Kingussie clinched a third successive Mowi Premiership title following the shinty action on Saturday October 28.
Mowi Premiership
Oban Camanachd 2 Beauly 1
Oban Camanachd won their final home match of the year, and their penultimate fixture of the season, beating Beauly 2-1 at Mossfield on Saturday.
Both sides were understrength for this encounter. Camanachd boss Gareth Evans was without Scott McKillop and Scott MacMillan, who were both working, Daniel Sloss, Matthew Sloss, Gregor MacDonald and Lewis Cameron who weren’t available, Blair McFarlane who was playing rugby and Evan MacLellan and Louie McFarlane who are injured.
Craig MacMillan and Daniel Cameron were available again after injuries, Ross Campbell started in attack with his 15-year-old brother Scott taking a place on the bench with Logan Black, Calum Macmillan and Jordan Kerr.
This was relegated Beauly’s final match of their first Mowi Premiership campaign. They were without suspended trio Ryan MacKay, Euan MacCormick and Sandy Elrick. Lennox Stewart was named in goal, with usual keeper Lee Dunbar playing outfield.
The Mossfield pitch was in perfect condition for this encounter. Oban Camanachd took the lead on 15 minutes when Craig Macmillan netted with a low, hard, 20-yard shot from the right which took a couple of bounces on its way into the corner of the net.
Ross Campbell has played football for Oban Saints this year but was given his first senior start of the season after scoring a hat-trick for Lochside Rovers in his last outing. He repaid his manager’s faith on 28 minutes when he was first to react as he tapped home a rebound after Lennox Stewart had saved Daniel MacVicar’s shot.
The Oban side thought they had added a third just before the interval when Malcolm Clark beat the keeper following a short free-hit, but referee Des McNulty ruled the set-piece hadn’t been played with the requisite five yards.
There was a touch of fortune to Beauly’s goal, which came a minute into the second half, as Callum Flynn floated the ball into the goal area. Keeper Cammy Sutherland went to swat the ball away, and may have had the sun in his eyes, but the ball came off his fingers and ended up in the net.
Despite thier good showing in the first half, Oban Camanachd couldn’t get going during the second 45 minutes.
One plus point was the introduction of Scott Campbell, replacing brother Ross Campbell, for the final 35 minutes.
The match was now reminiscent of the meeting between the sides in Oban earlier in the season when, after a great start, Oban Camanachd let a three-goal lead slip to 3-2. Beauly saw a stoppage-time penalty saved by Cammy Sutherland that day. And they had a late claim in this one following Alexander MacDonald’s challenge inside the ‘D’, but the referee waved away their claims.
The win takes Oban Camanachd to fourth in the table.
Gareth Evans said: “We played some nice shinty in the first half and looked to be cruising at 2-0, with Malcom Clark also having an effort disallowed.
“We asked for more of the same at half-time as the final scoreline looked as if it could be whatever we wanted it to be. However, we stopped playing and Beauly’s goal gave them life. The second half was a damp squib as far as we were concerned which was so frustrating.”
Oban Camanachd complete their season this Saturday when they travel to play Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich.
Kingussie 4 Skye Camanachd 0
Kingussie took the Mowi Premiership title when they beat Skye Camanachd 4-0 at the Dell.
Kingussie were missing defender Calum Grant who returned to Australia to work for another six weeks, whilst Thomas Borthwick was on holiday. Savio Genini returned to take a place on the bench alongside James Hutchison, Cameron Bremner and Eoin Baikie.
Skye’s William MacKinnon was suspended and Jamie Gillies was unavailable. And when Ross Nicolson and Charlie Latton both called off on Saturday morning through illness, the islanders were forced to travel with Archie Millar as their only substitute.
Ruaridh Anderson again proved key for Kingussie when he scored the only goal of the first half on 14 minutes. James Falconer found Lee Bain on the right and his ball across goal was turned home by Anderson from a tight angle at the back post.
Skye were rarely a threat to the home goal but they kept Kingussie at bay until five minutes into the second half when Ruaridh Anderson crashed the ball high into the net from the left when the Skye defence didn’t deal with Lee Bain’s hit-in.
James Falconer got between two Skye defenders on 66 minutes to finish following Ruaridh Anderson’s corner from the left.
Then, with James Falconer and Robert Mabon involved in the lead-up play, substitute Eoin Baikie added a fourth on 75 minutes, running on to beat keeper Murphy Henderson after his initial effort was blocked.
