Shinty: Five-in-row hopefuls Kingussie enjoy MacTavish Cup win against Skye

Kingussie kept on track for a fifth successive WM Donald MacTavish Cup success after beating Skye Camanachd 3-1 in Portree.

Dylan Borthwick’s 25-yard strike gave the Kings an interval lead and although Jordan Murchison’s goal following a great Jamie Gillies ball from the right drew Skye level soon after half-time, Thomas Borthwick scored straight from a hit-in on the left just before Calum McLay turned home a rebound to seal the win.

Kingussie manager Ronald Ross was pleased with the win and said: “We wouldn’t have hand-picked this tie when the draw was made as Skye are tough opponents on their own patch.

“We had the wind in the first half and should have been further ahead at the break, but I don’t think anyone could say we didn’t deserve the win overall.

“We have players giving their all whilst not fully fit so there’s definitely more to come from this side.”

All the goals came in the first half as Alfie MacLeod punished defensive lapses to give Glenurquhart an early lead against Newtonmore at Blairbeg.

However, Iain Robinson’s superb volley, high into the net, Euan Dingwall’s tap-in following Duncan MacPherson’s corner and Declan Brannan’s waltz through the home defence after a Euan Dingwall corner all came before referee Steven MacLachlan’s half-time whistle to secure More’s 3-1 win.

Player-manager Iain MacLeod, deputising for Stuart MacKintosh, was more than impressive in the Glen goal, making a number of fine saves.

Newtonmore manager Peter Ross said: “We started slowly and lost a bad goal when we could have defended much better. Rory Kennedy and Steven Macdonald played well whilst Matthew Sloss and Iain Robinson were stand-outs.

“We deserved the win, but Glenurquhart had their chances, and this is as fit a Glen side as I’ve seen for a while.”

Caberfeidh came from behind to beat Fort William 2-1 as Ali Taylor and Cameron Grant cancelled out Lachie Shaw’s early opener.

A delighted Caberfeidh boss Garry Reid said: “I’m so pleased to get the win. The game was pretty stop-start in the first half, and we reacted well to going a goal down, with Ali Taylor scoring his fifth MacTavish Cup goal of the season.

“We played well in the second half, and their goalkeeper Paul MacKay pulled off at least three top class saves from efforts that were goal bound.

“Cameron Grant played well in the game, and it was fitting that he popped up in the D to hit the winner. It’s good for the club and exciting for the team to be in a semi-final, and we’ll wait and see who our opposition will be.”

Greg Matheson, so often the scourge of Beauly in their annual Lovat Cup encounters, struck again on 35 minutes to give Lovat a 1-0 victory over their local rivals.

Col Glen too strong for Bute

Col Glen beat Bute 5-2 to win through to the Scottish Sea Farms Glasgow Celtic Society Challenge Cup semi-finals. Neilly Mcnaughton and Sam Bulloch had Col Glen two-up at the interval and Cally Mcnaughton, Chris Blair and Jamie MacVicar added to their count with Robert Lowrie and Josh Cowan replying.

Inveraray stunned higher-league opponents Kyles Athletic, coming from two goals down to win 6-3 in their quarter-final tie at The Winterton.

Coll MacKay’s treble, Fraser Watt’s double, one from the penalty spot, and a goal from Ruaraidh Graham (junior) out-gunned counters from Scott Macdonald, Luke Thornton and Dunkie Kerr.

Oban Camanachd went third in the Mowi Premiership after overcoming Kinlochshiel 3-0 at Taynuilt. Daniel MacVicar broke the deadlock just before the break and his second came just after Ross Campbell’s goal on the hour to secure a deserved win.

Kilmallie claimed their first Mowi National Division win of the season, 4-0 against Glasgow Mid Argyll. Calum MacDougall and Shane O’Rua’s bullet-shot counted before Martin Stewart struck twice, either side of the break.

[Source: Press and Journal]