Mowi Premiership
Oban Camanachd 3
Lochaber 3
Oban Camanachd made their delayed start to the 2024 shinty season and led Lochaber 3-1 before the game finished in a 3-3 draw in their 2.15pm throw-up at Mossfield.
Following the postponement of the previous week’s encounter with Kyles Athletic, the Oban side were without Daniel Cameron, Scott McKillop, Blair MacFarlane, Ross Macmillan, Craig Macmillan and Scott MacMillan.
Daniel MacCuish recovered from injury to start despite having a cold and Daniel Sloss returned to take his usual place at the back. Alexander Macdonald was rewarded for good preseason displays with a place in defence.
Lochaber’s Ryan Johnstone was free of suspension, whilst Duncan MacKinnon, who trains with Oban Camanachd during the week, returned from holiday at half-time and played the second half. Jack Dignan was missing.
Playing with the wind in the first half, the game was just five minutes old when Daniel MacCuish, who was clearly showing the effects of his cold, was moved up front with Daniel MacVicar going to full centre where he played very well.
Malcolm Clark was Oban Camanachd’s top scorer last season and he opened his 2024 account with a goal on 14 minutes.
Referee Graham Fisher, who was also the man in the middle for Lochside’s game against the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team earlier in the day, awarded the hosts a penalty for a foul inside the ‘D’ on 19 minutes. Louie MacFarlane’s spot-hit was saved with his feet by Lochaber keeper Ali MacDonald, but Malcolm Clark flicked the rebound into the net to claim his second goal of the game.
Stuart Callison halved the deficit a minute after the half-hour, scoring from the edge of the ‘D’ when Oban Camanachd failed to clear their lines.
Five minutes later, Matthew Sloss turned his marker before firing a glorious 25-yard shot into the top corner of the net to restore the Oban side’s two goal cushion.
Ali MacDonald in the Lochaber goal made some good saves with his feet and it remained 3-1 at half-time when Camanachd’s Gregor MacDonald, who had gone over his ankle in the first half, had to come off.
Oban Camanachd had chances to see Lochaber off as Daniel MacCuish put the ball wide from the edge of the ‘D’, Lewis Cameron hit the outside of the post and Scott Robertson went through on goal but couldn’t finish.
Lochaber finished the game strongly though and got back in it when Duncan MacKinnon’s shot was deflected by Max Campbell, wrong-footing keeper Cameron Sutherland, making it 3-2.
When Daniel Sloss was penalised for a challenge inside the ‘D’ on 81 minutes, Ben Delaney stepped up and finished confidently, smashing the ball home from the spot to make it 3-3.
Lochaber pushed for a winner but had to settle for the draw.
Oban Camanachd, who are sponsored by TSL Contractors, made a late penalty claim after Daniel MacCuish went down in the box, but their claims were waved away.
Kinlochshiel 5
Skye Camanachd 0
Kinlochshiel proved too strong for Skye Camanachd, winning 5-0 in their derby at Rèaraig.
Kinlochshiel were unchanged from their opening day defeat to Kingussie.
Skye’s Ross Nicolson was suspended, whilst full back Ryan Harrison was unavailable. Shockie MacLennan and Seonaidh-Alex Macleod both returned to the squad and Thomas MacKinnon made his debut in defence, signing from Beauly to join brothers William and Ross in the side.
Kinlochshiel won the toss and opted to play with the stiff wind at their backs.
Skye keeper Ryan Morrison saved well with his hand to deny Ali Nixon who was set up by Archie MacRae.
Kinlochshiel lost wing centre David Falconer who appeared to twist his knee after nine minutes and Duncan “DA” MacRae came on in his place.
Ryan Morrison was keeping the hosts at bay and made a brilliant save to his right to keep out another Ali Nixon effort. Another good stop to thwart Archie MacRae followed before the inevitable opening goal came on 23 minutes as Keith MacRae took the ball to his left before smashing a shoulder-high shot home.
Skye responded and Dan MacDonald found Kenny Cushnie, but his effort went wide of the junction between post and crossbar.
Archie MacRae doubled Kinlochshiel’s lead on 31 minutes, playing a one-two with John MacRae as he ran wide on the right. MacRae touched the ball back to make a better angle and crashed a shot into the roof of the net.
Ryan Morrison made a great stop to his left from John MacRae a minute after before Josh Grant kept out Ross Gordon’s attempt at the other end.
