Shinty round-up - 31.08.23

Strathdearn Cup Final

 

Fort William 2 Kinlochshiel 1 (after extra-time)

 

"attachment_1013872" "" "300"] Fort's Strathdearn Cup winning side. Photograph Calum Fraser.

 

Fort William II followed up their 2019 success by beating Kinlochshiel II after extra time to win the Strathdearn Cup at Smith Park.

 

Fort William’s Greig Kelly and Cameron Grant both missed out through suspension

 

and with keepers Paul MacKay and Stuart Disher both ineligible, Mark Fraser played

 

in goal.

 

Kinlochshiel’s Andrew MacKenzie was free of his two-game ban and keeper Calum

 

Macmillan and full forward Duncan Macmillan both returned after missing the

 

previous week’s draw with Glenurquhart.

 

However, Colin MacDiarmid served the final game of seven-match suspension.

 

There was heavy rain throughout and Fort William stuck first when Padraig McNeil found Bobby MacMillian with a free-hit on 37 minutes and MacMillan, with his back to

 

goal to the left of the D, struck the ball across the keeper to make it 1-0.

 

‘Shiel, who last lifted the trophy in 1976, levelled with 20 minutes remaining when full

 

centre Paul MacRae chipped a free-hit from wide on the right over the Fort William

 

defence and Rory Slaughter, who had lost his marker, had time to steady himself

 

before scoring in front of the goal.

 

With no further scoring, referee Graeme Irvine took the final into an extra time period and when a Struan Stephen corner from the left fell for youngster Jack Kearney on 101 minutes, he kept his cool to lift the ball over the keeper to win the game.

 

Fort William skipper Struan Stephen came forward to be presented with the Strathdearn Cup by Richard Gall and he raised the trophy in front of his delighted

 

teammates.

 

Speaking afterwards, Fort William manager John MacLeod said: “It was a tough

 

game, very nerve-wracking and both sets of players gave it their all in horrendous

 

weather.

 

“We just edged it in the end but it could have gone either way.”

 

Mowi Premiership

 

Skye Camanachd 0 Kingussie 1

 

Kingussie bounced back from the previous week’s Artemis Macaulay Cup final

 

disappointment when they beat Skye Camanachd at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.

 

Skye were without the suspended Sam Macphee who began a two-game ban.

 

There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up, as there was at all games over the

 

weekend, as shinty marked the passing during the week of legendary Kingussie

 

figure Donnie Grant MBE.

 

Withing two minutes, Kingussie capitalised on slackness in the Skye defence to take

 

the lead.

 

The Islanders passed up a chance to clear out of defence and Iain Fraser found Ruaridh Anderson on the left and he sent a great strike across the keeper into the far corner of the net.

 

Both sides had chances for the remainder of the half but none were taken with the score at half-time remaining at 1-0.

 

Skye substitute Ally MacLeod went close at the back post early in the second half with

 

Ross Gordon sending a 25-yard effort just wide after a good Skye move.

 

Skye had their tails up but Kingussie still created chances with home keeper Rory McGregor saving from Ruaridh Anderson and Eoin Baikie.

 

The home side finished the contest, including nine minutes stoppage time, on the attack but they couldn’t find a leveller.

 

A disappointed Skye boss Kenny MacLeod said: “Sometimes I don’t think our guys realise just how good they are.

 

“We’re a young team, and maybe I’m expecting too much, but that’s twice we have run

 

Kingussie very close but that bit extra belief would make all the difference.

 

“It will come though as we play more Premiership shinty.

 

“We were punished for one lapse today but that’s something we will work on.”

 

Mowi National Division

 

Col Glen 2 Kilmallie 5

 

Kilmallie continued their climb up the table after beating Col Glen at Glendaruel.

 

The Canal Park side are looking to close the gap on the other promotion hopefuls as

 

they play their games in hand, but they fell behind to Cluanie Fraser’s goal on 27 minutes.

 

However, Shane O’Rua equalised on 36 minutes and Calum MacDougall put the

 

visitors in front when he scored a minute before the break.

 

Kilmallie took charge in the final quarter with Calum MacDougall getting his second

 

on 65 minutes and Shane O’Rua doing likewise on 74 minutes to make it 4-1.

 

Calum MacDougall completed his hat-trick on 82 minutes so Sandy Paterson’s effort

 

for Col Glen with 3 minutes to go was only consolation.

 

Looking back on the game, Kilmallie manager Johnny Morrison said: “We’re pleased

 

to have got the result. I think both teams were short, but we ended the game with four under-17s on the park and we had nine teenagers in the squad overall.

 

“Martin Stewart played in goals as all three of our keepers were unavailable and he

 

played well. Marty’s been struggling with a niggle, but he volunteered, and he

 

certainly did the trick.

 

“There’s a long way to go but the win keeps us in with an outside chance of promotion.”

 

Kilmallie are the only side Col Glen haven’t taken a point off in their maiden national

 

division appearance.

 

Strathglass 3 Lochaber 6

 

The promotion battle in the Mowi National Division is providing a fitting end to the season and Lochaber reclaimed top spot with a win against bottom side Strathglass at Cannich.

 

Strathglass sparked into life when Penri Jones scored after just two minutes but Lochaber were in no mood to slip up and doubles from Ben Delaney on three and 14

 

minutes and Max Campbell on 19 and 34 minutes had them comfortably ahead

 

before Delaney completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time.

