South shinty round-up - 17.2.25

Manager Cameron prepares for period of transition 

New manager of Oban Camanachd, Daniel Cameron, has been busily preparing for what he expects be a period of transition for Oban Camanachd. 

With the 2025 shinty season just over a week away, he said: “It’s been a busy start to the year. All the boys obviously know me, but I’ve spoken to them all individually and they know what I think of them.” 

Cameron is going to have to reshuffle his pack with no fewer than five first team players unavailable from last year’s squad as he explained: “It’s an end of an era so to speak so there’s no doubt there’s going to be a bit of a rebuild this year.

“‘Lama’ (Scott Mckillop) and I have retired as Father Time has caught up with us both and the Sloss boys have moved on to Newtonmore.

“My brother Lewis will still be out for a while, too, unfortunately. He was recovering from a treble fracture to his shoulder but the bigger of the three fractures hasn’t healed as hoped and he has had to have a plate and a dozen screws inserted and he’s six weeks off work at the moment. 

“Lewis has made a massive impact since coming into the team and has scored some big goals for us so it’s a blow not to have him involved.

“That’s five boys down, which is far from ideal, as I’d have liked to have everyone. 

“Added to that, Joe MacVicar, who joined us from Oban Celtic, is out with a broken arm. Joe’s family have been part of our club for years and years and I’m looking forward to seeing him play with his brother Daniel and he’s looking forward to that too.

“So, we’ll pause things for Joe until he recovers from injury, but I’m sure it won’t be long before he’ll be knocking on the door. Blair MacFarlane missed last season and it’s unlikely that he’ll be available this year either.”

There is some good news though as Daniel Cameron may be able to count on a couple of familiar faces to bolster the Scottish Sea Farms Glasgow Celtic Society Challenge cup winners who finished fourth in the Mowi Premiership last season, just a point off second place, semi-finalists in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup and beaten finalists in the Artemis Macaulay Cup. 

Daniel Cameron said: “On the plus side, Garry Lord has been working really hard to rebuild his knee and he looks really fit. He’s done lots of work himself, and some with the physio, and his return makes things a bit easier.

“Lorne Dickie is also showing an interest. He’s a great player, a former Scotland international and although I’m not sure how often he’ll be able to play, just to have him on board, with his experience, would be a massive boost.”

There will be opportunities for some of the club’s younger players, something that is important at all clubs. Daniel Cameron said: “There are obviously spaces in the squad to fill and I’ve been having a look at the younger boys and three of them will come into the senior reckoning. It’s important that we don’t block the youngsters from staking a claim in the senior team. We’ll get them in and support them as they develop.

“My door is always open for anyone who wants to play the sport. It will be a transitional year, but we’ll give it a good crack.” 

Preseason friendlies

Oban Camanachd 1

Kingussie 3

Kingussie were 3-1 winners over Oban Camanachd at Mossfield in what was the pick of the weekend preseason friendlies. 

It’s a period of change for new Oban Camanachd manager Daniel Cameron as both he and full back Scott Mckillop are no longer playing. Lewis Cameron remains on the sidelines through injury and brothers Daniel and Matthew Sloss are off to Newtonmore. 

The Oban side were also without Daniel Madej and Malcolm Clark but Garry Lord and Lorne Dickie both started in this 2pm throw up. 

Kingussie travelled without Ruaridh Anderson, Alexander Michie, Rory MacKeachan, Savio Genini, and injured pair Liam Borthwick and keeper Rory McGregor. Second team goalie Hayden Taylor Ramsay deputised between the sticks. 

Roddy Young was impressive for the visitors, and he scored twice to give Kingussie a 2-0 interval lead although Daniel MacVicar went close to halving the deficit just before half-time but dragged his shot wide. 
Dylan Borthwick added a third goal straight after the restart. However, the Oban side were much more in the game in the second half and following a neat move, Daniel MacVicar took a touch before slotting the ball into the corner of the goal to make it 3-1. 

Oban Camanachd assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: “Overall, we didn’t test their keeper enough with shots on target but there were still lots of positives to take.

