The Shinty Round Up – Saturday July 8 2023

South shinty

 

Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup quarter finals

 

Glasgow Mid Argyll 2 Oban Camanachd 3

 

They may have travelled south with a depleted squad, but Oban Camanachd did enough to secure a place in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi-finals courtesy of a 3-2 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA) in their 3pm throw-up at Peterson Park.

 

GMA boss Alan MacRae was without full back Ryan Harrison so John Don MacKenzie went to full back. Jamie MacLeod was also missing.

 

Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans had a catalogue of absentees to contend with as Louie McFarlane, ankle, and David Lafferty, knee, missed out through injury. Scott MacMillan and Daniel MacVicar were both suspended and Keith MacMillan was working. Malcolm Clark and Daniel Madej were on holiday.

 

Daniel Sloss started in defence wearing a protective cricket glove, for the opening 10 minutes anyway, and Evan McLellan returned from long-term injury to start at wing centre. New signing Ross Macmillan started at full forward in a diamond shaped attack alongside Daniel MacCuish, Lewis Cameron, making his first start, and Matthew Sloss.

 

The Oban side broke the deadlock on 21 minutes. Daniel MacCuish’s shot was saved with his feet by Jonathon Oates and the ball spun into the air. However, Ross Macmillan, running away from goal, did well to flick the ball back into the net to notch a debut goal.

 

GMA’s response was immediate and they levelled within a minute. The goal came into the avoidable category from an Oban Camanachd perspective as first, Daniel Sloss missed the chance to clear his lines. Then Calum McLay spun his marker and ran goalwards from the wing. McLay hit the ball too far ahead and keeper Cammy Sutherland tried to play the ball by him rather than put it out of play and McLay regained possession to score.

 

Referee Iain Kennedy awarded Oban Camanachd a penalty when Lewis Cameron was bundled over inside the 'D'. Daniel MacCuish struck the penalty well enough, but keeper Oates got his body behind the ball to save.

 

MacCuish was soon to make amends, scoring twice on 36 and 38 minutes. His first was really well worked as MacCuish played the ball wide for Lewis Cameron to run onto and Cameron played the ball first-time, back to Daniel MacCuish who crashed a shot home from between the penalty spot and the 'D'.

 

The next goal was always going to be important and when Daniel MacCuish’s shot took a deflection off John Don MacKenzie and nestled in the net, Oban Camanachd led 3-1 at the break.

 

GMA came back again and Calum McLay got his second on 52 minutes, volleying home a rebound after a Cammy Sutherland save.

 

Oban Camanachd had the ball in the net once more when Lewis Cameron crossed low and hard into the danger area from the left and Ross Macmillan ran in to send the ball into the net, taking a blow to the knee from John Don MacKenzie’s swing in the process. However, referee Kennedy ruled the effort out after consulting the goal judge.

 

Oban Camanachd’s Daniel Cameron turned in a man of the match performance whilst Lewis Cameron and Ross Macmillan linked up well in attack with some great passing and movement.

 

Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans said: “At one point we looked as if we’d be ten players short for the game but with Daniel Sloss playing and Gregor and Alexander MacDonald coming back from Tiree early, we were seven short in the end. Cammy Sutherland cut short a holiday in Tenerife to play.

 

“This was a really tough, physical game. It was blood and thunder and our forwards played some great shinty without getting the full reward they deserved. GMA were well-organised as usual and gave us problems but we were always ahead in the game.

 

“I’m really pleased with Ross Macmillan who had a fantastic game and kept his composure in check, whilst Daniel Cameron showed why he remains one of the best players in the game.”

 

Oban Camanachd return to Mowi Premiership action on Saturday when they play Caberfeidh at Mossfield. Daniel MacVicar and Scott MacMillan remain on the suspension list, and both will also miss the Artemis Macaulay Cup semi-final against Glasgow Mid Argyll before returning for the Mowi Premiership meeting with Kingussie at the end of the month. Malcolm Clark also misses the Caberfeidh clash after passing through the disciplinary points threshold.

