Mowi Premiership
Kingussie 2
Oban Camanachd 1
Kingussie stay two points clear at the top of the Mowi Premiership after beating Oban Camanachd 2-1 in their 3pm throw-up at the Dell.
This fixture was originally scheduled for Mossfield, but the venue was reversed to accommodate a football tournament in Oban.
Kingussie pair James Falconer and Thomas Borthwick appeared from the bench on their way back from injury.
Oban Camanachd’s Daniel MacCuish was free of his three-match suspension following his red card against Skye in mid-March, ending an absence of six weeks. Daniel MacVicar, Daniel Madej and Gregor MacDonald were also back after missing the previous week’s win over Oban Celtic, but Ross Macmillan was unavailable. A knee injury suffered in the win over Kyles Athletic at the end of March continued to rule out Daniel Cameron.
Kingussie broke the deadlock with seven first half minutes remaining. Kieran MacPherson won possession in midfield before sending James Falconer free down the left. Falconer cut the ball back to Dylan Borthwick who turned his man before sending a fantastic shot into the top corner of the net to keeper Cammy Sutherland’s left.
Daniel MacVicar hauled Oban Camanachd level on 57 minutes. Daniel Madej sent the ball long out of the Oban defence and MacVicar darted down the right channel, getting by Robert Mabon, before cutting inside and finishing low into the net on his backhand.
The winning goal came on the hour as Ruaridh Anderson took the ball down from James Falconer’s corner on the right and, from the right of the “D”, his lifted effort spun just over the goal line to make it 2-1.
Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans said: “I thought we deserved something out of the game, but Kingussie just seem to grind out results. Matthew Sloss was outstanding for us. Daniel Sloss and Ruaridh Anderson had a great battle and whilst Ruaridh had a good first half, Daniel was in charge in the second half. Daniel MacCuish also did well after being out for so long. Louie MacFarlane and Daniel Madej were also excellent.
“I’m pleased with how we played. I said to the boys afterwards that we have nothing to fear from any of the teams this season.”
Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “A draw would have been fair, although their keeper was tested more than ours. Kieran MacPherson played his last game for us at full centre before heading off to Canada. He’s a massive loss and he will be missed.”
The second Oban derby of the season is scheduled for this Saturday when Oban Camanachd, sponsored by TSL, begin the defence of their trophy against Oban Celtic in the opening round of the Artemis Macaulay Cup at Mossfield.
Gareth Evans added: “We’re looking forward to it and could do with a run of games as recent weeks have been stop-start. Ross Macmillan could return but the game will be too soon for Daniel Cameron.”
Skye Camanachd 3
Kyles Athletic 2
Skye Camanachd maintained their 100 per cent home record with a 3-2 win over Kyles Athletic in their 3pm throw-up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Ryan Harrison returned to Skye’s starting side after being rested against Inverness the previous week, but John Gillies and Ross Gordon remained out injured, whilst Ross MacKinnon was only able to take a place on the bench. Fifteen-year-old Iain MacInnes kept his place in the starting line-up following his scoring debut the previous weekend, whilst another promising youngster Oliver Langlands debuted from the bench.
Kyles Athletic’s James Pringle faced his former club for the first time but another ex-Skye player, Will Cowie, missed out with a hamstring tear. Goalie John Whyte was unavailable, so defender Callum Millar was between the sticks. John Kennedy and David Zavaroni didn’t travel and whilst Innes Macdonald has had his protective boot removed, his contribution was restricted to being goal judge.
Skye took the lead on six minutes when Iain MacInnes touched on Ross Nicolson’s corner from the right and Jamie Gillies rifled the ball home. Keeper Millar got his hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.
On 22 minutes, all four Skye forwards were involved as Kenny Cushnie finished well on the angle from the left.
Kyles pulled a goal back a minute into first half stoppage time, with Luke Thornton turning the ball home following Roan MacVicar’s corner from the left.
Kyles made positional changes at the break including Ross MacRae going to full centre and Roddy MacDonald pushing up front and they went on to enjoy their best period in the match, levelling on 54 minutes. The goal followed a lightning-quick break forward as Roddy MacDonald’s ball was played on by Roan MacVicar with Scott MacDonald scoring from wide on the left to make it 2-2.
With William MacKinnon forced to leave the field with a broken finger in the first half, the hosts lost Ryan Harrison on the hour with a hamstring injury.
Skye regained the lead on 53 minutes when Dan MacDonald found the corner of the net with a great turn and shot, low to the keeper’s left to make it 3-2.
There were late chances at both ends with Scott MacDonald and James Pringle going close for the Tighnabruaich men whilst Skye’s Iain MacInnes hit the inside of the post to the keeper’s right.
Sam Macphee, a stand-out in Skye’s defence this season, said: “We worked hard to shut down their attacks, but the boys were terrific all over the pitch, especially the centre line. We had to re-jig things when Ryan went off and Dan showed again what he can do with a great winner. It’s just a pity about the injuries.”
Kyles player/coach Roddy MacDonald added: “That was frustrating. We can’t defend like that and miss chances and expect to win. However, five of our six league games this season have been away from Tighnabruaich so we’re now due a good run of home fixtures.”
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup first round
Southern section
Col-Glen 2
Bute 3
Bute were 3-2 winners in their tie with Col-Glen at Glendaruel.
The home side took an interval lead with Cluanie Fraser scoring on 43 minutes.
Rory McDonald levelled for the islanders on 50 minutes, but Auryn Kerr put the hosts back in front three minutes later. Rory MacDonald got his second with 20 minutes remaining and Bute’s Josh Cowan scored what proved to be the winner on 84 minutes.