 
“Lorne Dickie is naturally fit and he did a lot of running up front and both he and Garry Lord both played the full 90 minutes. Youngsters Alexander MacDonald, Calum MacMillan and Scott Campbell all played well, too, against a strong side, so we took plenty from the game and it showed our younger guys the standard that is required.

“Kingussie took their chances in the first half. At half-time, we asked the boys to go out and match Kingussie in the second half. We lost another goal very early after the restart and the boys could easily have folded but if anything, it seemed to galvanise them, and our wing backs and wing centres pushed up the park and we had a lot of pressure and could have scored another goal or two. 

“The result isn’t the most important thing at this stage, it’s all about getting ready for Kinlochshiel on Saturday March 1.

“This is our only preseason game as we don’t want to risk injuries. Kingussie got in touch to ask for this friendly, and we took it on as you know you’ll always get a good, clean game against them and we knew we’d be tested. 

“We’ll play an in-house game with the Lochside boys this coming Saturday.”

Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick added: “I’m really pleased with that. Our missing players left a huge gap in our side but the youngsters who came in did really well.

“Hayden Taylor Ramsay had a fine game in goal with some tidy clearances in the first half and some good saves after the restart. Roddy Young was superb, and he’s really getting back into the grove after his injury. If this game had been a few weeks further down the line, I’m sure he’d have scored even more goals.”

 

Kinlochshiel 6 
Glenurquhart 2 
Kinlochshiel did the damage in the first half as they defeated Glenurquhart 6-2 in their noon throw up at Kirkton.

Kinlochshiel had defender Mark MacDonald back after he missed the whole of the 2024 shinty season. 

Archie MacRae’s double helped ‘Shiel amass a 4-0 interval lead before he went on to complete his hat-trick after the restart. Keith MacRae, John MacRae and Zander MacRae got the others, whilst Glen teenagers Charlie Macleod and Alfie Macleod countered. 

Kinlochshiel manager Willie MacRae said: “It was a real boost to have Mark MacDonald back. He came off the bench to play a good hour, first at wing centre and then up front. He was a bit scratchy after so long out but he’s a class player who increases our options.

 
“Mark’s availability will be determined by his work shift patterns, but he’ll definitely be available for our season opener at Oban Camanachd.

“I would have liked a clean sheet, but the boys did very well. We were missing the Nixon brothers, but young Rory Slaughter was excellent at wing back. Archie MacRae was the best he’s been for a while up front, whilst David Falconer had a great game at wing centre.

“Finlay MacRae did a great job talking the younger players through the game.”

Glen boss David Stewart said: “It was a good game and more competitive than the scoreline suggest.”

 

Glasgow Mid Argyll 2 
Kyles Athletic 2
Glasgow Mid Argyll came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Kyles Athletic in their 12.30pm throw up at Peterson Park. 

Former Skye Camanachd duo James Pringle and Will Cowie had the visitors 2-0 ahead at half-time. 

GMA’s Calum McLay pulled a goal back from the penalty spot when the home side was awarded a spot-hit by referee Des McNulty. Zac Menzies was excellent for GMA, and they levelled through a second Calum McLay goal.

Kyles Athletic’s Will Cowie said: “I thought we played some nice shinty in the first half. We had to withdraw Scott Macdonald and Jamie Forgrieve following knocks and that killed us in the second half when it was all GMA until the final 10 minutes when we came back into it. 

“A draw was probably fair over the piece but I’m not sure it was a good watch for the spectators.”

Kyles manager Grant Profit said: “We played some really good shinty, particularly in the first half. It was a shame we couldn’t keep the lead but it’s another 90 minutes in our legs before the start of the season.”

Glasgow Mid Argyll’s Craig Anderson added: “That was another good result for us. The hard work we’re putting in is paying off as we’re getting stronger as the games go on which is encouraging to see. We have two more weeks to work hard before playing Strathglass in our first game of the season.” 

 

Glenurquhart 1 
Oban Celtic 2
Oban Celtic took the field for the first time this preseason, travelling north to overcome the Glenurquhart second team 2-1 in their 1pm throw up at Blairbeg. 

