Mixed fortunes for Glen and Lovat
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
SINCE its introduction in 1896 the Camanachd Cup has produced plenty of drama, but a shock on the scale of Newtonmore’s 8-1 annihilation of current holders Fort William is almost unprecedented.
Fort have won the cup for the past four years and were bidding for their ninth appearance in the final of shinty’s top competition.
And there was little hint of the devastation to follow when the teams came off at half-time with ‘More defending a 1-0 lead courtesy of a 26th minute Steven MacDonald strike.
A Glen MacKintosh effort in the 54th minute opened the floodgates before a devastating burst of scoring saw Danny MacRae hit five and Paul MacArthur grab a single.
Gary Innes knocked in a lone consolation for a shattered Fort William side, who have just two weeks to regroup before they face Kingussie in the final of the MacTavish Cup.
There was mixed fortunes for the local sides Glenurquhart and Lovat. The Glen are out after losing 3- 0 to area league side Kinlochshiel.
Glenurquhart travelled west minus Eddie Tembo and Andy Corrigan, two of their most influential players. Tembo fell heavily in training on Thursday night and looks to have damaged neck muscles.
The absence of Tembo turned out to be blow for the Glen who missed his power in midfield.
The Glen have struggled in the league of late, but they opened well and might have gone ahead in the first half, but Neale Reid missed from the penalty spot.
After that it was all downhill and 'Shiel went on to win the tie comfortably with three second half goals, two from Fraser MacVicar and a third on 90 minutes by Gordon Macdonald.
The all-Premier clash between Glenorchy and Lovat ended in a 1-1 stalemate with Greg Matheson’s first minute goal for Lovat being cancelled out almost immediately by a strike from Glenorchy’s Duncan Smith. Lovat dominated proceedings after that, but were hampered by poor finishing.
With the replay date as yet unfixed these two sides go into the quarter-final draw which will be made by Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean in Pitlochry on Thursday.
Elsewhere. Ronald Ross hit six as Kingussie beat Taynuilt 8-1 and Inveraray eliminated Lochaber 3-0 with Garry MacPherson hitting a goal in each half. Chris Crawford was the other Inveraray scorer.
Kyles Athletic trailed to a Scott MacMillan goal against Oban Camanachd, but doubles from Fraser MacDonald and Roddy MacDonald and a late strike from Duncan Kerr saw them through by 5-2 with Lorne Dickie scoring for the home side.
In the remaining ties Kilmallie triumphed 5 - 1 at Lochcarron with Peter MacIntyre hitting a double and singles from Liam MacDonald, John Stewart and Michael Rodger.
Bute join Kinlochshiel as the only side from outwith the Premier Division after defeating Glasgow Mid Argyll 5-1 in Rothesay, the goals coming from Roberto Zavaroni who hit two, Hector Whitelaw Robert Walker and Graeme Fisher. Fulton Ross was the Glasgow scorer.
In the Marine Harvest Leagues, Inverness move into fourth place in North Division One after taking a point in a 1-1 draw against Strathglass.
The Highland Capital club, looking for a league double over the Cannich side, were first to strike with James Cameron firing home in the 25th minute, but four minutes after the interval the Strath were level with Ewan Weatherspoon hitting the target.
Beauly trailed Skye 1-0 at the interval, but staged a gritty fightback to take full points with a 3-1 victory.
Sorley MacDonald hit the opener for the islanders in the 12th minute, but Beauly slowly forced their way back and Jamie MacLennan hit the equaliser in the 53rd minute.
With the match finely poised, Sean Stewart edged Beauly in front with just 13 minutes remaining. A Jack MacDonald penalty on the stroke of full-time sealed both points for Beauly.
The win moves them level on points with Kinlochshiel at the top of the table, but the Wester Ross side have three games in hand.
In North Division Two, Lovat and Glenurquhart continue to move away from the relegation zone, both winning comfortably against Kilmallie and Skye respectively.
Newtonmore strengthened their grip at the top with a 4-2 win over Glengarry, who had a player sent off in each half.
In North Division Three, Inverness put their recent team-raising difficulties behind them for the visit of Ardnamurchan. Teenager Conor Golabek hit all four of his side’s goals in a 4-1 win.
Aberdeen University, Boleskine and Beauly were the other winners with the students maintaining a five-point gap at the top.
