Shinty season back underway for 2026
South Shinty
Mowi Premiership
Oban Camanachd 2 Newtonmore 4
The new shinty season got underway, and the match of the day was the meeting between Oban Camanachd and Newtonmore at Mossfield.
Oban Camanachd’s Louie MacFarlane started a two-game ban whilst Craig Macmillan completed his suspension. Gary McKerracher missed out with a preseason hamstring injury and Daniel MacVicar started in defence.
There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up following the recent passing of young Oban goalkeeper Dougie MacDonald.
Oban Camanachd assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: "We previously had a minute’s silence for Dougie during the preseason, but this was our first competitive game since his sad passing. We also know that that both Daniel and Matthew Sloss, who were playing for Newtonmore, were very close with Dougie so it was very appropriate to do this."
‘More broke the deadlock on 17 minutes, when Tristan Ross played the ball wide to Matthew Sloss on the left. Sloss played a perfect pass to Iain Robertson who took play into the D and when the ball broke to Struan Ross, he rammed the ball home.
However, Ross Macmillan hauled the Oban side level on 28 minutes, scoring into the top corner of the goal from 25 yards following long free-hit up-field and a cross from the left.
Iain Robinson opened his Premiership account when he netted from close range on 39 minutes although the ball may have gone over the line off a defender.
Just on the stroke of half-time, Struan Ross scored his second goal of the game with a low shot from 30 yards out to the right to make it 3-1 at the interval.
Oban Camanachd battled back as Lewis Cameron crashed the ball high into the net following a short free-hit on 76 minutes.
There was to be no comeback though as Brodie MacBean whipped the ball high into the net after good battling from Struan Ross with just 10 minutes remaining to make it 4-2.
Reflecting on the opening day fixture, Iain MacMillan said: “Well, basically we under-preformed against a good, well organised Newtonmore team.
"We played well in fits and starts but made big mistakes for three of their goals. We were happy with the application as always, but we just weren’t clean enough when in possession of the ball. We will address that as a unit and move on to Caberfeidh next Saturday.
"Injuries to Connor Howe (hamstring) and Daniel Madej are concerning and our big squad will be utilised in the coming weeks.
"Gary McKerracher missed out today with a bit of a strained hamstring which happened during the pre-season, but he’s in contention this Saturday.”
Newtonmore boss Peter Ross added: “Everyone said this would be a hard game so that is a statement win for us even this early in the season. It was a very physical game and not many teams win at Mossfield so it’s a good two points.”
This weekend, Oban Camanachd, sponsored by TSL Contractors, travel to play Caberfeidh. Newtonmore face Lochaber at The Eilan.
Mowi National Division
Lovat 10 Oban Celtic 0
Lovat were relegated from the Mowi Premiership at the end of last season whilst Oban Celtic were promoted as Mowi South Division 1 champions, so this Balgate fixture was always going to be a tough one for the Oban side.
The writing was on the wall when Lovat went ahead in the opening minute through Graeme Macmillan and he would go on to complete his hat-trick.
Lewis Tawse scored twice in the first half whilst Marc MacLachlan and Greg Matheson both hit second half doubles.
James MacPherson completed the scoring a minute from time to make the final score 10-0.
Oban Celtic co-manager Cammy Mccallum said: “We had a good few players missing for Saturday’s game which was disappointing in itself for the league opener.
“Lovat were very strong, and I think they will go straight back up to the Premiership this season. We thought this would probably be one of our hardest games of the season and it will certainly be up there.
"Lovat’s front line were very clinical with some great movement and finishes and you could clearly see their quality.
“I take my hat off to our young boys who did travel with our weakened squad as they never gave up but Lovat just proved to have too much strength and quality in their ranks.
“Kyle MacFarlane managed to play the full 90 minutes following his hamstring pull which was one plus for us.
“We need to put this one behind us and try and get some boys back for next week and go again against Glenurquhart.”
Oban Celtic, sponsored by The Oban Inn, meet Glenurquhart at Mossfield on Saturday whilst Lovat are off to Kilmallie.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 2 Inveraray 1
Glasgow Mid Argyll beat Inveraray 2-1 at Peterson Park.
The visiting side took the lead through Ruaraidh Graham after just five minutes, but GMA assistant manager Ross Brown levelled on the hour with John Sweeney giving the Glasgow side victory just 10 minutes later.
GMA travel north to Beauly this weekend with Inveraray welcoming Bute.
Mowi South Division 1
Inveraray 1 Lochside Rovers 2
Lochside Rovers made a winning start to the season, defeating the Inveraray second team 2-1 in their noon throw up at The Winterton.
Lochside took the lead on 12 minutes. Matt Rippon played the ball into the danger area and when it came to Innes MacKay, he volleyed the ball home.
It was an even first half overall and although Inveraray had more of the play, Lochside had the better chances.
The Oban side had the chance to increase their lead on 65 minutes when referee Craig Harrower awarded them a penalty. However, Lewis Buchanan, usually clinical from the spot, blazed the ball off target.
Lochside did double their lead five minutes later when a break of the ball came to Jamie Anderson and his effort deceived the keeper and bobbled home.
Inveraray halved the deficit on 83 minutes following a set-piece and Connor Griffin got to the ball ahead of a defender, sliding it over the line to make it 2-1.
With Matt Rippon marshalling the side, the visitors saw out the remainder of the game to take both points.
Speaking just after the game, Lochside assistant manager Duncan MacMillan said: “It was a very good game, and I was impressed with Inveraray, and I think they will do well this season, especially on their own patch. They have a mix of young and old players with David ‘Bingo’ Robertson pulling the strings at full centre.
“We had a number of youngsters ourselves with four under-17s starting and another two on the bench along with Lewis Buchanan. 15-year-old Finn Mackechnie had to come on early in the game when Matt Rippon suffered a shoulder injury.
"Matt was able to come back on later on whilst young Duncan Hunt came on too. Young Finn and Duncan have been training hard so deserved their chance. Daniel Duffy took a knee injury and was limping afterwards, whilst Fraser MacMillan took a knock to the ankle, so I hope both are ok for Saturday.
“Scott MacMillan was missing; Calum Campbell was at the rugby and Joe MacVicar and Logan Black both with the seniors. It’s Ballachulish in Oban on Saturday so I hope we’ll have a few back as we’ll need them.”
Elsewhere in the division, Ballachulish, without the suspended David Grant, drew 3-3 with the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team at The Jubilee Park.
Calum Robb, Alasdair Stewart and Scott Craig scored for GMA, but Marcus Spence, Duncan MacDonald and Donald Pearce earned Balla’ a draw.
Balla’s Alan Clark was the stand-in referee which allowed the match to go ahead, and he kept the game flowing without the need to issue any yellow or red cards.
The fixture between the Kyles Athletic juniors and the Aberdour seniors at Tighnabruaich will be rescheduled.
WCA Round Up
This weekend also marked the beginning of the Women’s Camanachd Association season with most matches taking place on Sunday 8 March 2026.
Mowi National League
Badenoch 8 Inveraray 1
Champions Badenoch B got off to a winning start, beating Inveraray 8-1 in their 1pm throw up at the Market Stance.
Lexi Farquhar scored four times for the hosts, Kate McAdam added a brace and Kayla Gow and Sinead Gow got the others whilst Cara Blyth countered.
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