Way out West where the hills are all high and the cattle all low.

Just what is it about Skye, the Island? Could it be the lure of the west that mesmerises the opposition and allows the most immortal of all the isles that Seton Gordon ever wrote about to produce a seriously jammy shinty team. Whatever secret spell the Skyvers can cast , it was always going to be hard for the Glen under-17s (what with Dael Macdonald-Haig ill and unable to play) to fight against the forces of nature and those of cultural superiority both at the same time.
And so it came to pass that the London Shield passed into the hands of the Skye under 17 squad after a game on a heavy, wet Battery Park at Lochcarron that was as Mr Reid confided “hardly a classic.”
Of course the Wing Centre wasn’t at the game having thought some weeks before that Shinty, in all its various manifestations would have long since been over and done with- and so he had booked a weekend away from the green glen of tranquillity. Even when forewarned that the match was scheduled for Lochcarron he felt secure in the certain knowledge that the match would never go ahead especially since the Carranachs could hardly ever get the pitch fit enough for their own scheduled matches let alone such fripperies as an under-17 cup final.
So it was a surprise to hear that the match had gone ahead and that the Glen should have lost out 2-1 especially since the Glenners possess the two best players in the whole age group and a pile of players some of whom have played at Premier level and others who have won reserve championships back to back.
What happened?
Mr Reid was generous in his analysis.
“Skye deserved the win,” he said. ”They played quite well -though to be fair they were lucky to have kept a full team on the park”
“But the Glen didn’t keep the full squad on the park”
“True enough-but the ref could have had two or three off on either side”
Which seemed to be a view quite widely held in the Glen and the reason for this unfortunate turn of events was probably the heavy pitch , which prevented youngsters playing the ball on with the speed required to prevent them getting tangled up with one another and allowing adolescent testosterone to play a starring role so to speak. No harm done in the end- and good luck to the Skye youngsters just so long as they don’t feel - in contrast to Mr Reid’s verdict- that they actually deserved the win.
Whatever- included at the top is a picture of the youths on a happier day, at Balgate where they won over Oban Camanachd and also up there is a snap of Drew Maclennan and Ewan Brady at Tullialan with the North Under 17 select trophy (Brady also captained and played in the under 14 select team) but there were at least 4 of the Glen under 17 squad that should have had a shout for the select on the day but then what does the Wing Centre know?
He does know one thing though, that on the last Saturday of November the senior side should not be scheduled for a league match half a world away, especially which actually means something. It is a match which the Glen needs to win in order to be fair to every other side – and yet with our annual dinner dance the night before the match the pressure on the side will be more than it should ideally be. Given that the Kingussie match has been held over then there is an argument that this match should have been pulled too – and perhaps games between sides in danger of relegation should have had priority to sort that mess out first.
Of course there is a bigger picture which the Wing Centre does not always see-but here’s a suggestion for the future-only one Premier side should be relegated. The two down scenario means that a really good side will lose out on top tier shinty- and too much of the latter stage of the season is a nasty dogfight for survival.
Still let’s enjoy the Dinner Dance and forget about Saturday’s early start. Wonder who’ll get the young player trophy? Watch this space next week for all the snaps from the social event of the year.
And for those who collect Glen Shinty ephemera- and these number not a few-the ticket is included.



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Oops they did it again!

