Mowi Premiership
Skye Camanachd 4 Oban Camanachd 0
Oban Camanachd suffered their heaviest defeat of the season when they went down
to Skye Camanachd at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Skye’s James Pringle was a late call-off when he failed to shake off a foot injury
whilst Neil MacVicar recovered from a heavy cold to start in attack.
William MacKinnon lined-up at full centre but he will miss Skye’s final match of the season against Kingussie at the Dell for passing through the disciplinary points threshold.
A minute’s silence was obseved ahead of throw-up to mark the passing of former Skye
Camanachd player and club vice-president Richard ‘Ditchie’ Stoddart.
Skye manager Kenny MacLeod had been critical of his side for their slow start against Kyles the previous week but the islanders were a different prospect this time around.
Attacking from the start, the hosts put early pressure on Oban keeper Cammy Sutherland who made an early save with his foot from Jordan Murchison and then used both feet to keep out William MacKinnon’s effort before sweeping the ball away for a hit-in.
Skye broke the deadlock on 18 minutes. James Gillies played the ball forward from
the left and with Jordan Murchison closing them down, the Oban defence was unable to clear their lines.
Neil MacVicar touched the ball to Ross MacKinnon who put it by the keeper.
The second half was just a couple of minutes old when Ross Gordon, in a central position, spotted an overlapping Neil MacVicar to his right and the latter’s glorious
strike on the run flew into the top corner of the net to the keeper’s left to make it 2-0.
The game threatened to boil over at times and referee Iain Kennedy had his work cut
out to keep matters on an even keel.
Skye had something to play for, as they still required a point to secure their place in the Premiership for next season.
They were awarded a penalty when substitute Archie Millar was brought down after cutting into the ‘D’ from the right. Ross Gordon sent the spot-hit low by the keeper’s feet and it was 3-1 with 79 minutes played.
A couple of minutes later, Ross MacKinnon got his second goal of the game after good lead-up play from Ross Gordon and Archie Millar.
Speaking after the game Skye boss Kenny MacLeod said: “I sometimes wonder if we are a cup team as we keep our best performances for games when the chips are down and we have to win. We didn’t want to leave it for other teams to decide our fate and we lit a fire under the players this week and they responded perfectly.
“We didn’t speak about winning. The message was not to lose the game because
not losing is what we needed to do and what a performance. Everyone was terrific.
“Young Seonaidh MacLeod has come into the defence over the last couple of games. I know he’ll have ups and downs along the way, but he looks like a seasoned
Premiership player. He was unbelievable.”
Kyles Athletic 5 Kinlochshiel 0
Kinlochshiel hadn’t played for three weeks and they travelled without keeper Josh
Grant, defender Conor Cormack and the versatile WD MacRae.
Second team keeper Calum Macmillan was in goal and veteran Paul MacRae and youngster Arran Jack were also included.
The rain during the week left the pitch heavy but playable.
Kinlochshiel had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot, but John Whyte made a great save with his feet to keep out Jordan Fraser’s spot-hit.
Kyles built up a two-goal interval lead with goals late in the half from Will Cowie on
40 minutes and Conor Kennedy on 45 minutes.
There was still action at both ends, with both goalies making good saves, but Ross
Macrae’s strike on 70 minutes and Scott Macdonald’s third over the last two
matches a minute later, put Kyles out of sight. Conor Kennedy got his second on 76 minutes to round off the 5-0 win.
Whilst Kyles clearly deserved the triumph, the final outcome was harsh on Kinlochshiel who had chances in the game.
Mowi National Division
Kilmallie 6 Strathglass 1
Kilmallie fielded a young side for their final match of the season and they made their mark in a win over Strathglass at Canal Park.
Kilmallie suffered a blow after around 20 minutes when Calum MacDougall was
forced off with what was later confirmed to be a dislocated shoulder.
Ben MacKinnon was pushed up front and scored his first goal of the season on 24 minutes and although Ruairidh Strachan restored parity on 41 minutes, Seamus
Macfarlane put the home side back in front a couple of minutes later.
Shane O’Rua made it 4-1 on 52 minutes with Ben MacKinnon getting his second on
the hour.
Aidan Love added a late brace with efforts on 74 and 78 minutes to make the final
score 6-1.
Kilmallie fielded seven teenagers over the course of the game with Aidan Love, aged 19;
Ben MacKinnon, 18; Shane O’Rua, 16, and Seamus Macfarlane, 16, making up
their forward line for a good hour of the game. The other teens were Archie MacNiven, Jack Campbell and Sam MacRae who all impressed.
Youths Kyle Nolan and Alexander MacNiven have also featured this season although
they didn’t play on Saturday.
Mowi North Division 1
Skye Camanachd P Kinlochshiel P
Skye Camanachd second team’s meeting with the Kinlochshiel second team at
Pairc nan Laoch, Portree, was postponed on Saturday morning.
With the Skye seniors playing Oban Camanachd later in the afternoon, the pitch was
unable to take two games.
Women’s Camanachd Association
Area representative matches
The Women’s Camanachd Association representative matches took place in Oban
on Sunday October 1.
East 0 West 5
Lorna MacRae grabbed a first half hat-trick for the West before scoring twice more in
the second half.
Caitlin Maclean skippered the West side and raised the trophy.
East under-16 11 West under-16 1
Earlier in the day, the East under-16s were too strong for the West under-16s.
Isla McNeil scored four times for the East with Isla Strachan and Kamryn Hughes
both grabbing hat-tricks and Lexi Farquhar also on target. Lexie Cameron countered for the West.
The afternoon event was sponsored by the Macaulay Association.
Youth shinty
Representative Matches
North U14 8 South U14 1
The North under-14s beat the South under-14s to win the Fraser MacPhee Memorial Trophy at An Aird, Fort William, on Sunday.
All the first half goals came during a six minute spell with Louie MacLellan on 29 minutes and Jacob Bain giving the North a two-goal lead a couple of minutes later.
An own goal a minute later pulled the South back into it but James Coyle on 33
minutes and Joe Coyle on 35 minutes had the North 4-1 up at the break.
Louie MacLellan got his second on 45 minutes with Ali Taylor on 55 minutes and
Toby Thain three minutes later pushing the North out of sight. James Coyle got his second on the hour to make the final score 8-1.
North U17 4 South U17 1
Kilmallie’s Shane O’Rua grabbed a hat-trick as the North under-17s came from behind to beat the South under-17s at An Aird on Sunday.
Oban Celtic’s Ewen Campbell fired the South in front after just a couple of minutes
but O’Rua turned the tie the North’s way with efforts on 30 and 38 minutes.
O’Rua completed his hat-trick on 68 minutes and Newtonmore’s Tristan Ross
added a fourth three minutes later.
After the final whistle, North skipper Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod from Skye Camanachd
was presented with the trophy.
Featured image: Rosemary MacPhee, left, and Arran MacPhee, right, with the North U14 Representative Team which won the Fraser MacPhee Memorial Trophy on Sunday. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos. NO_F40_Shinty_FraserMacPheeMemorialWinners_NorthU14s