This encounter only just beat the elements as two young sides fought it out in very tricky conditions due to a semi-frozen pitch.

It was an even contest from the throw up but Celtic’s Kyle Macfarlane broke the deadlock midway through the first half with a sweet strike into the bottom corner of the net from about 20 yards out which gave the Glen goalkeeper no chance.

Glenurquhart equalised just after half-time when Seonaidh MacLeod’s half-hit shot took a wicked bounce off of the frozen surface to beat the keeper.

However, just five minutes later, Scott Dempster put Celtic back in front when he pounced on a rebounded Kyle Macfarlane effort to make it 2-1 from close range.

After that, there were chances at either end but then Celtic seemed to step-up a gear and finished the stronger side with the young Glen keeper making a string of good saves.

Oban Celtic’s Cammy MacCallum said: “We were very happy with the win and what was a good, solid team performance.”

 

Ballachulish 1

Kilmallie 3
The Kilmallie second team lifted the Ian Aitchison Memorial Trophy after beating Ballachulish 3-1 in their 1.30pm throw up at The Jubilee Park.

Kilmallie’s Bryan Mackay scored twice whilst Duncan MacDougall got the other. Marcus Spence scored for Ballachulish.

Ian Aitchison is remembered fondly by both clubs in this annual encounter

Jenny MacKenzie is named Skye Camanachd Chieftain
Skye Camanachd have confirmed that Jenny MacKenzie will be the club’s new Honorary Chieftain, taking on the role for the mandatory three-year period. 

Skye Camanachd Chairman John Angus Gillies said: “It has been a privilege as a club to have Mrs Jenny MacKenzie accept the role of Honorary Chieftain for the next three years. Jenny has been involved in Skye shinty since she came to live in Kyleakin in 1970, when she married Iain MacKenzie. 

“Both she and Iain (who is a s Skye Camanachd Vice President) have supported Skye Camanachd all over the country, and Jenny has been a stalwart for primary shinty, stretching back to the formation of the Isle of Skye Schools Camanachd Association in the 1980s and continuing to the present day. South Skye Junior Shinty Club honours Jenny every November with a series of primary tournaments for the Jenny MacKenzie Shields, contested by teams from throughout Skye, Lochalsh, and Lochcarron.

“As well as being a loyal follower of Skye, where she has lived for more than 50 years, Jenny also continues to follow the fortunes of Kyles Athletic and is a familiar face at their matches, particularly in the north.”

 

Chieftain’s Cup launch
The Camanachd Association has rebranded the Single Team Cup, which will now be known as the Chieftain’s Cup, and this year’s draw has given holders Glengarry familiar opposition. 

‘Garry have been paired with Lewis Camanachd in the first round for the third successive season and just like last year, they will travel to Shawbost. 

A trip to Kilmory, who were runners up in both 2023 and 2024, awaits the winners.

Oban Celtic take part for the first time and following a first-round bye, they have home advantage against Lochcarron in the quarter-finals. 

A total eleven sides were split on a regional basis for the opening round pairings.

The semi-final ties will be played at a neutral venue as the Chieftain’s Cup is a national competition. 

First Round – Saturday April 12
Northern Section

• Lewis Camanachd v 
  Glengarry 
• Boleskine v Ardnamurchan
• Byes: Ballachulish, Lochcarron

Southern Section

• Uddingston v 
  Strachur-Dunoon
• English Shinty Association v Tayforth
• Byes: Oban Celtic, Kilmory

Quarter-Finals – Saturday May 17

• Oban Celtic v Lochcarron 
• Kilmory v Lewis Camanachd / Glengarry
• English Shinty Association / Tayforth v Ballachulish
• Ardnamurchan / Boleskine v Uddingston / Strachur-Dunoon

Semi Final – Saturday June 21

• Oban Celtic / Lochcarron v Kilmory / Lewis Camanachd / Glengarry
• Ardnamurchan / Boleskine / Uddingston / Strachur-Dunoon
  v English Shinty Association / Tayforth / Ballachulish

The Chieftain’s Cup final will take place on Saturday July 19, with the venue still to be announced.