HOLDERS Glenurquhart will miss out on an appearance in the RBS MacTavish Cup final for the first time in four years after losing 2-0 in Saturday’s semi-final against Newtonmore at the Eilan.
Newtonmore manager PJ MacKintosh started his international full-back Steven MacDonald up front, replacing the injured Glen MacKintosh. However, it was the Glen, with former Inverness Caley goalkeeper Mike Fraser taking the place of the absent Fraser Heath, who made the livelier start and More keeper Owen Fraser made an important stop in the opening minutes.
The scoreline remained 0-0 until just before the break when a slip by Glen half-back Lewis Maclennan allowed Paul MacArthur’s long free hit to find More striker Evan Menzies and he put his side ahead with a neat finish.
The second half saw Newtonmore take a tighter grip on the game but stuffy Glen defending kept them at bay until once again the visitors were undone by a set-piece. This time Glen’s Eddie Tembo was penalised and from the resulting free hit, newly-minted front man MacDonald was able to knock the ball low past Glen keeper Stuart MacKintosh for the goal that confirmed his side’s presence in the MacTavish final.
For Glen manager Billy MacLean, the disappointment of defeat was mitigated somewhat by the fact his side had competed well against the Marine Harvest Premier League champions.
“Of course it’s disappointing to lose our crown but we can be reasonably pleased with our overall performance,” he said. “It didn’t help that we were short of one or two top players but then Newtonmore were in the same boat. As always, our focus will now be on next week’s fixture.”
That fixture will be against Lochaber, the other side which will contest the MacTavish Cup final at Inverness’s Bught Park on Saturday, June 11. That they will do so is thanks to a spirited performance at Spean Bridge which saw them defeat Kingussie 2-1. The match was spoiled somewhat as a contest when King’s Fraser Munro was red-carded for a foul on Lochaber’s Jack Dignan early on.
The main action in this game was reserved until after half-time. Lochaber opened the scoring after 63 minutes via wing-centre Pat Toal who fired an angled drive past Kingussie keeper Craig Dawson
Lochaber doubled their lead soon afterwards through Stuart Callison but, in a late fightback by Kings, Savio Genini scored with an excellent first-time volley and Lochaber keeper Callum MacDonald was forced to make two crucial saves in what was a nervy last quarter for the home side.
In the GCC Celtic Society Cup semi-finals, Inveraray once again proved their credentials as a good cup side by coming from a goal behind to defeat Glasgow Mid Argyll 2-1 thanks to second-half goals by Lewis MacNicol and Andrew McMurdo. They will face either Oban Camanachd or Kyles Athletic in final at Taynuilt on June 25.
In the Marine Harvest Premiership, Kyles top the table on goal difference after a 3-1 victory at Fort William. Robbie MacLeod, Innes MacDonald and Dunkie Kerr scored for Kyles after Bryan Simpson had hit the opener for Fort, who remain in bottom spot.
Kinlochshiel also had to come from behind to beat visitors Oban Camanachd 2-1. Scott MacMillan gave Oban a first-half lead but a Jordan Fraser penalty and a goal from Keith MacRae earned both points for Shiel, who are now second.
In the remaining Premier League match of the afternoon, Skye and Lovat drew 0-0 in Portree.
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