Sunshine and skill took centre stage across the shinty fields of Scotland this weekend as clubs from the Highlands to the Lowlands delivered a feast of goals, grit, and glory.
Caberfeidh and Glenurquhart split their Mowi Premiership double-header, with Glenurquhart clinching a clinical 2-0 in the opener before Cabers bounced back emphatically to take the second tie 5-1.
Beauly and Skye were evenly matched until late drama saw Ross Gordon and Archie Millar strike in the dying moments, sealing a 2-0 win for the west coasters in dramatic fashion.
At The Dell, Kingussie’s clash with Strathglass was a showcase of classic shinty as Jamie MacPherson and Steven MacLachlan shone alongside Graeme Irvine and Ewen MacLean in a pulsating affair.
The Artemis Macaulay Cup first round brought its own share of fireworks as Col Glen edged past Oban Camanachd thanks to a late Neilly McNaughton goal in the 75th minute.
Campbell Watt gave Inveraray a 1-0 win over Kyles Athletic, while Newtonmore survived a scare from Fort William with Joe Coyle’s 79th-minute goal proving decisive.
Elsewhere, Kilmory and Aberdour forfeited to Oban Camanachd and Kyles respectively, due to player shortages—an ongoing challenge in the grassroots game.
Glasgow Mid Argyll turned heads with a thrilling late comeback inspired by John Sweeney, who struck twice in the final five minutes to help them overcome Craig Scott’s brace for Mid Argyll.
Mowi North Division 1 action was dominated by Kinlochshiel, who put seven past Beauly with Duncan MacMillan netting a hat-trick and Seumas Martin grabbing two early on.
Fort William also impressed with a 6-2 win over Glengarry, with Graham Campbell leading the line brilliantly, bagging a fine treble.
Newtonmore’s Glen MacKintosh fired in a quickfire hat-trick in their 5-1 demolition of Inverness, underlining their title credentials.
In Mowi National Division action, Lochaber edged a nine-goal thriller against Kilmallie, 5-4, thanks to a brace from Ben Delaney and a pair of late finishes from Stuart Callison.
Kilmallie also enjoyed success in North Division 2, hammering Boleskine 11-1 with standout performances from Thomas Henderson and Duncan MacDougall.
Meanwhile, Kyles Athletic romped to a staggering 17-0 win over Stirling in South Division 2, with Ethan Kerr bagging five and Andy Gayner four in a rout that will live long in the memory.
The youth leagues showed shinty’s future is bright, with Jay MacRae and Hamish Maclean leading Kinlochshiel Under-17s to a 4-2 win over Skye in the London Shield.
In Under-14s action, Glenurquhart swept past Beauly 8-0 with David Fraser notching four, while Kilmallie’s Rocco MacMillan fired home a classy hat-trick against Newtonmore.
Skye’s women continued their impressive form, with Holly MacLean scoring four in a 5-0 win over Lochaber, reinforcing their dominance in the Women’s Premiership.
From rising stars to veteran scorers, every corner of the country buzzed with energy and enthusiasm, reminding us all just why we cherish this fiercely proud, fast-paced sport.
