Kingussie were presented with the Mowi Premiership league trophy when the on-field shinty season was completed on Saturday November 4.
Mowi Premiership
Kingussie 3 Newtonmore 1
Kingussie were presented with the Mowi Premiership league trophy following their 3-1 victory over Newtonmore in their 1pm throw-up at the Dell.
The sides also played for the Sir Tommy MacPherson Trophy after being piped onto the field.
Thomas Borthwick returned for Kingussie at full centre after missing the previous week’s win over Skye. Iain Fraser kept his place in attack.
This derby was only Newtonmore’s second match since the end of August. Duncan MacPherson and Arron MacBean missed out as they were on holiday. Keeper Kenny Ross, defender Michael Russell and skipper Conor Jones all returned from the side that defeated Glasgow Mid Argyll 3-1 at the end of September.
Thomas Borthwick was pushed up front midway through the first half, with James Hutchison dropping back to full centre. The switch paid off on the half-hour when Thomas Borthwick ran in to score from Ruaridh Anderson’s corner from the right to score the only goal of the first half.
Borthwick and Anderson combined again on 58 minutes. This time Borthwick was the provider as he found Anderson with a short free-hit on the right and sent a crisp, knee-high strike across the keeper to make it 2-0.
Newtonmore got back in it on 62 minutes when the goal judge spotted Rory MacKeachan’s “kick” following a Conor Jones corner from the left and referee Steven MacLachlan pointed the penalty spot. Steven Macdonald smashed the penalty low to the keeper’s right.
Thomas Borthwick’s second came in stoppage time and put the outcome beyond doubt as Kingussie’s prolific combo struck again. Ruaridh Anderson found acres of space on the left and his shot was blocked, but not cleared, by the Newtonmore defence and with Borthwick running in, the ball flew by the excellent Kenny Ross in the visiting goal.
All that remained was the official presentation and Jayne MacKay from sponsors Mowi handed the trophy over to Kingussie skipper James Falconer.
Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “That’s a nice way to finish the season. The boys did brilliantly in tough conditions, as it was really misty out there, but we took our goals well and worked their defence hard. We moved James Hutchison to full centre after around 20 minutes and I thought he took control of the midfield.
“I’m pleased with the way the season has gone but it will be nice to get a break. I’m sure all the boys feel the same way.”
Caberfeidh 3 Kinlochshiel 3
Caberfeidh’s 3-3 draw with Kinlochshiel gives them a fourth-place finish in the Mowi Premiership and means they have accumulated their best top-flight points tally.
Caberfeidh boss Garry Reid was without the services of Jamie MacKintosh, Gavin McLauchlan, Ben MacDonald and Scott Macphail, so some younger players were a chance.
Kinlochshiel manager Willie MacRae was missing Archie MacRae, who came off early against Kyles Athletic the previous week with a thumb injury, whilst David Falconer was unavailable. Arran Jack returned and there was a call-up for young Rory Slaughter. Both started on the bench.
Kinlochshiel thought they had an early lead when Duncan “DA” MacRae sent the ball forward and Jordan Fraser got there ahead of keeper Iain McCall to score. However, after consulting with the goal judge, referee Iain Kennedy ruled out the effort for a “kick” with Kinlochshiel claiming the “kick” was from the keeper.
The visitors didn’t have to wait long for their goal though as Jordan Fraser tapped the ball home following a move down the left wing to make it 1-0 with five minutes played.
Shinty’s top scorer Craig Morrison drew Caberfeidh level a couple of minutes later. The ball broke to Morrison around the penalty spot and he struck it straight down the middle and into the net.
Caberfeidh took the lead on 20 minutes when a long ball forward was played over the top to Craig Morrison at the edge of the box and he turned his marker before tapping the ball by the keeper. It was a goal that left Morrison top of the scoring charts once more with 35 goals in all competitions this season.
Kinlochshiel had tasked Duncan Matheson with marking Craig Morrison, but they made a switch with Mark MacDonald now shadowing the Caberfeidh danger man.
The goals kept coming and Finlay MacRae made it 2-2 six minutes into the second half when he drifted the ball into the net from distance. Keeper Iain McCall jumped as he went for the ball with his hand but couldn’t reach it.
Caberfeidh regained the lead through the impressive Kevin Bartlett on 55 minutes. The ball was played to Craig Morrison who found Liam Symonds. He picked out Bartlett in space at the back post and he sent the ball into the bottom corner of the goal from the edge of the box.
However, Keith MacRae finished 15 minutes from time to ensure a share of the points.
The ball was crossed into the danger area from the right and Keith MacRae jumped for it at the back post with the home full back. The ball dropped and MacRae got onto it first, striking it low and hard on the half-volley from just outside the ‘D’ to make it 3-3.
