Lovat through but Glen go out
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BOTH Lovat and Glenurquhart found it tough going in the first round of the Artemis Macaulay Cup with the Kiltarlity side requiring extra-time to dispose of Kinlochshiel, while the Glen went down 1-0 to National League side Fort William.
Glenurquhart’s quest to lift the only regionally-based trophy in senior shinty came unstuck against a feisty Fort side, who belied their lower league status to pull off a deserved win.
Glen, hoping for a repeat of their famous Macaulay Cup triumph in 2012 which included a 3-0 win over the Fort at the semi-final stage, were left bereft at the end of a match where their lack of firepower was crucial factor.
Fort’s under-17 star Arran MacPhee swept home a rebound off Glen goalkeeper Stuart MacKintosh in the 73rd minute and then the home side dug in to deny the Glen in the final quarter of the match. MacPhee’s elder brother Niall was red carded for his part in a second half dust up.
The Glen’s defeat ended hopes of a quarter-final derby clash with Lovat, who were once again taken all the way by Kinlochshiel.
Both teams were left counting the cost with Lovat’s Craig Mainland forced out with a serious hand injury that may keep him sidelined for the Premiership clash with Glenurquhart on Saturday.
Mainland’s replacement Graeme MacMillan was later involved in a coming together with ‘Shiel full back Paul MacRae, which resulted in MacRae being taken off with what was later diagnosed as a broken arm.
Lovat started briskly and with barely 10 minutes gone won a penalty when Lorne MacKay was upended in the box, but Greg Matheson fired the resultant spot-hit over the bar.
Lovat danger man Matheson was well policed by ‘Shiel’s Finlay MacRae, but his strike partner Lorne MacKay broke free from his marker to forge the opener in the 37th minute.
The hosts continued to have the edge, but ‘Shiel levelled with Duncan MacRae on target midway through the second half.
With the match forced into extra time, Kevin Bartlett hit the winner in the 103rd minute to maintain his recent goal a game strike rate.
Last year’s beaten finalists Newtonmore were gifted home advantage when Kilmallie’s Canal parks pitch was deemed unplayable and went on to fully exploit their opponent’s misfortune, coasting to a 4-0 victory courtesy of doubles from Fraser and Glen MacKintosh.
Meanwhile, Kingussie’s 1-0 win over Lochaber at Spean Bridge, with Fraser Munro scoring late on, sets them on course for a quarter-final clash with Badenoch rivals Newtonmore.
In the south section, current trophy holders Kyles Athletic thrashed Argyll-shire neighbours Inveraray 5 -1 at the Winterton with Roddy MacDonald scoring a hat-trick.
Kyles’ other goals came from David and Robert Zavaroni with a Garry MacPherson penalty conversion a small consolation for a disappointing Royal Burgh side.
Kyles will now face Glasgow Mid Argyll in the quarter-final after the Yoker side proved too strong for Bute, winning 4-1 with Angus MacKintosh hitting a double.
Wins for Oban Camanachd and Glenorchy over Aberdour and Taynuilt respectively set up the other south pairing.
Inverness proved too strong for North Division Two side Lochcarron, eliminating the Battery Park side from the RBS MacTavish Cup Plate competition with a 4-2 away win.
The city club went into the match with former Lochcarron player Mark Sproule suspended, but there was a memorable homecoming for another former Lochcarron player, John MacLennan, who was twice on target for the visitors.
Dougie Rankin also struck twice with Lochcarron responding courtesy of a Kenny Cushnie double. Inverness now face Skye for a place in the final.
In Marine Harvest North Division One, Strathglass surrendered their 100 per cent record after being held 3-3 at home by Beauly. But it the end it was a case of a point won after the Claret and Blues staged a strong second half fight back having trailed 3-1 at the interval.
Beauly were first on the scoreboard with Sandy Elrick hitting the target in the 16th minute. An Ally MacAdam penalty conversion four minutes later levelled for the Strath, but Beauly pulled away with Jamie MacLennan and Ewan Campbell on the scoresheet.
Strathglass dominated after the break and MacAdam was again on target from the spot before Robbie Stokes struck the equaliser with just nine minutes remaining.
Lovat won their first league match of the season when they beat Newtonmore 1 -0 at the Eilan with Rory Campbell scoring two minutes from time.
Skye extended their lead at the top and retain their 100 per cent record after overcoming Kingussie 1-0 with Jonathon Maclennan hitting the only goal of the match.
In North Division Two, Boleskine got their league campaign back on track with a 2 – 1 win over Aberdeen University with Lewis Smith’s two goals in the dying minutes securing the points.