Of course there are plenty Glen related posts backing up here at D-Central but then , having got a photo of young Ali Mac the Wing Centre is still waiting for a pic from Lewis in the Under-21s. Not only that, but the D was all set to go with snaps of Ewan Brady and Drew Maclennan in the North under-14s and under -17s when the terrible news arrived from over Culnakirk -Lovat had won North Division 1. The news, of course, could have been more terrible: the Glasaich might have had two trophies in the one season - three if you count the Macdonald Cup – and that would have been extremely upsetting.
Still the D always carries a piece about the winners of North Division 1 and this year no exception can be made. Well done to the Crofters although to be frank, the best thing you can say about them is that you have to be happy for their Mams, their girlfriends, their wives and their sisters having had to put up with all their capers all year.
At least it paid off and the girls surely won’t have to go with them to Bute, Oban and Tighnabruaich to watch them play in the same way as they felt obliged to be spectators in Beauly, Strathglass and Strathpeffer. The guys go up to the Premier and now the WAGs can have whole Saturdays in Debenhams and Next, not to mention Monsoon and La Senza ( Don't ask!)
Perhaps they might even manage a wee spin on the train to Glasgow when the lord and master in parading his caman skills on a wet Saturday on Mossfield.
It is certainly the way the girls in Drum think and why they were so desperate to see the Glen remain in the top division. But then perhaps the ladies of Kiltarlity are different? The Wing Centre remembers having a conversation with a worthy gentleman of a mischievous disposition many years ago.
“You know, young fellow” he said (it was a while ago) “a husband from the Glen and a wife from Kiltarlity make a fine combination.”
“Why is that, Alistair?” –for it was he...
“Well the Kiltarlity female is a very hard worker. She has to be: the men over there hardly do a hand’s turn. Then there is also the fact that living close to the big house she is always used to taking orders. What is more, young man, she will always be grateful to you for taking her out of Kiltarlity!”
All of which seems to suggest that this triumph is due to the combined efforts of Mary Ann, Mrs Bell, the Mrs MacRitchies (sen and jun), the Mrs Gallaghers (and young Miss Gallagher) Mrs Matheson and the Mrs Ferguson making sure they can have their Saturdays shopping in Eastgate but what’s the betting the guys think they did it themselves?
And ,as you can see from the photo, their Mams etc. are not going to be happy with them when they come back home in whatever state they clearly intend to get into. However, you do have to hand it to them for their late run especially when, having conceded to Beauly in the opening game, they picked up a win down at the Canal parks against Kilmallie who certainly were the team the Wing Centre fancied to go up this season- but then apart from the opening game of Lovat’s Premier season (against Kingussie) the Wing Centre did not see them play though the results were close enough. The guess is that in their Premier season they missed out on a top class striker – and it is possible that they have now found one ,though the goals for tally is a considerable way below that of Kilmallie. There is no doubt they have the keeper though
Enough already
Here in the Glen we have had the Sale of Work (successful-thanks to all) and we still have to play Inveraray. Before we know it will be the AGM and then Xmas and then Zandra’s Sixes and then let the Games begin all over again.



One more thing. The photo of Fraser Gal with the cup. For some reason this is the only way it will stay on the page. The Wing Centre has tried turning it round but somehow it seems to be more natural upside down-Antipodean as it were.
Thanks for the use of the picture to Neil Paterson whose website and e mail are given below. Worth a look especially for the photo of John Barr burying Tommy Walsh.

ngpaterson@btinternet.com
http://www.neilgpaterson.com



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Glen Boys provide Scotland with the X Factor