 

Gareth Evans said: “We are already missing several players and we’ll need to check on Andy MacDonald who staved his finger on Saturday. Daniel Sloss did us a real turn playing against GMA, but we’ll not use him against Caberfeidh to give his finger extra time to fully heal.”

 

Kyles Athletic P Lovat P

 

The tie between Kyles Athletic and Lovat at Tighnabruaich was postponed at Lovat’s request following a bereavement and will now take place this Saturday.

 

Mowi National Division

 

Inveraray 2 Kilmallie 1

 

Inveraray came from behind to beat Kilmallie 2-1 at the Winterton.

 

Inveraray’s Ross Montgomery was free of suspension to take his usual place in defence.

 

Calum MacDougall gave Kilmallie the lead five minutes before the interval, but Campbell Watt levelled four minutes after the re-start.

 

Inveraray substitute Craig Taylor scored what proved to be the winner with four minutes remaining.

 

Col Glen 1 Glenurquhart 4

 

Glenurquhart go top of the league after beating Col Glen 4-1 at Glendaruel.

 

Col Glen last played at the beginning of June and had Andrew MacVicar back from suspension with Glenurquhart’s Daniel MacLean free of his two-game ban and both would go on to score.

 

Glenurquhart's Ryan Porter opened the scoring on five minutes with Daniel MacLean making it 2-0 on 18 minutes.

 

Andrew MacVicar pulled a goal back on 27 minutes, but Ryan Porter got his second, this time from the penalty spot, on 39 minutes to make it 3-1 at half-time.

 

Ryan Porter completed his hat-trick three minutes into the second half.

 

Col Glen’s Jamie MacVicar was sent off by referee Graham Cameron on 81 minutes.

 

Oban Celtic P Strathglass P

 

The potentially crucial league match between Oban Celtic and Strathglass will be rescheduled as Mossfield was hosting the D&K Cup football tournament, organised by Oban Saints.

 

Oban Celtic are scheduled to play Col Glen at Mossfield in the Mowi National Division on Saturday.

 

MKM Building Supplies Oban Bullough Cup semi finals

 

Glasgow Mid Argyll 5 Kilmory 0

 

The Glasgow Mid Argyll juniors overcame Kilmory 5-0 in their noon throw-up at Peterson Park.

 

Kilmory’s Sandy Leiper was suspended following his red card against Strachur-Dunoon which triggered a three-match ban.

 

Ross Brown scored for the tenth successive match to put GMA ahead on 10 minutes and Cailean MacInnes added two more on 34 and 48 minutes.

 

Former Kinlochshiel player Aidan MacRae took the Glasgow side’s tally to five with efforts on 58 and 90 minutes.

 

Kyles Athletic 6 English Shinty Association 1

 

The Kyles Athletic second team reached the final with a 6-1 win over the English Shinty Association in their 12.30pm throw-up at Tighnabruaich.

 

Kyles settled into the tie with Roddy MacColl on target on three minutes and Roan MacVicar on 20 minutes, but former Glenorchy player James Livingstone pulled a goal back on 25 minutes.

 

David Martin added a quick-fire double on 28 and 31 minutes to make it 4-1 and Roddy MacColl completed his hat-trick with strikes on 54 and 56 minutes.

 

The Kyles Athletic and Glasgow Mid Argyll second teams will now meet in the final.

 

Mowi South Division 1

 

Bute 7 Ballachulish 0

 

The Bute first team were too strong for Ballachulish, winning 7-0 in their 1.30pm throw-up at the Meadows.

 

Ballachullish were missing Cian MacPhee who began a two-game ban. A Robin McAlister brace on six and 26 minutes gave Bute a 2-0 interval lead.

 

Iain McDonald added a third on 55 minutes and Leon Mcmillan scored for the second successive match a couple of minutes later.

 

Josh Cowan scored his fifth goal in four matches with 20 minutes remaining to make it 5-0 and a Nathan MacLeod own goal on 75 minutes and an effort from Rory McDonald on 78 minutes completed the scoring.