Looking back on the game, Garry Reid said: “That was tough going on a heavy pitch and with it coming after a five-week lay-off.
“I can’t fault the players for their effort and commitment, today and throughout the season. It is a really tough, competitive league but there is definitely something there for us to build on next season.”
Willie MacRae added: “It was a hard battle. The pitch didn’t suit us as it was sticky so we couldn’t move the ball as quickly as we would have liked. It was a ding-dong battle, and we were pushing for a winner at the end, but Caberfeidh were always dangerous on the break and a draw was about fair.”
Kyles Athletic 1 Oban Camanachd 0
Kyles Athletic ended the season second in the Mowi Premiership following their 1-0 win over Oban Camanachd at Tighnabruaich.
Innes Macdonald was still missing for Kyles, who were also without Andrew King and Will Cowie.
Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans was without 12 players and only had four of his Camanachd Cup final starting 12 so there was a Lochside flavour to his side.
With keeper Cammy Sutherland unavailable, veteran Brian MacCallum played in goal whilst Scott McKillop, Calum MacMillan, Andy MacDonald and Alexander MacDonald made up the defence. Full centre Daniel MacCuish was flanked by Daniel Cameron and Gregor MacDonald with Daniel MacVicar, Ross Campbell, Craig MacMillan and Jordan Kerr up front. Scott Campbell and Logan Black were on the bench.
The pitch had recovered from the recent rain but, not surprisingly, it was on the soft side.
Oban Camanachd lost Ross Campbell with a hamstring injury early in the game. He was replaced by his younger brother Scott Cameron.
The goal that separated the sides came four minutes before half-time. The ball was played up to Kyles Athletic attacker Luke Thornton on the high side of the park on the Kyles right. Thornton sent a low, 20-yard shot across keeper Brian MacCallum for what was a good finish and the one bit of skill that made the difference.
Oban Camanachd had pressure in attack without troubling home goalie John Whyte and full back Callum Millar mopped up most things whilst, at the other end, Brian MacCallum dealt with things using his feet in and around his ‘D’.
Kyles almost doubled their lead in the second half when Scotland cap Scott Macdonald shot goalwards from around 30 yards, but keeper MacCallum stretched high to get his stick to the ball, turning it over the top for what was a brilliant save.
Oban Camanachd youngster Logan Black came on for the final 30 minutes and did well.
The defeat means Oban Camanachd finished fifth in the league, but they have had successes to remember in the cup competitions this season.
There were no bookings in what was believed to be experienced Grade 1 official Graham Cameron’s last match as a referee.
Oban Camanachd manager Gareth Evans said: “It was a typical end of season affair but still a good exercise in terms of giving younger players game time ahead of next season. Despite all the absentees, I still thought we fielded a decent team. The Lochside boys played well with Alexander MacDonald and Calum MacMillan catching the eye. We can all get a well-earned rest now.”
Oban Camanachd will hold its end of season dinner dance and player of the year awards at the Oban Bay Hotel on Saturday November 25. The event is open to everyone. Anyone wishing to attend should contact any Oban Camanachd club member for tickets.
Mowi North Division 1
Beauly P Skye Camanachd P
The match between the Beauly second team and the Skye Camanachd second team at Braeview Park was postponed because of an unplayable field.
Mowi North Division 2
Lochaber w/o v Strathglass
The Lochaber second team were awarded the points when the Strathglass second team were unable to field a team for their noon throw-up at Spean Bridge.
Strathglass have been deducted a point.
Scotland hit goal trail in international double-header
The Scotland squad hit the goal trail in their weekend shinty/camogie international double-header against Irish opposition.
This was the first shinty/camogie encounter since 2019 when the Scots lost 14-10 in a close encounter with Munster at the WIT Arena in Waterford.
West Cork Select (2-0) 6-28 (1-9) Scotland
Scotland took early control in their game against a West Cork select before going on to claim a 28-6 win at Bandon on Friday November 3.
Throw-in was brought forward to 5.45pm. Uddingston’s Alison MacVicar and Glenurquhart’s Hazel Hunter scored two goals apiece for the Scots with Kinlochshiel’s Lorna MacRae, Lochaber’s Natalie MacDonald, Glenurquhart’s Zoe Smith, who previously played for Fort William, skipper Caitlin MacLean and Sarah Yoxon, both from Skye, getting the others. Lorna MacRae added a point and Badenoch’s Mairi Stewart was named player of the match.
Carbery Camogie (2-3) 9-54 (17-3) Scotland
Fresh from their success against a West Cork select the previous evening, the travelling Scotland squad took on Carbery Camogie the following day at Clonakilty on Saturday November 4.