 

Jones got his second on 68 minutes only for Findlay MacDonald to add a sixth

 

for the visitors a couple of minutes later.

 

Jones completed his hat-trick just three minutes from time, but Lochaber took the

 

points and their return to shinty’s top flight is almost confirmed.

 

Mowi North Division 1

 

Beauly 3 Glengarry 4

 

Glengarry completed their league programme with a win over Beauly II at Braeview Park.

 

Beauly led a minute after the half-hour through Scott Cameron, but Raymond

 

Robertson levelled on 40 minutes.

 

Shaun Nicholson chipped in with a hat-trick, scoring goals on 41, 47 and 63 minutes to make it 4-1 and although Beauly pulled goals back through Leon Maclennan on 73

 

minutes and Louie MacLellan on 79 minutes.

 

‘Garry stayed ahead to take the points and go third in the table.

 

Mowi South Division 1

 

Ballachulish 0 Bute 7

 

The Bute first team all but clinched the Mowi South Division 1 title when they beat

 

Ballachulish at the Jubilee Park.

 

Rory McDonald gave Bute a 10 minute lead and Iain McDonald’s double on 17 and

 

20 minutes made it 3-0.

 

When Franko Devlin added a fourth on the stroke of half-time, there was only going

 

to be one winner.

 

Rory McDonald completed his hat-trick with goals on 52 and 80 minutes against an

 

over-worked Balla’ defence and Reagan Craig, with his first senior goal for the club,

 

made it 7-0 with just 3 minutes remaining.

 

The win maintains Bute’s 100 percent record in the league, and they need just one point

 

from their two remaining league matches to secure the title and a return to Mowi

 

National Division shinty.

 

Mowi North Division 2

 

Lewis Camanachd W/O Lochaber

 

Lewis Camanachd were awarded the points when the Lochaber seconds were

 

unable to field a team for their fixture at Shawbost.

 

Lochaber have been deducted a point.

 

Following Lochcarron’s defeat, Lewis now hold a two-point lead at the top of the

 

table but Lochcarron have two games in hand.

 

Women's Camanachd Association

 

Mowi National Division

 

Ardnamurchan 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll 5

 

Glasgow Mid Argyll were winners against Ardnamurchan at Strontian.

 

Kate Bradley scored for the hosts but doubles from Violet Mair and Millie MacRae

 

plus Laura McCafferty’s effort gave GMA victory.

 

Mowi South Division 2

 

Ardnamurchan 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 5

 

Kirsty Gray scored four times as Glasgow Mid Argyll B won against Ardnamurchan B at Strontian.

 

Kirsty Rodger netted the other.

 

All Set For Women’s Cup Final Day

 

It’s the biggest day in the Women’s Camanachd Association’s shinty calendar as Cup Final Day takes place at the Eilan, Newtonmore on Saturday September 2.

 

The Mowi Challenge Cup is contested between teams out-with the top-flight and the

 

final is between holders Kinlochshiel and Inverness B. Throw up is at 1.45pm.

 

The main event takes place later in the afternoon when Skye Camanachd and Glasgow Mid Argyll battle it out in the prestigious Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup final.

 

Throw up is at 4.10pm and the match will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA

 

for anyone unable to be there on the day.

 

Catering on the day includes the Mowi Salmon Wagon, Miele’s Gelateria, G’s Pizza

 

Box and a BBQ.

 

There will also be kids’ activity bands available priced at £5 which includes unlimited

 

bouncy castle, face painting etc.

 

Squads Named For Caol Cup Clash

 

The squads have been named for the annual Caol Cup match between the South under-21s and the North under-21s which takes place at Mossfield, Oban on Saturday September 2.

 

The South are led by Stephen Campbell and Alex MacVicar with Kenny MacLeod

 

and Ewen MacKinnon in charge of the North.

 

The South won 3-1 last year.

 

Throw up is at 2.30pm and Lachie Wood is the match referee.

 

South under-21 from: Andrew Tyre (Col Glen), Calum MacDonald (Inveraray),

 

Calum MacMillan (Bute), Campbell Watt (Inveraray), Ewen Campbell (Oban Celtic),

 

Freddie Patterson (Ardnamurchan), Gordon Currie (Bute), Herbie Patterson

 

(Ardnamurchan), Innes Jackson (Oban Celtic), Jamie Forgrieve (Oban Celtic), Josh

 

Cowan (Bute), Murdo Macrae (Kyles Athletic), Murray McClymont (Col Glen), Scott

 

Harvey (Bute), Scott MacVicar (Col Glen), Sorley Thompson (Kyles Athletic).

 

North under-21 from: Murphy Henderson (Skye Camanachd), Connor MacGregor

 

(Caberfeidh), Duncan MacPherson (Newtonmore), Euan Macormick (Beauly),

 

Russell MacKenzie (Caberfeidh), George Taylor-Ramsay (Kingussie), Hamish Shaw

 

(Fort William), Ross MacKinnon (Skye Camanachd), Alistair Maclean (Glenurquhart),

 

Struan Ross (Newtonmore), Archie MacRae (Kinlochshiel), Arron MacBean

 

(Newtonmore), Ross Gordon (Skye Camanachd), Max Campbell (Lochaber), James

 

Morrison (Beauly).

 

Featured image: Bobby MacMillan scored Fort's first goal and also picked up the Senior Player of the Match award. Photograph Calum Fraser. NO_F35_Shinty_StrathdearnCupFinal_FortVKinlochshiel 02