Hey look everybody! It’s Glen’s own Jedward - John Barr and Eddie Tembo -the terrible twins posing after Saturday’s Shinty/Hurling International. ‘Course they’re not really Irish, though Eddie is trying to pretend that he is. As you can see they are both broad enough to give the impression that they were weaned on rooster potatoes- but no these two rustics are purely haggis-fed and have in common their roots at the bottom of Drum’s Balmacaan Road where John’s granddad stays two doors away from where Eddie was brought up.
Did they play well? The answer is yes. John Barr put in an impressive defensive performance, hard in the tackle and always focused and when tearaway Tommy lost his All-Star cool near the end Mr B kept the whole thing in perspective and shrugged him off. Hugh Dan said “handbags” on the commentary : not quite right-there was more than a little not quite right in the commentary as Hugh would be the first to admit- because JB's single-minded sense of focus just refuses to allow him get involved in that sort of sad stuff, no matter who tries to dish it out.
Eddie came on just before halftime and did his bit to get the ball up to the front men and did so creating a chance which on a better day would have been buried.
The Wing Centre was part of the goodly crowd and he has to say the game was extremely entertaining: there was a real atmosphere of tension to the match though there was some frustration at the manner in which Scotland failed to claim several of the two-pointers which Irish careless and occasional indiscipline presented to them.
While he was there he came across The Sunday Herald guy and “Scoop” Calder of the Courier who were both raging at the fact that there were no programmes left and that the correct numbers for the players were being kept secret.
“See if you can spot Bill MacAllister of the P & J” suggested the Wing Centre.”If anyone can get the numbers it will be Bill”
True enough Bill seemed to be in the official party up on the podium but on closer inspection he turned out to be copying down details from a sheet which seemed to be owned by Eoghann the Commentator who was describing the whole process in great detail and at least two languages to the crowd.
“Bheil all the figearan right and ceart?” asked the Wing Centre ,trying to trick Eoghann into parting with the knowledge that was journalistic power.
“Right enough, tha iad accurate da-rireadh” said Eoghann – and so the Wing Centre scribbled them down and took them up to The Herald guy and Scoop who were rightly grateful. It was most certainly a coup because it was later to become clear that Iain Anderson and HD were working from a completely different list of names , though the size of Magic Johnston should have given at least a hint of his identity away.
“Having got you the names by using a touch of the old Ciamarathasibh” said the Wing Centre “you will have to let me use your report in the D”
“Sure “said the Herald guy “No probs”
“No disrespect, Herald guy” replied the Wing Centre “but if you don’t mind I’ll use what Scoop writes. He is usually more accurate since he has a later deadline”
“Fine “said Scoop, “Use it if you like- but take off a para or two so the Courier guys don’t recognise it”
Which is what the Wing Centre did- and that is why an approximate Courier report appears here in the D as follows :
“Scotland’s shinty players just failed to make it five wins in a row in the Shinty Hurling International series thanks to a goal in injury time from Ireland front man Shane Dooley. With the game tied at 11 points apiece and ref David Mitchell looking at his watch, a long ball fired out of the besieged Irish defence found Dooley one on one against Scotland defender Scott Campbell and the big Offaly forward rode the challenge and powered the ball past keeper Scott MacNeil to confirm Ireland in their winning three point margin.
The Scots however had started the game with a bang but it was clear from the start that the Irish management now have a clearer vision of how to tackle the mixed code game tactically. Their answer was to leave a spare defender at the back-in this case they plumped for Cork’s experienced Shane O’Neill who went on to win the medal for man of the match. O’Neill spent the afternoon sweeping up in front of his full backs and any tendency for Scotland to play the ball high down the middle was picked up by the All Ireland defender and returned with interest. The early advantage still however lay with Scotland, despite the fact that an early defensive error by fullback Alan Mackenzie allowed Dooley to pop the ball over the bar for the opening point. Scotland came roaring back and a shot from Ronald Ross brought a superb save from Irish keeper Paddy Mullaney a minute later. In ten minutes Scotland won a free hit in the midfield and from Norman Campbells hit, Hector Whitelaw guided the ball into the path of Ronald Ross and the big striker made no mistake from close range.
Shortly afterwards Ross added two more points from a free hit and Newtonmore’s Paul MacArthur did the same a minute later to make the score an apparently comfortable 7-1 on the 15 minute mark. Even by this early stage however it was clear that with O’Neill coming into his own in defence, the service to Ross began to dry up while at the other end of the field the Scotland defenders found it tough to contain Irelands ‘Hurler of the Year’, Tommy Walsh.
Walsh, Ireland’s captain on the day has exceptional stick control which he proved in 19 minutes when he ran wide of the Scotland defence and knocked the ball over to claw back a point. Dooley gratefully accepted another point scoring opportunity before Walsh showed why he has been a GAA Hurling All-Star for the past seven years. Pinching the ball in midfield, he outpaced Scotland defenders Angus Mackay and Ian Macdonald before he squeezed the ball over McNeill’s bar to bring the score back to 7-4. With Down’s John McIntosh getting another point back for Ireland the home side were beginning to look ragged though a snap shot from Niall Macphee saw them reach the halfway mark with a three point lead.
Ireland continued in the second half gradually chipping away at Scotland’s slender lead and while the introduction of Zambian born Eddie Tembo lifted the pressure on the midfield, single points from Shane Dooley, Steven Clynch and a double from Gareth “Magic “Johnston saw Ireland take the lead for the first time in the match. Further strikes from Kieran Divilly and Dooley yet again extended their lead while Scotland were frustrated by their inability to take their chances.
Then in a storming finish Scotland almost snatched the win. Substitute Shaun Nicholson put over for a much needed point and captain Gary Innes bagged two further points from a free hit to bring the scores level at 11-11. A final Scottish push saw David Cheyne with a chance to seal the match but he was pulled down though only a corner was awarded. The strike failed to be converted and the Irish defence scrambled the ball away and when it was hit upfield Dooley silenced the home crowd with his definitive strike.
A deserved victory then after a five year wait for the cream of Ireland’s hurlers but Scotland made them work hard for the win- and with a little more accuracy in their shooting from distance, Scotland would still be sitting on an unbeaten run.”
Not a bad report then if it were not for the fact that it failed to mention the chance that Ronald missed near the end, but then Scoop is a great fan of Ronaldo. Still no-one would grudge wee Tommy and his mates the trophy. They played well enough. Shame they just don’t have that Jedward X-Factor that the Shinty crowd loves and the two Drummers provide.



