EASTER GAMES AND RONALDO'S RETURN

Oban Celtic v Strachur - pic by John MacTavish

Last week was some week of shinty. 

Cup upsets, cracking games and the return of shinty's answer to Lionel Messi (alright, alright - perhaps more like Gary Lineker).

And there's more to look forward to this weekend.

Where do I start?

Now, as you know, Shintyfan is not one to boast - but we did last week predict a potential banana skin for Orion Premiership side Lovat as they took on Beauly - performing a league below - in the MacTavish Cup.

And slip they did.
 
Lovat travelled to Braeview to face the north division one leaders in a fairly lofty league position themselves - unbeaten and second only to Newtonmore at shinty's summit.
They duly took the lead early through Owen Ferguson. They went in at half-time 2-1 up. But despite extending their lead to 3-1 after Ferguson's 49-minute second goal of the game, the young Balgate side lost the midfield battle and shipped three goals in the final half hour to exit the competition - losing 3-2. Beauly's hero was Jamie MacLennan, who scored the winner with ten minutes remaining.

Kinlochshiel entertained Kingussie in an all-premier tie in the same competition - and succumbed 6-2. This all-too-rare win for the Badenoch men was due in no small part to the return to action of goal-machine Ronald Ross, who donated a second half hat-trick to the victory margin.
How important is that man to that team - even with dodgy legs?

Other MacTavish winners were Skye, Glenurquhart and Lochaber.

The oldest competition in shinty - the AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup (phew) - also got under way, and there were few surprises. Bute made the journey to Dalmally to comfortably see off Glenorchy 4-1. Aberdour narrowly overcame Glasgow Mid Argyll 1-0 in an all south division one contest. In another game involving teams from this league, Oban Celtic overcame a much-depleted Strachur team 4-0 at sunny Mossfield Park. So shorn of players due to other commitments was the Loch Fyne-side club that fifty-something manager Donald 'Donut' MacDonald was forced to take to the field between the sticks.

In the Sutherland Cup, the long trip to the Isle of Bute was worth it as Skye came back across the Kyles of Bute with a 2-0 win to take home to the Misty Isle.

Away from the cup action, Inveraray secured an away victory over Kilmallie in the Orion Premiership, thanks to a goal in either half from Garry Macpherson and Neil Campbell.  It was another hard fought victory for the Argyll men who despite creating several chances failed to put the game to bed until ten minutes from time.

Perhaps the game of the day (nah - forget the 'perhaps') was at the Eilan, where Newtonmore entertained the team that has pushed them closest in recent times - Kyles Athletic.
The famous Argyll club these days functions on player resources that are thinner than perhaps at any time in its history. But what the team lacks in numbers it makes up for in enthusiasm and running.
A good run of form for a strong Newtonmore side has taken them to the top of the Orion Premiership - but an equally impressive series of Kyles results saw them tucked just behind 'More at the top, with a game in hand.
Newtonmore took the lead early through their answer to Ronald Ross - Danny MacRae. The lead lasted a few minutes before a feisty Cowal side levelled matters with a goal by Thomas Whyte.  As the pace flowed fast and furious, the game was level at the break. A second Macrae strike was cancelled out by a goal from Fort William recruit Ewen Campbell for Kyles.
Chris Sellar's 71-minute goal for Newtonmore looked to have secured the two points, but that was before Norman Campbell's own goal salvaged a point for the Tighnabruaich men.

It's tight at the top - it's Kyles and Newtonmore again. And Kyles still have that game in hand.

In Shintyfan's humble opinion, Newtonmore look the better side of the two at this point in the season. It will take a good team to get the better of them, now they are in their stride.

Kyles? Never write them off, and never more dangerous than when up against it.

However...Kyles must travel this weekend to Kinlochshiel to play a newly-promoted team doing really well in the top division. On paper, Newtonmore have an easier task - entertaining bottom side Kilmallie. Shinty, though, ain't played on paper.

Creeping up quietly on the rails are Fort William, who this Saturday host a stuffy Inveraray side fresh from disposing of Fort's near-neighbours Kilmallie last week. It will be a yellow and black clash with more than a dash of interest.

Elsewhere in the top league, Glenurquhart are at home to Bute in a game that is hard to call. It may well be a close one.

Lovat, fresh from last week's cup exit, might just be hoping that a certain Mr Ross is away shopping for Easter eggs or gazing dreamily at wee spring lambs and daffodils rather than cracking home goals with ruthless efficiency for Kingussie. An entertaining match is in prospect at Balgate.