It was a third successive championship for Kingussi and a first for their manager Iain Borthwick who paid tribute to his squad: “Winning the league is a big achievement and everyone has worked hard. We’ve had a lot of injuries, but the boys who have come in have done really well. It pays to have such a big squad. We are so lucky to have that, especially in the league.
“We moved the ball well during several spells of the game against Skye and played some good shinty. The boys can enjoy tonight but not too much as we still have a game against Newtonmore on Saturday. We can enjoy lifting the league trophy after that.”
It was the last match in charge for Skye boss Kenny MacLeod who said: “It was pretty one-sided. We didn’t test “Bob” McGregor in their goal at all, even although we had chances.
“Our lack of training since our last game four weeks ago was evident from the start. Our sharpness was gone and our stickwork was rusty. We made Kingussie work for their goals though and a couple of them were brilliant finishes.
“John Gillies and James Morrison played well along with young Seonaidh Macleod who put in another great performance.”
The match also brought the curtain down on Deek Cameron’s 15-year tenure as one of shinty’s outstanding referees.
Kinlochshiel 3 Kyles Athletic 3
Kinlochshiel staged a battling comeback, recovering from three goals down to share the points with Kyles Athletic in a 3-3 draw at Rèaraig.
The home side were without WD MacRae, who has been playing with a knee problem over the last couple of months and now sit out the rest of the season.
Jonnie MacAskill and Arron Jack were also unavailable, but Archie MacRae returned to the forward line where he joined Keith MacRae, Ali Nixon and skipper Jordon Fraser.
Kyles Athletic’s title chances hung by a thread as they needed Kingussie to falter in both their remaining fixtures whilst also taking care of their own opponents.
Innes Macdonald was on holiday, Conor Kennedy and Finan Kenedy were working and Sorley Thomson was unavailable.
Kinlochshiel were forced into an early change when Archie MacRae had to come off. He was replaced by Rhuairaidh MacDonald.
The Kyles centre line of Roddy Macdonald, flanked by the experienced Robbie MacLeod and youngster Roan MacVicar, took an early grip of the game, forcing Kinlochshiel back. And the visitors took the lead on four minutes when they quickly moved the ball down the left with some one-touch shinty before Will Cowie found Robbie MacLeod whose flashing shot beat the keeper.
Ross Macrae punished the Kinlochshiel defence for not clearing their lines to make it 2-0 on 20 minutes.
A rare Kinlocshiel attack saw Kyles Athletic keeper John Whyte make a good stop above his head to keep out Keith MacRae’s strike from the left.
Kyles went back on the front-foot and when referee Alec MacVicar awarded them a free-hit on the right of their forward line on 27 minutes, Ross Macrae touched the ball back to an onrushing Scott Macdonald, who had lost his marker, and the previous week’s Scotland debutant finished well with a low strike across the keeper to make it 3-0.
Kinlochshiel looked in trouble, but they launched an attack on the half-hour and substitute Rhuairaidh MacDonald’s low shot from right of centre deceived keeper John Whyte on his right side meaning the home side had a lifeline. They made the most of it as Ali Nixon fired the ball over the keeper when the Kyles defence didn’t deal with a corner on the right four minutes later. Kinlochshiel now only trailed by a single goal.
Josh Grant made a good double save to keep it that way and it remained 3-2 until the break.
Kinlochshiel had the wind at their backs in the second half and Ali Nixon’s low shot was turned away for a corner by his right post by John Whyte before, at the other end, Scott Macdonald cut in from the right but shot just wide.
Kinlochshiel were in the ascendancy and substitute David Falconer went close following a goalmouth scramble.
The hosts got the equaliser with 15 minutes remaining as Keith MacRae trundled the ball by the advancing keeper from left of centre after Kyles passed up the chance to clear out of defence.
There was still time for Kinlochshiel keeper Josh Grant to make a great reflex save, palming away Ross Macrae’s over-the-shoulder flick, before visiting goalie John Whyte held his nerve as Donald Nixon’s ball from the middle of the park dropped dangerously on his goal.
Kinlochshiel boss Willie MacRae said: “Kyles ran us ragged in the opening spell. They seemed to want it more than us and I’d have certainly taken a draw when we were 3-0 down. We fought back though and either team could have stolen it at the end.
“We have one game to go at Caberfeidh on Saturday. I’m looking forward to completing the season so we can look forward to having everyone fit for next season, including John MacRae and Ollie MacRae, who are big players for us.”