Aberdour 0
Inveraray 9
Inveraray powered by Aberdour, winning 9-0 at Silversands.
Inveraray’s Lewis Montgomery was free of suspension and marked his return with two goals, one from the penalty spot. Youngsters Ewan Donnan and Zander McKinlay also scored twice, the latter on his first team debut.
Fraser Watt added a double, with his brother Campbell Watt getting the other.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 6
Kilmory 0
Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA) progressed with a 6-0 victory over Kilmory at Peterson Park.
GMA were without Garry Luke, so John Sweeney was added to their squad. Kilmory’s Nairn Jackson was suspended.
Craig Anderson gave GMA the lead on 27 minutes and Finlay MacMillan scored on 42 minutes to make it 2-0 at the break.
Calum Morrison added a quick-fire brace on 52 and 54 minutes, with Finlay MacMillan and Craig Anderson both also going on to get their second goals on 72 and 86 minutes respectively.
Kilmory played the last 11 minutes a man short after Sandy Leiper was sent off by referee Robert Baxter.
The Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup second round takes place on Saturday June 1. The ties are as follows:
Northern section
Beauly v Kinlochshiel
Lovat v Caberfeidh
Skye Camanachd v Glenurquhart
Fort William v Inverness
Southern section
Kingussie v Bute
Lochaber v Kyles Athletic
Oban Camanachd v Newtonmore
Inveraray v Glasgow Mid Argyll
Bullough Cup first round
Lochside Rovers were too strong for the English Shinty Association (ESA), winning 8-1 at Peffermill.
Lochside’s Craig MacMillan was suspended and whilst Craig Easton was eligible to play, his booking against the Kyles Athletic juniors the previous weekend triggered a one-match suspension meaning he misses Saturday’s Mowi South Division 1 match at Ardnamurchan. Jordan Kerr on six minutes and Iain Duffy a couple of minutes later got Lochside off to a great start. Jordan Kerr added a third on 36 minutes with Ruairidh Buchanan making it 4-0 three minutes later.
Jamie Cranston pulled a goal back for the ESA on the stroke of half-time to make it 4-1 at the break.
Lochside put gloss on the win with four more goals in the closing nine minutes. Cammy MacMillan on 81 minutes, Scott Robertson on 87 minutes, a hat-trick goal from Jordan Kerr on 90 minutes and a second from Ruairidh Buchanan a couple of minutes into stoppage time made the final score 8-1.
The Inveraray juniors beat Glasgow Mid Argyll juniors 7-5 after extra time at the Winterton. GMA led 2-0 at the break through Cailean MacInnes and James MacLeod but Ben Cameron’s second half hat-trick had Inveraray 3-2 ahead. Mark Bain’s stoppage time effort took the tie into an additional 30 minutes and Bain scored again a minute into extra-time to make it 4-3.
Zander Kilmurray and Ross Anderson had Inveraray 5-4 in front before GMA’s Ryan MacKenzie then Inveraray’s Bruce Griffin exchanged goals to make it 6-5.
Zander Kilmurray’s second strike of the afternoon sealed the 7-5 win.
The Bute seconds defeated Tayforth 5-0 at the Meadows. Neil McKirdy scored the only goal of the first half with John MacCallum and Ruairidh Soane netting before John Wilson’s late double.
The Bullough Cup quarter-final ties take place on Saturday May 25 and are as follows:
Aberdour/Oban Celtic v Kyles Athletic
Strachur-Dunoon v SCOTS Camanachd
Lochside Rovers v Inveraray
Bute v Uddingston
Women’s Camanachd Association
Mowi National Division
Badenoch are two points clear at the top of the Mowi National Division, increasing their goal difference into the bargain, after beating Ardnamurchan 12-1 at Strontian.
Jeanette McGregor netted four times, with Orla Olds getting a hat-trick. Rachael Borthwick and debutant Lexi Falconer bagged braces and Hope Borthwick scored the other. Hannah MacDonald replied.
Second-placed Lochaber lost for the first time this season when, despite Natalie MacDonald’s brace, Glasgow Mid Argyll won 3-2 in their 2pm throw-up at Spean Bridge.
Skye won 4-1 in their derby with Kinlochshiel at Pairc nan Laoch. Lilidh Campbell gave Skye the lead in this noon throw-up, with Catherine Robertson adding a second. Lexie MacKenzie pulled a goal back, but Holly MacLean immediately restored Skye’s two-goal cushion with Ellen MacInnes adding a fourth late on.
Kamryn Hughes scored the only goal as Inverness beat Glenurquhart 1-0 in their 1pm throw-up at the Bught Park outside pitch.
Mowi South Division 2
Siobhan Lane scored five times as Tayforth won 9-3 against Uddingston at Peffermill.
Rosie Sumison added a double, with Rachael Addison and Morven Kennedy getting the others. Eilidh Barclay, Eimear Gavin and Eilidh Nimmo countered for Uddingston.
Artemis Macaulay Cup first round
The Artemis Macaulay Cup first round ties take place this Saturday.
In the south half of the draw, there is an Oban derby between holders Oban Camanachd and Oban Celtic at Mossfield
There’s another derby at Glendaruel where Col-Glen host Kyles Athletic. Inveraray play Glasgow Mid Argyll in an all-Mowi Premiership tie at the Winterton and Aberdour welcome Bute to Silversands.
In the north, 2023 runners-up Kingussie travel to Glenurquhart, whilst there’s a West Coast derby in Portree where Skye face Kinlochshiel.
Lochaber host Caberfeidh and Newtonmore welcome Lovat.
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