Artemis Macaulay Cup - first round
Lochaber 4
Caberfeidh 2
Lochaber’s good start to the season continued as they beat Caberfeidh at Spean Bridge.
Lochaber started well and almost took the lead in the opening minute when Ben Delaney fired a shot past the side post.
However, it was Caberfeidh who went ahead after four minutes when Connor Golabek picked the ball up 30 yards out and rifled a shot into the top left-hand corner.
The game settled and on 15 minutes Connor Sweeney sent a good ball to Shaun Nicolson who drove a low strike inside keeper Iain McCall’s left post.
It wasn’t long before Lochaber took the lead with a carbon copy of Nicolson’s leveller. The ball was played to the left by Ben Delaney, finding Stuart Callison who fired low into corner to give the hosts a deserved 2-1 interval lead.
Referee John Angus Gillies awarded the home side a penalty on 51 minutes when Ryan Symonds brought Shaun Nicolson down inside the box. Ben Delaney fired the spot-hit down the middle to make it 3-1.
When Caberfeidh got into a defensive tangle on 54 minutes, Ben Delaney was left with the simple job of slotting the ball home from two yards.
Caberfeidh pushed Blair Morrison up to buckshee forward and he eventually found the net with a well-driven 20 yard shot on 84 minutes.
Lochaber were strong all over the park in this competitive match and Jack Dignan was their top performer, shackling Caberfeidh dangerman Craig Morrison.
Skye Camanachd 0
Kinlochshiel 4
Kinlochshiel defeated a depleted Skye Camanachd side at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
The islanders were without injured quartet John Gillies, broken thumb; Ryan Harrison, hamstring; William MacKinnon, broken finger; and Ross Gordon, calf, whilst Kenny Cushnie and Ruaraidh Macleod were both on holiday.
Kinlochshiel went into the game as the only side to have beaten Skye this season and called on keeper Josh Grant, Jordan Fraser, Archie MacRae and Arron Jack who all missed the previous week’s defeat at Caberfeidh. Zander MacRae was unavailable and David Falconer remined injured.
Skye agreed to Kinlochshiel’s request for an earlier throw-up so the Rèaraig squad could dash off to Inverness afterwards to cheer on teammate Colin MacDiarmid who was taking part in a charity boxing match in Aviemore in aid of Alzheimer Scotland.
Skye made a bright start but Kinlochshiel grew into the tie and supporters sensed a Kinlochshiel goal was coming. The visitors made the breakthrough on 21 minutes. Keth MacRae lost his marker following Archie MacRae’s free-hit and he scored low across the keeper from the right.
And it was Keith MacRae again four minutes later, this time crashing the ball into the roof of the net from the front of the ’D’ after good work from John MacRae. It was a family affair as the move originated from their brother Finlay MacRae’s free-hit from inside his own half.
John MacRae got his goal on 36 minutes when Ali Nixon’s free-hit sent him running from the left and he tucked the ball low into the net.
With the first half a couple of minutes into stoppage time, the ball broke out to Keith MacRae whose low shot swerved into the bottom corner of the net.
Skye were resolute during an uneventful second half, whilst Kinlochshiel didn’t hit the heights of that devastating 25-minute spell.
The islanders gave second half senior debuts to youngsters Ali Stewart and Nui Nicolson.
Skye’s injury woes continued as full back Seonaidh Macleod required a hospital visit to check a shoulder injury, sustained as he prevented Archie MacRae shooting for goal with almost the last hit of the game.
Speaking afterwards, Keith MacRae said: “We went a bit flat in the second half and one Skye goal could have had them back in it.
“It was nice to get the goals though, it’s good for the confidence.”
On the prospect of facing Kingussie in the quarter finals, MacRae added: “You need to beat the best to win cups and we know we can beat them on our day, but we need to turn up. We’ve been too inconsistent and that’s been the story of our season so far.”
Macaulay Cup quarter final draw
With the first round ties completed, the draw for the Artemis Macaulay Cup quarter final stage is: Oban Camanachd v Kyles Athletic; Glasgow Mid Argyll v Bute; Lovat v Lochaber; Kingussie v Kinlochshiel.
The south ties take place on Saturday June 8 with the north ties on Saturday June 29.
Ferguson Transport & Shipping Balliemore Cup - first round
Fort William W/O v Glengarry
Fort William were given a walk-over when Glengarry were unable to raise a team for their 3pm throw-up at An Aird.
Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup – first round
Section 2
Caberfeidh 2 Lewis Camanachd 1
The Caberfeidh second team progressed from the final tie of the first round, beating Lewis Camanachd at Castle Leod.
Seumas Henderson gave Caberfeidh the lead on six minutes but Callum MacRitchie levelled three minutes later. A second from Seumas Henderson three minutes into the second half won the tie.
The Caberfeidh second team travel to Skye this Saturday for the second round.
