Strath boss Duff given three-game ban
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STRATHGLASS manager Callum Duff has been hit with a three-match ban for his remarks to referee Innes Wood at the end of the club’s recent MacTavish Cup match in Beauly.
It is understood that Wood brandished two red cards during the heated argument that followed and his report on the incident was deemed sufficiently serious for the Camanachd Association to convene a meeting of the behaviour in sport committee.
Duff and a representative of the club were summoned to appear in front of the committee on Friday night to hear their decision to suspend him for three matches and fine the club £100.
Duff, a former referee and current board member of the Camanachd Association, will be banned from the Strath dressing room and dugout on a match day.
Meanwhile, another case may be looming for the association’s behaviour in sport committee following a stormy North Division Three encounter between Boleskine and Lochcarron at Farr.
The match was transferred to Smith Park after Lochcarron’s New Battery Park pitch failed an early Saturday morning pitch inspection.
It is believed referee Rah Douglas felt that the level of abuse aimed at him from both sets of players and supporters was so intolerable that he no option but to abandon the match.
Officials and players from both clubs persuaded him to resume the game, but at the end of the contest, which Lochcarron won 4-1, he is understood to have confirmed to both sets of players that he intended resigning as a referee.
His report will be in the hands of the association this week and there could be serious implications for both clubs.
The incidents of indiscipline overshadowed matters on the field on a weekend when half of the fixtures were cancelled because of rain-sodden pitches.
The worst affected was the opening round of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup where three of the six ties failed to go ahead.
Inverness slipped out of the competition, losing by the slenderest of margins to Glenorchy, who booked their passage into round two courtesy of Steve Turner’s penalty conversion in the 67th minute.
Inverness were then reduced to 11-men when Mark Sproule was dismissed for two yellow card offences.
Elsewhere, Strachur and Skye are through at the expense of Kilmory and Taynuilt respectively.
The second round draw took place yesterday with Lovat facing an away tie at Kingussie, while Glenurquhart are also on their travels as they head to Lochaber. Beauly or Strathglass will have home advantage if they get through after they were given a tie against Oban Camanachd.
The other round two matches, which will take place on Saturday 1st June, are as follows:
Kyles Athletic v Inveraray; Newtonmore v Strachur; Fort William v Kilmallie or Glasgow Mid Argyll; Skye v Kinlochshiel; Caberfeidh or Oban Celtic v Glenorchy.
Meanwhile, Lovat are the new leaders of the Orion Premiership following a superb 2-1 win over Camanachd Cup champions Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich — the club’s first victory at the iconic Argyllshire venue in their 125-year history.
Lovat’s victory capped an eventful day for the Kiltarlity club whose passage south was delayed by two accidents meaning that the throw-up time was delayed by two and-a-half hours.
Despite the less than ideal preparations for the match, Lovat were first to strike with Lorne MacKay on target in the 13th minute. Zac Coley levelled for Kyles minutes later and it was the home side, backed by a strong wind, who went on to dominate the first half.
Lovat survived, although Kyles attack was blunted by the absence of Roddy MacDonald, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
The visitors, however, enjoyed the bulk of possession after the interval and with just 16 minutes remaining Owen Ferguson grabbed the winner.
Glenurquhart continued their recovery from their poor start to the season and extended their winning run to four matches after a 2-1 home win over Kingussie.
On a pitch badly affected by heavy overnight rain, the Glen were worthy winners, but put their supporters through the agonies as they allowed Kingussie back into the match in the final 10 minutes.
The home side were indebted to goalkeeper Stuart MacKintosh, who made a stunning close range save to deny Kingussie a foothold in the game.
However, a result other than a Glen win would have been a travesty as they had dominated possession with Kingussie rarely seen as an attacking force.
The Glen’s midfield dominance led to the first goal when David Smart beat his marker to a knock down from Neale Reid to fire home from 20 yards in the 34th minute.
Six minutes later, Ewan Brady applied a precise finish to another sweeping Glen move to send his side in at half-time well in control of the match.
Glenurquhart continued to enjoy territorial dominance without seriously threatening Craig Dawson in the Kingussie goal, before Thomas Borthwick set home nerves on edge as he calmly converted a last minute penalty for the visitors.
Basement clubs Oban Camanachd and Lochaber battled out a highly entertaining 3-3 draw at Mossfield — a result, given their status as relegation candidates, does little to help either club’s efforts to beat the drop.
The first half provided plenty of drama, but ended with honours even at 2-2,Gary Lord and Andrew MacCuish on target for the home side, while Ben Delaney and Neil MacDonald responded for Lochaber.
MacDonald and MacCuish scored again after the interval with Oban scoring three minutes from time to rescue a point.
THE Camanachd Association will hold a general meeting later this month to determine if shinty’s governing body can implement a new National First Division in time for next season.
Skye were originally against the proposals to establish an eight-team Premiership and the same number of teams in a National First Division set-up, but were refused a motion to call a vote on the matter at association’s recent annual general meeting.
Major clubs such as Newtonmore, Kingussie and Kyles Athletic backed Skye’s stance and after they posted papers requesting a meeting to vote on the proposals, one will now take place on Friday 17th May at the Ben Nevis Hotel, Fort William, starting at 7.30pm.
If the vote goes against the association it will retain the current league model for next season, while the board will carry out further consultation into developing a new league structure.
