBA man of the match Drew Howie added: “Greg’s goal just before the break was a lifeline for us.”
This Saturday, Oban Camanachd, sponsored by TSL Contractors, return to Mowi Premiership action when they travel to Blairbeg to play already relegated Glenurquhart.
Gareth Evans said: “Andy MacDonald and Garry Lord both had knee problems on Saturday. We have a Macaulay final a week on Saturday, so we need to regroup and quickly.”
Mowi National Division
Fort William 12
Oban Celtic 0
Fort William remain in the promotion race after beating bottom side Oban Celtic 12-0 in their 7pm throw-up at An Aird on Wednesday July 31.
Fort William’s Ali MacRae remained out, but Graham Campbell returned from holiday to take a place on the bench alongside Lewis Morrison and Jack Fraser. Astie Cameron started in defence in place of Arran Stephen, whilst Archie MacKinnon came in for Jack Fraser.
Oban Celtic have had a difficult run of results of late and keeper Iain MacFarlane led the side with David Hill, Finlay Cameron, George MacMillan and Jamie Forgrieve making up what turned out to be an over-worked defence. Bob MacIntyre played for the third successive match. Alex Dunnings, Allan McKie and William MacEwan were held in reserve.
Fort William took the early initiative with Calum Shepherd’s brace on four and 13 minutes coming either side of Archie MacKinnon’s eighth minute goal.
Fort William’s Lachie Shaw then ran riot, scoring four goals in a devastating 18-minute spell with efforts on 20, 29, 33 and 38 minutes, to make it 7-0 at the break.
Fort William continued on the goal trail after the re-start with skipper Victor Smith adding a brace on 53 and 59 minutes.
Graham Campbell took Fort William’s tally to double figures three minutes after the hour with a third goal from Victor Smith on 74 minutes and an effort from substitute Lewis Morrison on 81 minutes making up their dozen.
At the end of the weekend fixtures, second-placed Fort William are seven points off the top of the table with two games in hand with Oban Celtic three points adrift at the bottom of the division.
This Saturday, Fort William meet Kingussie in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi-finals at Spean Bridge. Throw-up is at 4.05pm and the tie will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA. Oban Celtic travel to Col Glen in the league.
Beauly 1
Glasgow Mid Argyll 1
Beauly and Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA) shared the points in a 1-1 draw in their 3pm throw-up at Braeview Park.
This was Beauly’s first league game for six weeks, but they were without influential defender Ryan MacKay who misses the rest of this season and most of the opening month of the 2025 campaign, after being handed an eight-game ban following his red card in the Camanachd Cup tie against Kingussie.
GMA had only played four league games ahead of this encounter and were missing Cammie McCue who completed his four-game suspension. They were also without John Don MacKenzie, Brian Slattery, Finlay Ralson, Zac Menzies and John Sweeney.
GMA took the lead after five minutes. Referee Graeme Irvine awarded the visitors a free-hit at the edge of the ‘D’ and Garry Luke played a short ball to Craig Anderson who finished well.
Euan Maccormick levelled just after the hour, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his side from dropping their first point of the season.
Bute 0
Inveraray 0
Inveraray and Bute played out a scoreless draw in their 3pm throw-up at the Meadows.
This was the first of back-to-back games between the sides and the visitors were without the suspended Lewis Montgomery who began a two-game ban.
Mowi South Division 1
The match between Ballachulish and the Kyles Athletic juniors at the Jubilee Park was postponed due to an unplayable field.
The fixture between the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team and the Aberdour first team at Peterson Park has been rescheduled for Saturday August 17.
League leaders Lochside Rovers didn’t have a fixture last weekend, but they return to action on Saturday when they welcome Ardnamurchan in a Mowi South Division 1 encounter.
Lochside’s Lewis Buchanan has picked up a one-match suspension for a disciplinary points accumulation whilst Scott MacMillan’s booking in the win at Aberdour has triggered a three-game ban which means he will also miss the Bullough Cup final against the Bute second team at Strachurmore on Saturday August 24.
Mowi South Division 2
The Inveraray juniors claimed the Mowi South Division 2 title with a 10-2 win over Strachur-Dunoon at Strachurmore.
Zander Kilmurray put Inveraray ahead on eight minutes and although Ross MacDonald levelled three minutes later, that was as good as it got for the hosts who only had 12 players because of holidays and illness.
Inveraray regained the lead through Ross Anderson on 18 minutes with David Robertson, 30, 39 and 50 minutes, and Ben Cameron, 32, 36 and 62 minutes, adding hat-tricks, whilst Bryce Griffin netted on the stroke of half-time.
Kayden McKinlay got the other on 63 minutes with Neil Robertson countering for Strachur-Dunoon on 83 minutes to complete the scoring.
Inveraray boss Andrew McMurdo said: “I’m so proud of all the players and the club. This has been the result of several years of hard work and for the players to go out and win the league in such an emphatic fashion was fitting.
“The supporters, players, the committee and the community have all been instrumental in today’s success. From day one, it has been a collective effort and providing we remember this, the club will have many more successful years ahead.
“There’s one more game left and we’ll look to complete the season on a high.”
The Oban Celtic colts recorded a 3-2 win over the Bute colts in their noon throw-up at the Meadows.
Celtic’s Gabriel Tidser was suspended for this encounter but that didn’t stop Celtic racing into a 3-0 lead courtesy of Kyle MacFarlane’s hat-trick with goals on 26, 41 and 49 minutes.
Bute’s Robert Lowrie pulled goals back on 52 and 68 minutes, but it wasn’t enough.
Women’s Camanachd Association
Mowi National Division
Badenoch 13
Ardnamurchan 0
League leaders Badenoch were too strong for Ardnamurchan, winning 13-0 in their 1pm throw-up at the Dell.
Zoe Reid scored four times with Jeanette McGregor, Rachael Borthwick and Megan Ralph grabbing hat-tricks.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 2
Lochaber 1
Natalie MacDonald scored for Lochaber, but they still lost 2-1 against Glasgow Mid Argyll at Peterson Park with Beth MacLellan netting twice.
Dunadd W/O v Aberdour
Dunadd were awarded a walk-over when Aberdour were unable to field a team for their fixture at MacRae Park.
All throw-ups were at 2pm unless the match report states differently.
Reid stays on as Scotland boss
The Camanachd Association has confirmed Garry Reid has agreed to continue in his role as Scotland manager.
Reid has led the Scots since 2018 and is widely recognised as one of the best managers in the game, having achieved significant success at club level and with the national team over the years.
He will be supported by a talented backroom team comprising Robert Geddes, Gavin Campbell, Kenny Ross and Alison Thomson.
Former Camanachd Association president Steven MacKenzie has been appointed as international co-ordinator.
Camanachd Association competitions director Kevin Thain said: “We’re delighted Garry Reid has agreed to continue as Scotland manager. His leadership and coaching team have been instrumental in our success and we look forward to achieving further success with him at the helm.”
This year’s Mowi shinty/hurling international takes place in Ireland on Saturday October 26 with the 2025 encounter to return to Scotland at the refurbished Bught Park.
Latest News
Sign up to our daily Newsletter
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
You may also like
Arran golf results - 28.2.25
Red Star celebrate first home win of the year
Tragedy as woman killed in fatal A87 accident
Shinty round-up - 27.2.25
South shinty round-up - 17.2.25
Latest News
Sign up to our daily Newsletters
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
© 2025 Wyvex Media Limited.