Shinty: Newtonmore boss praises key player after Kinlochshiel victory

They might have been without shinty’s top scorer Iain Robinson, but Newtonmore brushed that aside to beat Kinlochshiel 2-0 in their Macaulay Cup first round tie at The Eilan.

When Drew MacDonald’s hit-in dropped between the penalty spot and the D, Conor Jones slipped the ball back to Brodie MacBean who finished with a half-swing.

Second half substitute Struan Ross, just minutes on the field, won possession before beating a couple of defenders to add a second.

Newtonmore manager Peter Ross said: “We missed some chances, but we were very good in defence, especially Rory Kennedy and I was impressed by Shiel’s Ali Nixon.

Shiel boss Willie MacRae added: “We were okay in the first half, but we lost our way after that, even with the wind in our favour.

“Jay MacRae went close near the end, but we didn’t create enough. Rory Kennedy and Drew MacDonald were good for Newtonmore whilst young Arron Jack was best for us.”

Holders Kingussie recovered from the loss of Stuart Callison’s early goal to beat Lochaber 6-2.

Max Campbell was also on target for the visitors but braces from Roddy Young and the returning James Falconer as well as strikes from Ruaridh Anderson and Savio Genini sent Kingussie through to a quarter-final tie against neighbours Newtonmore.

Kingussie manager Ronald Ross said: “Lochaber are well organised as you’d expect under Ally Ferguson and in Max Campbell at full forward, they have a real focal point.

“Their young goalkeeper Joey MacKay had an excellent game, particularly in the first half when he made a series of excellent saves.

“We should have been out of sight in the first half, but Lochaber scored the next goal before having their best spell of the game. However, two James Falconer goals, the second a fantastic volley, followed by a spectacular Savio Genini strike rounded off a strong win.”

Fort William avenged their MacTavish Cup defeat to Caberfeidh with a 2-0 win at Castle Leod.

Brothers Lachie Shaw and Hamish Shaw scored in each half whilst Caberfeidh keeper Kevin Bartlett saved a Mark Fraser penalty.

Fort manager Scott McNeil said: “It was an excellent game, and their keeper Kevin Bartlett made some outstanding saves.

“We had that fire in the belly though and I thought we were worthy winners.”

Fort William now visit the victors from the tie between Lovat and Skye in the next round.

Oban ‘lacked intensity’

Daniel Maccuish’s penalty put Oban Camanachd ahead against Inveraray, but Coll MacKay lost his marker to level.

Lewis Cameron both created and scored the Oban side’s second before producing a calm finish for his second and Camanachd’s third goal.

Oban assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: “Take nothing away from Inveraray, a well-drilled side who were well up for it, but this was probably our worst performance of the season, particularly in the second half.

We lacked intensity, took too many touches, got too involved in the physical side of things and just didn’t play as a team.”

Two stoppage time goals gave Kyles Athletic a 5-2 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll at Tighnabruaich. Ross Brown and Calum Morrison scored for GMA, but Luke Thornton and Ethan Kerr both bagged braces and Scott Macdonald the other to send Kyles through.

Aberdour and Bute both beat higher league opposition to reach the quarter-finals. Aberdour triumphed 2-1 at National Division side Oban Celtic. Celtic’s Duncan MacEwan wiped out David Murray’s opener before David Mackenzie grabbed the winner. Bute beat Premiership side Col Glen 3-1. Josh Cowan scored twice and Robert Lowrie the other for the Islanders with Murray McClymont replying late on.

Aberdour host Kyles in the last-eight and Bute are off to Oban Camanachd.

Lovat closed the gap on Mowi National Division leaders Glenurquhart to two points with a game in hand following a 3-2 derby win over Beauly.

Greg Matheson, Marc MacLachlan and Lewis Tawse cancelled out two counters from Conor Ross.

[Source: Press and Journal]