KINLOCHSHIEL posted a clear notice of intent in the Marine Harvest Premiership with a solid 4-2 away victory over Lovat at Kiltarlity.
Having grabbed both points in the opening week of the season courtesy of a last minute strike from internationalist Keith Macrae in a 3-2 victory over Oban, Shiel are now the only side in shinty’s top division with full points from the season’s opening fixtures.
That is a situation which delights ‘Shiel manager Johnstone Gill who returned for second spell in the top job during the close season. Gill now faces the task of bringing more trophies to a side which tasted senior success for the first time in the club’s history last season when they won the Macaulay Cup.
“Our performance, particularly up front, at times was first-class. We moved the ball well and always created chances.
“Last week’s injury to defender Mark Macdonald meant that Donald Nixon had to step back from the centreline to pick up Lovat’s Lorne Mackay, and he had an excellent game in a position he is not used to.
“Its early days yet in this league but so far things are on track.”
For opponents Lovat, however, the focus must be on shoring up defensive frailties given that for the second week in a row they went seriously behind before managing to stop the rot and get their own game back together. Against Kinlochshiel, the Kiltarlity men were three down by the half way mark, though to be fair each of the goals were lost to excellent strikes.
The first came in the 10th minute when after some neat interpassing the ball was cut back to Keith Macrae and he blasted a waist-high shot past Lovat goalkeeper Stuart Macdonald.
Full forward John Macrae then got ‘Shiel’s second goal midway through the half when he used his strength to force his way through two tackles before scoring from distance. Their third followed soon via Jordan Fraser who first-timed a slack clearance back past the Lovat defence into the net.
Whatever manager Fraser Gallacher said in the half-time dressing room certainly resulted in an improved second-half display from his side. They began to get quicker ball through to their frontmen and pressurise the ‘Shiel defence.
A cut-back from a free hit in 57 minutes saw winger Graham Macmillan snatch a goal back for the home side and then they were denied a second when a flowing move saw Lewis Tawse knock the ball past Kinlochshiel keeper Graeme Kennedy only for the strike to be controversially ruled offside. Straight from the resulting hit out ‘Shiel capitalised on Lovat’s confusion, scoring at the other end through Keith Macrae who notched his second goal of the afternoon to make it 4-1.
Lovat rallied after Gallacher changed his forward formation from the traditional north diamond to the southern two-and-two and this paid dividends with Greg Matheson netting an excellent strike 15 minutes from time. Despite further late pressure, however, Lovat failed to get any more change out of a defence which stood firm to secure both points.
The result was a particularly good one for ‘Shiel given that six-time Premier champions Newtonmore dropped a valuable point in a 1-1 draw with Glenurquhart at Drumnadrochit. The Glen took an early lead through Daniel Mackintosh and Newtonmore had to wait until late in the second half when a strike from veteran Norman Campbell produced the equaliser.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Kilmallie shared the points in a goal-less draw at Kingussie, while Oban Camanachd comprehensively defeated Lochaber 7-0 at Mossfield.
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