With the match a minute into first half stoppage time, John MacRae’s effort was saved by Morrison, but Ali Nixon was quickly onto the rebound to net from the right.
Despite playing into the wind in the second half, Kinlochshiel kept the pattern of play towards the Skye goal and a wonderful Keith MacRae ball sent Archie MacRae running towards goal, but Ryan Morrison got his body behind the point-blank effort.
When the ball broke to Keith MacRae on 59 minutes, he swept it into the net to add a fourth and Ryan Morrison had to be on his toes on 75 minutes to save from Ali Nixon before clearing.
Substitute Jordan Fraser, on for the limping Keith MacRae, rounded off the scoring on 79 minutes, blasting the ball home from a tight angle on the left to make it 5-0 after it had been played across goal by the impressive Archie MacRae.
Kinlochshiel manager Willie MacRae said: “Everything came together for us today, but I don’t think that was Skye’s strongest team. Archie MacRae was on the ball. I think he’s going to have a great season.
“I thought John MacRae and John Gillies had a great tussle and WD MacRae is playing in his best position at wing back and looked good.
“The downside was David Falconer’s knee injury. He’s away to hospital to get it checked out.”
Newtonmore 0
Kyles Athletic 2
Kyles Athletic took to the field for the first time this season beating Newtonmore 2-0 at the Eilan.
Newtonmore’s Martin Hall was suspended whilst Conor Jones and Craig Ritchie remained out through injury. Struan Ross returned to the side and there was a starting place for Euan Dingwall.
New Kyles signing James Pringle started at wing centre as he and Innes Macdonald flanked full centre David Zavaroni. Roddy Macdonald played at full back.
Ross MacRae got Kyles off to a great start with a goal after six minutes.
The outcome remained in the balance until a minute from time when Newtonmore keeper Kenny Ross made a save but inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
The sides also played for the Glenmorangie Shield which was presented to Kyles captain Scott Macdonald by Newtonmore president Norman MacArthur.
Glenurquhart 0
Kingussie 2
Dylan Borthwick again proved to be the difference, scoring both goals as Kingussie beat Glenurquhart 0-2 in their 3pm throw-up at Blairbeg.
Kingussie were without James Falconer, but wing centre Cameron Bremner returned to face his former club.
Dylan Borthwick scored the only goal of the game against Kinlochshiel the previous week and came up trumps again with efforts on 28 and 86 minutes.
However, a challenge on wing centre Liam Borthwick, after he had been pushed up front, left him with a broken metatarsal so he faces a spell on the sidelines.
Caberfeidh 3
Lovat 4
Lovat beat Caberfeidh 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller at Castle Leod.
Scotland keeper Stuart MacDonald returned to the Lovat side who led 2-0 at the turnaround through Greg Matheson’s double on 21 and 28 minutes.
Ben MacDonald pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half, but Marc MacLachlan restored Lovat’s two-goal cushion straight from the re-start.
Craig Morrison made it 3-2 on 60 minutes and Lorne MacKay’s goal for Lovat 10 minutes later to make it 4-2 proved decisive as Craig Morrison got his second on 81 minutes.
Caberfeidh’s Connor MacGregor was sent off for something said to referee Jamie Macpherson with four minutes remaining.
Mowi National Division
Beauly 4
Col Glen 0
Beauly are the early Mowi National Division leaders on goal difference after beating Col Glen 4-0 at Braeview Park.
Beauly’s Ryan MacKay was free of suspension and the hosts went ahead after seven minutes through Callum Flynn. Robbie Brindle on 15 minutes and another from Callum Flynn on the half-hour made it 3-0 at half-time.
Euan Maccormick rounded off the scoring 10 minutes from time.
Fort William 2
Inveraray 1
Fort William won again, this time beating Inveraray 2-1 at An Aird.
Fort William’s Cameron Grant served the second game of his two-match suspension, but Mark Grant was free of his ban.
Fort William’s Cam Stephen scored the only goal of the first half on nine minutes, but Neil Campbell levelled three minutes after the re-start.
Archie MacKinnon scored what proved to be the winner on 53 minutes.
Fort William co-manager Alan Knox said: “We’re very pleased with the win. We are getting closer to where we want to be in terms of performance. There are still slight improvements and adjustments to be made but we are looking forward to what will be a good game this Saturday against Glasgow Mid Argyll.”
Kilmallie 1
Bute 0
Kilmallie claimed their first points of the season, beating Bute 1-0 at Canal Parks.