Kyles climb to second place on goal difference. Player/coach Roddy Macdonald said: “We were excellent for the first 27 minutes, but then just gave away silly goals and were a wee bit slack at the back and second to too many balls.
“We travelled without some key players and Andrew King played with a toe injury, Callum Millar played with two fingers taped together and I’ve had the flu all week.
“The plan was to build a lead playing with the wind and if we could have kept it to 3-0 until half-time, things might have been different, but a draw is probably a fair reflection of the game.
“Overall, the effort the boys have put in this season has been fantastic. We’ve pushed Kingussie all the way but fell just short. Congratulations to them on winning the league.”
This Saturday, Kinlochshiel travel to Caberfeidh, whilst Kyles Athletic welcome Oban Camanachd.
Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 Lovat 4
Lovat completed their season against Glasgow Mid Argyll (GMA), winning 4-0 at Peterson Park.
Throw-up was at noon and although there was a slight delay, the earlier start allowed the Lovat squad to return back up the A9 in time for the club’s annual awards night at Kiltarlity Hall.
Marc MacLachlan scored on 26 and 33 minutes to settle Lovat into the game. Greg Matheson added a third a minute before the break, with Calum MacAulay completing the scoring five minutes into the second half.
Lovat manager Jamie Matheson said: “It was a typical end-of-season game. It was scrappy at times, but we scored some good goals. It was nice to finish the season with a win and a clean sheet.
“GMA had a couple of youngsters at the back who impressed me a lot. They defended well under a bit of pressure.”
This was also GMA’s final match of the season. They will play in the Mowi National Division next season.
This weekend’s fixtures
Mowi Premiership
Kingussie v Newtonmore
Champions Kingussie will be presented with the Mowi Premiership trophy following their derby with Newtonmore at the Dell on Saturday.
The teams will also contest the Sir Tommy MacPherson Trophy.
Kingussie defender Calum Grant is missing as he has returned to Australia to work for another six months. Newtonmore have only played once since the end of August, a 3-1 victory at Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Kyles Athletic v Oban Camanachd
Kyles Athletic hope to consolidate second position in the league, but it won’t be easy against Oban Camanachd at Tighnabruaich.
Caberfeidh v Kinlochshiel
Caberfeidh have already equalled their best top-flight points tally ahead of their final match of the season against Kinlochshiel at Castle Leod.
Mowi North Division 2
Lochaber v Strathglass
The Lochaber second team meet the Strathglass second team at Spean Bridge.
This is the final game of the season for both teams and completes the Mowi North Division 2 programme.
Scotland fixtures confirmed
The Women’s Camanachd Association has confirmed the Scotland squad’s fixture schedule for the forthcoming shinty/camogie internationals against Irish opposition.
The Scots will play a West Cork select side at Bandon on Friday November 3. Throw-in is at 7pm. The following day, the Scotland squad take on Carbery Camogie at Clonakilty. Throw-in is at 3.30pm.
This is the first shinty/camogie international since 2019 when the Scots lost 14-10 in a close encounter with Munster at the WIT Arena in Waterford.
Youth shinty
CA Cup quarter final
Aberdour 1 Kyles Athletic 8
Kyles Athletic primaries beat Aberdour primaries 8-1 in their Camanachd Cup quarter final tie at Yoker on Saturday October 28.
Aberdour gave up home advantage to get this 1pm throw-up played and were on even terms early in the game. Kyles led 3-1 at the interval before pulling away in the second half.
Kyles Athletic primaries now meet their Oban Celtic counterparts in the semi-finals on Saturday November 11, with Kilmallie already in the final.
Deek Cameron calls it a day
Kingussie’s Mowi Premiership title-winning 4-0 victory over Skye Camanachd brought the curtain down on Deek Cameron’s 15-year tenure as one of shinty’s outstanding referees.
Speaking after the final whistle, the Fort William-based referee said: “That’s my last game after 15 years refereeing. I’ve enjoyed nearly every minute of it.
“I’d like to thank all the teams for showing great respect to me over the years. I’ve had some great moments including Camanachd finals, Macaulay and MacTavish finals. I’d like to thank the respective associations who have given me these finals. It was a privilege to do them, but I have other plans now.
“I hope the clubs listen to the Referees Association and bring through some fresh blood to referee games. I hope all the clubs give new referees a chance to learn the ropes.”