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Glen beats Glen: an everyday story of shinty in the Highlands

Glengarry 0 Glenurquhart 3

“I see you’ve not put anything up about the Garry game” remarked Mr Reid as he stopped by to collect the lotto money at the Astro the other night. “Mind you if all you are going to do is to annoy them about the pitch, it’s probably just as well. The Glen have very happy memories of the Garry; after all it was at the Garry in 1977 that we picked up the Strathdearn, so you had better not be winding them up”
And with these words of wisdom and warning, Mr Reid disappeared off to the West End Garage for a ceilidh with George.
Now the Wing Centre, whatever others may think, does not regard himself as one who is content to let the grass grow under his feet and he did have in his notebook some rudimentary details about the game. It was after all a resounding triumph for Hendo and the Heroes, if not really adequate revenge for the early season defeat in the Strathdearn. Some of the oomph had gone out of the win for the Wing Centre seeing as the League had been well and truly won at Cabers two weeks before though he and the tribe still made the trip down to the Garry in a rainstorm.
The pitch was in splendid if somewhat soggy condition, though the turf was perhaps a little heavy for the youngsters to show off the free flowing shinty that marked their performances at Blairbeg earlier in the season.
The game opened with a clear intention from the Glen that they wanted to finish off the Garry right from the start and some early chances fell to Dave Smart and Calum Fraser but they failed to convert, the closest being Fraser whose drive just cleared the Garry bar. Shortly afterwards a long ball forward from Arran Macdonald found youngster Ewan Menzies who slipped the ball wide to Ewan “Boo-Boo” Fraser but his shot once again drifted over the bar on the 14 minute mark.
The breakthrough came in 29 minutes when the ball was released wide once again to “Boo-Boo” Fraser and this time instead of firing the ball in on goal, he dribbled through the Garry defence past full back Michael Brady to score a welcome opener for the Glen.
It was however by no means one way traffic. Garry have a fair team and one player who stood out was “Dee Dee” Cameron at full centre who gave Iain Macleod a busy afternoon. Cameron is an inspirational player and a good hitter but his strength is that he will run until he drops and never does he admit defeat. Also on his game was big forward Philip Gregory whose pace gave full back Iain Macdonald bother in the early part of the first half before the supply to him began to dry up. However, the Garry posted their intentions in this period and indeed won a series of corners particularly up on the road side ; fortunately for the Glen however these incursions came to nothing thanks to good defending from Macdonald ,Calum Smith , Drew Maclennan and Gary Smith.
Just before halftime, Glen doubled their lead as another through ball from Arran Macdonald found its way to Calum Fraser and he finished well to make it 2-0.
The second half turned out to be a dour frustrating struggle for the Glen midfield and forwards. Young Ewan Brady had an excellent game throughout and he had a difficult opponent in former Glen player Matthew Clark but despite all the youngster's efforts the attentions of the Garry defence on him in particular meant that he failed to find the net.
The third and final Glen goal came from youngster Kelvin Mackenzie who came on at left wing forward and his winning goal was probably the best worked strike of the whole afternoon. A ball up from the centreline was blocked by the Garry defence and fell to Ewan Brady. He fired it out wide and the onrushing Bradley Dickson steered the ball back across the D where Mackenzie was on hand to knock it home from three yards. It was most certainly a well worked goal and one well worth the long wait in the rain.
Mackenzie, who played a neat game against strong defenders, had two further chances- and indeed could have ended the day on a hat-trick but in each instance he pulled his shot wide at the crucial time.
Captain Ross MacAulay who has been out since the Kingussie game with a broken hand came on for the last ten minutes and was then on hand to accept the trophy from Fort William President Richard Gall.
The pic shows all the Glenners with Drum based sponsor Donnie Macphee of Mardon Ltd after they have accepted their medals and the trophy.
Now there are only two games left in the season the first team v Inveraray but with the rain falling as it is we may be waiting some time!
There is also the under-17s who have managed to get themselves through to their own big final, the London Shield, with a win on penalties against Oban Camanachd after a Kelvin Mackenzie strike saw them through to a full time draw. Calum Smith netted the decisive penalty. Glen’s opponents are Skye under 17s who beat Lochaber in their semi.



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