Lovat win another trophy under new boss
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LOVAT’S new manager Allan MacRae lifted his second piece of silverware in just four matches since taking over at the start of the year.
In his first match in charge, MacRae’s side retained the Lovat Cup with a 3-1 win over arch rivals Beauly. On Saturday, MacRae then watched his side successfully defend the Thomas Ferguson Cup with a 4-3 triumph against Skye in Portree.
The match was as close as the scoreline suggests and Lovat needed to stage a second half fightback after trailing 3-1 at the interval.
On a heavy and strength-sapping pitch, flowing shinty simply was not possible, but nevertheless both sets of players served up an enthralling encounter.
Lovat struck first with Greg Matheson scoring in the third minute, but Skye responded quickly with Danny Morrison levelling only seven minutes later.
Skye dominated their higher league opponents after that and goals from Jordan Murchison and Gilleasbuig MacDonald gave them a comfortable lead at the break.
MacRae made some significant positional changes for the second half with Drew Howie moving to midfield and James MacPherson deployed higher up the field at wing forward.
These alteration certainly had the desired impact with MacPherson hitting a double and Matheson striking the winner to seal the tie.
Meanwhile, Glenurquhart entertained Premier League rivals Fort William and struggled to find the fluency which had characterised their play in their two previous friendlies as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat.
A Gary Innes strike in the 30th minute was all that separated the sides at full-time, but the Glen’s inability to capitalise on some good approach play will be a concern to new manager Drew MacNeil.
On the plus side, MacNeil was able to welcome back long-term injury victims Eddie Tembo and David Girvan, while Arran MacDonald also came back into the fray.
This will be a pleasing result for the Fort with manager Peter MacIntyre facing a rebuilding exercise after the close season retiral of playing legends Adam Robertson, John MacLeod and James Clark.
In other friendlies, Kingussie beat Oban Camanachd 3-1, while Lovat’s reserve side put the league’s newest recruits Strathspey Camanachd to the sword with a 7-1 success.
Beauly defeated Glenurquhart 3-0 in a reserve tussle at Braeview while in the south, Kyles Athletic overcame Glasgow Mid Argyll 5-2 at Yoker.