There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw-up as a mark of respect following the recent passing of Hughie MacMaster who had strong links to Kilmallie and Tayforth.
The only goal of the game came on 18 minutes and it is an early contender for goal of the season. Kilmallie were defending a corner and the ball was cleared up-field. Shane O’Rua was at half forward and he dropped deep before skinning his marker and carrying the ball 35 yards. Then, on his backhand, the youngster struck a superb 30-yard shot into roof the net to win the game.
Kilmallie assistant manager Martin Stewart said: “It was good to get the two points. That’s all that really matters. We are still looking a bit rusty but there are also some good signs.
“Shane’s goal was a screamer. It was some hit and you won’t see many better over the course of the rest of the season.”
Mowi North Division 1
Glengarry beat Inverness 5-0 in their 3pm throw-up at Craigard.
Nick Dalgety scored a goal in each half and Steven Cameron, Billy Benhach, with his first goal for the side, and Matthew Ross got the others.
The Glenurquhart reserves won 4-2 against Lochcarron at Battery Park. Peter MacKenzie and Sean MacCuish scored for the hosts, but Jed Stoddart’s treble and Alfie MacLeod’s goal gave the Glen victory.
Youngster Joe Coyle debuted for the Newtonmore colts and scored four times in their 8-0 win over the Lovat colts at Balgate. Newtonmore were without suspended pair Jamie Ross and Xander Ross but were still comfortable winners with James Coyle, Jacob Bain, Glen Mackintosh and Josh Stewart also netting.
The match marked the return of referee John Angus Gillies following knee surgery.
Archie Millar grabbed a hat-trick as Skye Camanachd’s seconds beat the Beauly seconds 4-2 in their 3pm throw-up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. John Archie Tuncay put Skye ahead, but Louie MacLellan levelled. Archie Millar gave Skye a 2-1 interval lead before Archie MacDonald’s own goal levelled the game. Then, with 10 minutes remaining, Archie Millar scored twice in a couple of minutes to complete his hat-trick and give Skye a second successive victory.
The Strathglass first team and the Fort William seconds drew 3-3 at Cannich. Struan Stephen’s early own goal and Ruairidh Todd’s double, the second of which came five minutes from time, counted for Strath with two-goal Greig Kelly netting either side of Lewis Morrison’s effort for the Fort whose Sean MacLellan was suspended.
Mowi North Division 2
Boleskine thumped the Strathglass second team 9-0 in their 2pm throw-up at Smith Park.
Callum Muir claimed a hat-trick whilst Scott Watson and Ross Anderson scored twice. Sean Fraser and Fin Dempster got the others.
Inverness and Aberdeen University drew 1-1 at the Bught Park outside pitch. Mikey Bell put Inverness ahead, but Jebby Remegio levelled.
The Kingussie colts had to work hard before beating Lewis Camanachd 5-4 in their 1.30 pm throw-up at the Dell.
Toby Thain notched a Kingussie hat-trick with Lee Bain and Paul Gow getting the others. Paul Duke’s brace and goals from Donnie MacRae and Callum MacRitchie meant Lewis were always in the game.
The Kilmallie seconds defeated the Lochaber seconds 6-1 in their noon throw-up at Spean Bridge. Brian MacKay scored four times with Liam Cameron and Duncan MacDougall also counting. Ross Loughray replied.
Women’s Camanachd Association
There was Women’s Camanachd Association topflight action over the weekend.
Mowi National Division
Badenoch beat Inverness 3-0 in their 1pm throw-up at the Bught Park outside pitch on Sunday.
Zoe Reid, Kirsty Deans and Megan Ralph got the goals.
Lochaber won 1-0 against Glenurquhart at Blairbeg. Leah Maxtone grabbed the only goal with Mairi Duncan a top performer for the visitors.
Kinlochshiel won for the first time in the top flight, beating fellow promoted side Dunadd 12-2 in their 1pm throw-up at Lochgilphead. Lexie MacKenzie scored seven times with Emily Gordon grabbing a hat-trick. Lorna MacRae and Tibby MacKenzie got the others. Eilidh Cameron and Ailsa Crawford scored for Dunadd.
Glasgow Mid Argyll overcame Ardnamurchan 7-1 in their 1pm throw-up at Peterson Park.
Beth McLennan scored five times with Ali MacVicar and Christy Doherty making up their tally. Aine O’Rua replied.
The match between Skye Camanachd and Aberdour will be rescheduled.
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