SHINTY’S leading sides all made it safely through to next week’s quarter-final draw for the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup, with second-round action dominating the weekend card.
Kinlochshiel rediscovered their winning touch when they beat Oban Camanachd 4-1 to avenge last season’s defeat at the same stage.
Shiel manager Johnston Gill was relieved to see off a young Oban side and thought his team played well, particularly in the first half. He said: “It was a beautiful day and, in keeping with the sunshine, I thought we played some sparkling shinty. We got off to a great start and I think we caught them unawares. We scored twice in the first 10 minutes and that gives you a platform for the rest of the match.”
Gill was fulsome in his praise for Iain Hay’s Oban side, saying: “In fairness, they stuck to the task and came back at us fairly strongly. They got a goal back and at that point there was very little between the teams.
“Because of the heat, both sides took a pre-planned hydration break and for some reason I thought they lost their momentum after that. We scored another couple of goals before half-time and it was game over.”
Keith MacRae notched a hat-trick and Jordan Fraser was the other Shiel scorer. Andrew McCuish struck for Oban.
Gill can now look forward to the cottages.com MacTavish Cup final in Inverness in two weeks’ time, though they have a league match against Glenurquhart on Saturday to deal with first.
Gill said: “Our defeat against Newtonmore last Saturday was disappointing and I felt the boys had an eye on the final and were trying avoid injury or bookings. On Saturday, I made it clear that while winning the MacTavish would be excellent for the club, the Camanachd Cup is more important and they needed to be at their best. I have to say they responded well.”
The sport’s top five clubs will now vie for a semi-final berth. Holders Newtonmore got through courtesy of a 60th minute Steven MacDonald strike in their 1-0 defeat of Lochaber at Spean Bridge.
They were missing top scorers Glen MacKintosh and Evan Menzies and manager Paul John MacKintosh will be happy to see MacDonald almost fully recovered from a viral illness that has kept him out of the squad since the beginning of the season.
Kyles Athletic were convincing 3-1 winners against Glenurquhart in Drumnadrochit, with Roddy MacDonald hitting a hat-trick.
Lovat, runners-up last year,ended Skye’s interest in the competition with a 3-0 victory in Portree. A goal from Mark MacLachan had Lovat ahead at the break and two in a minute from Greg Matheson and Lorne MacKay left no way back for the islanders.
Area league side Bute produced a shock when they beat Beauly from the National Division 2-0 in Rothesay with second-half goals from Iain MacDonald and Thomas Morrison.
Fort William eased past Oban Celtic at An Aird with a 3-2 win.
Inveraray and Kilmallie face a replay after a goal-less draw at the Winterton.
In the only match in the Marine Harvest Premiership, Kingussie moved up the table with a 4-1 win over Caberfeidh at the Dell.
Doubles from Savio Genini and Rhuaridh Anderson secured the Kings’ second win in a row to ease their relegation concerns.
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