Throw-in was at 3.30pm and Scotland’s firepower was on show again for everyone to see.
Badenoch’s Megan Ralph scored five times with Glenurquhart’s Hazel Hunter, Kinlochshiel’s Lorna MacRae, Natalie MacDonald from Lochaber, Zoe Smith from Glenurquhart and Badenoch’s Zoe Reid all bagging doubles. Uddingston’s Alison MacVicar and Skye’s Caitlin Maclean got the others with the single points coming from Lorna MacRae, Alison MacVicar and Zoe Smith.
Captain Caitlin Maclean, who led from the front, said: “I thought we adapted really quickly considering we’ve just had one full training session together. The performances showed we all know each other quite well off the field too as it all came together quite quickly.
“The forward line had possession from the start and did really well, scoring early goals which helped us. I’m really proud of how everyone played and it was good to get two wins.”
New cap Alison MacVicar, originally from Oban, who bagged ten points overall added: “It was an honour to play with such a high calibre group of girls and to get my first international caps.
“I know I was a bit of a “wild card” selection but playing for Uddingston in Mowi South 2 this season got me back playing the sport as I’d taken a long break to train in triathlon. I’m back though and hope I earned my place over the two games.
“I know my family back in Oban are very proud, so that has been an amazing feeling.
“I’m happy to be playing again and as soon as I swung the caman at the start of the game on Friday night, I was reminded why I play this sport. It’s unique, fast, unpredictable and fun.
“It was strange to adapt to tackling and chasing the camogie players, but it was a case of learning as you go. It’s totally different to shinty, but I loved it.”
Badenoch’s Mairi Stewart added: “There were a few girls in the team who hadn’t played shinty/camogie before, so for us to go out and put in such solid performances was great to see.”
All throw-ups were at 2pm unless the match report states differently.
Iomain Cholmcille set for Belfast
Iomain Cholmcille takes place in Belfast for the first time on Saturday November 11.
A wide range of Gaelic speaking players from throughout Scotland will represent Alba in the native language international shinty/hurling/camogie competition for Gaelic and Irish speakers.
Angus MacInnes, originally of North Uist but now involved with Glasgow Mid Argyll, and Ally “Digg” MacDonald of Staffin and Skye Camanachd, will manage the men’s team and Kate Bradley from Ardnamurchan will be in charge of the women’s squad. Both squads have strength and depth and will take on a range of Irish speaking hurling and camogie teams in the heart of Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter.
The competition first took place in 2007. Iomain Cholmcille receives funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Foras na Gaeilge’s Cholmcille fund for this event which has been successful in strengthening the bonds between Ireland and Scotland and shinty and Gaelic.
This year’s event will also see launch of Stòrlann’s “Abair Seo” app to promote communication between Gaelic and Irish speakers.
The competition will be held at Sportlann na hEireann on the Falls Road on Saturday between 12.30pm and 6.30pm.
Alba men’s squad from: Mark Fraser, Fort William; Iain Fraser, Kingussie; Iain Hunter, Inverness; Lewis Boag, Inverness; Ewen Campbell, Inverness and Uist; William MacKinnon, Skye Camanachd; Ross MacKinnon, Skye Camanachd; Ross Gordon, Skye Camanachd; Dan MacDonald, Skye Camanachd; Paddy Sinclair, Camanachd Leòdhais; Rory Macdiarmid, Glasgow Mid Argyll; Cailean MacInnes, Glasgow Mid Argyll; Cailean MacLeod, Glasgow Mid Argyll; Jamie MacLeod, Glasgow Mid Argyll; Arran Byrne, Glasgow Mid Argyll; Graham Black, Aberdeen University & Uist; Thomas MacKinnon, Beauly, and Finlay MacLennan, Beauly.
Alba women’s squad from: Sarah-Jane Ferguson, Skye Camanachd; Christina MacDonald, Skye Camanachd; Joanne Ford, Ardnamurchan; Claire Ford, Ardnamurchan; Rachel Ford, Ardnamurchan; Molly MacKinnon, Skye Camanachd; Lucy MacLeod, Camanachd Leòdhais; Izzy Law, Skye Camanachd; Mairi Duncan, Lochaber; Caitlin Maclean, Skye Camanachd; Lisa Ford, Ardnamurchan; Annie MacDonald, Ardnamurchan; Orla McCarthy, Glasgow Mid Argyll; Alison MacVicar, Uddingston; Kate Bradley, Ardnamurchan; Lilidh Campbell, Skye Camanachd; Claire Delaney, Lochaber; Katherine Dibble, Skye Camanachd; Karen MacKinnon, Oban, and Holly Maclean, Skye Camanachd.