Mowi National Division
Kilmallie 1 Beauly 4
League leaders Beauly extended their advantage at the top of the table as they came from behind to beat Kilmallie at Canal Parks.
When referee Donjee MacLeod awarded Kilmallie a penalty a minute before the break, Innes Blackhall stepped up to score from the spot. However, Sandy Elrick made it 1-1 straight from the re-start so the sides went into the break all-square.
Beauly pulled away in the second half as Finlay MacLennan put them ahead a minute after the re-start and Jack MacDonald on 58 minutes and youngster Scott Cameron on 83 minutes added to their tally.
Mowi North Division 1
Iain MacLellan gave Lochcarron an early lead against his former side, but the Skye Camanachd second team won 3-1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree, with James Robertson, Shockie MacLennan and Angus Gilpin all scoring in the second half.
The Fort William seconds were too strong for the Glenurquhart seconds, winning 12-0 at An Aird. Greig Kelly grabbed a hat-trick whilst Lachie Shaw, Peter Wood and Angus MacKinnon all scored twice. Struan Stephen, Ryan Boyle and Lewis Murphy got the others.
There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw-up as a mark of respect following the passing of Fergie MacDonald who trained Fort William for a spell in the 1970s.
The Newtonmore colts were 6-3 winners against the Kinlochshiel colts at the Eilan. A Glen Mackintosh hat-trick, a Xander Ross double and a James Coyle goal were enough for Newtonmore with Lewis MacVicar, Corran Jack and Liam Matheson responding for Kinlochshiel.
Mowi North Division 2
The Lochaber juniors defeated the Inverness juniors 6-0 at Spean Bridge. Ben MacDonald and Danny Delaney scored in the first half, with Delaney getting his second a minute after the re-start. David Langan’s second half hat-trick put Lochaber out of sight.
Aberdeen University have had issues with their Balgownie pitch so their game against the Kilmallie second team was switched to Kincraig, their nearest alternative field. Graham Black’s penalty for Boleskine was cancelled out by Liam Cameron’s goal from a set-piece as the sides drew 1-1.
Mowi South Division 1
The Kyles Athletic juniors and Ardnamurchan drew 4-4 in their noon throw-up at Tighnabruaich. Kyles got off to a blistering start with Dunkie Kerr and Thomas Whyte netting within the first couple of minutes. Herbie Patterson pulled a goal back after three minutes and Stuart MacLachlan made it 2-2 with only five minutes played. Vinny Smith and Andrew Fraser exchanged goals, so it was 3-3 just after the hour.
A second Dunkie Kerr goal had Kyles back in front, but Herbie Patterson claimed his second with five minutes remaining to ensure a share of the points.
Despite having Nairn Jackson and Sandy Leiper suspended, Kilmory beat Ballachulish 5-1 at MacRae Park. Craig Taylor notched a first half brace with Kian Crawford scoring and Alex Cunningham netting twice after the re-start for Kilmory. Jack MacLean countered for Ballachulish a couple of minutes short of the hour.
Badenoch opposition for Fort and Skye
Fort William and Skye Camanachd will have to get past Badenoch opposition if they are to reach this year’s cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final.
The semi-final draw has given Fort William home advantage against Newtonmore and Fort William co-manager Alan Knox said: “We are the only side from outwith the Mowi Premiership in the semi-final draw so it was always going to be difficult, whoever we got.
“We are happy to have home advantage though.”
Skye Camanachd travel to holders Kingussie in what is a repeat of last year’s final. Skye manager Willie MacDonald said: “You have to beat the big teams to win the trophy, so we’ll take it.
“We’ve not played Kingussie yet this season and we are having a bit of an injury crisis at the moment but, with the tie a couple of weeks away, hopefully some of the injured boys will be back before the semi-final comes along.”
The cottages.com semi-final ties are scheduled for Saturday May 18 and with redevelopment work continuing at the Bught Park, Inverness, this year’s final takes place at the Eilan on Saturday June 8.
WCA Round Up
Mowi National Division
Second placed Lochaber were 5-0 victors against Glenurquhart at Spean Bridge. Natalie MacDonald grabbed a hat-trick whilst Amy Disher and Claire Delaney got the others.
Glasgow Mid Argyll defeated Ardnamurchan 9-1 at Strontian. Kate Bradley scored the home goal but five-goal Beth MacLellan, Kirsty Rodger’s double and efforts from Rachel McCafferty and Violet Mair counted for GMA.
Kinlochshiel ran out 7-3 winners against Dunadd at Rèaraig. Lexie MacKenzie scored five times for ‘Shiel with Katie MacRae and Lorna MacRae also netting. Dunadd’s Eilidh Cameron notched a hat-trick.
Aberdour were unable to field a team for their tie against Skye Camanachd at Silversands so the Islanders were awarded the points.
Mowi South Division 2
The match between Ardnamurchan and Tayforth has been rescheduled for Sunday May 12.
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.