 

Mowi South Division 2

 

Strachur-Dunoon P Oban Celtic P

 

The clash between Strachur-Dunoon and the Oban Celtic second team at Strachurmore will be rescheduled.

 

Inveraray P Uddingston P

 

The meeting between the Inveraray seconds and Uddingston at the Winterton will be rescheduled.

 

Women's Camanachd Association

 

Mowi National Division

 

Aberdour P Glenurquhart P

 

The 1pm throw-up between Aberdour and Glenurquhart at Silversands was called off due to an unplayable field.

 

Ardnamurchan 3 Inverness 1

 

Ardnamurchan won in the league for the first time this season, beating Inverness 3-1 in their 1pm throw-up at Strontian.

 

Sally Patterson’s goal and Hannah MacDonald’s double gave Ardnamurchan both points. Kamryn Hughes countered for Inverness.

 

Skye Camanachd w/o v Glasgow Mid Argyll

 

Skye Camanachd were given a walk-over when Glasgow Mid Argyll were unable to raise a team for their match at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.

 

Glengarry and Kilmory set for final test

 

Glengarry and Kilmory will meet in the Camanachd Association’s Single Team Cup Final at An Aird on Saturday July 15.

 

Mowi North Division 1 side Glengarry put ten goals past Lewis Camanachd without reply in the opening round before receiving a quarter-final bye when Strachur-Dunoon were unable to field a team. Lochcarron were despatched 8-5 in a high-scoring semi-final.

 

Kilmory currently top Mowi North Division 2. They opened with a 7-0 first round win at Tayforth. Kilmory defeated Boleskine 4-2 in the quarters and Ballachulish 4-3 in the semis.

 

Kilmory’s Sandy Leiper, who has scored in every round, will miss the final through suspension.

 

Throw-up is at 2.30pm and Steven MacLachlan is the referee.

 

Will Cowie takes up role with Camanachd Association

 

Will Cowie has been appointed to the role of Camanachd Association Regional Development Officer for the West of Scotland.

 

Will came through the youth shinty ranks at Portree Primary School and then Skye Camanachd where he was a regular in the first team. He relocated to Glasgow a couple of years ago and signed for Kyles Athletic at the start of the 2023 shinty season.

 

Will Cowie, who takes over the role vacated by Les Kinvig, said: “I am delighted to start my new role within the Camanachd Association. I am excited to help develop and promote shinty in Argyll and  Bute and feel there is plenty of potential to increase participation at all levels.

 

“I am looking forward to working alongside clubs, volunteers and local authorities to achieve this goal.”

 

Contact Will by emailing will.cowie@shinty.com or call him on 07483 155589.

 

Innes Jackson called up to Scotland U17 Squad

 

Oban Celtic’s Innes Jackson has been called up to the Scotland under-17 squad for this month’s Ireland Tour.

 

Jackson, one of shinty’s best young players, has scored in Celtic’s last two matches after joining from Oban Camanachd, and he replaces Fort William’s talented player Cam Stephen who was forced to pull out because of injury.

 

The annual tour, sponsored this year by RICruden, sees the country’s elite shinty players play shinty/hurling challenge matches against their Irish counterparts.

 

Scotland under 17 from:

 

Arron Jack, Kinlochshiel; Charlie MacRae, Beauly; Lennox Stewart, Beauly; Matthew Sloss, Oban Camanachd; Rory Slaughter, Kinlochshiel; Louie MacFarlane, Oban Camanachd; Callum MacIver, Beauly; Archie Millar, Skye Camanachd; Archie MacRae, Kinlochshiel; Torrin Cairns, Beauly; Euan Dingwall, Newtonmore; Rory McDonald, Bute; Finlay MacLennan, Beauly; Iain Hunter, Inverness; Thomas MacKinnon, Beauly; Innes Jackson, Oban Celtic.

 

The squad travels to Dublin on Sunday July 23 and returns on Wednesday July 26.