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Oban and Kingussie share spoils at top of Premiership

Oban and Kingussie share spoils at top of Premiership

BBC News24-05-2025

Oban Camanachd missed a chance to dislodge Kingussie from the top of the Mowi Premiership when the two high fliers drew 1-1 at Mossfield.Fort William sustained their first league defeat and dropped to third when they lost 2-0 at home to Skye.Newtonmore's progress continued with a 2-0 defeat of visitors Lovat, and Beauly grabbed their first point in a 1-all draw away to Kyles.It was goalless between Kinlochshiel and Caberfeidh.Kingussie went in front through Roddy Young on the hour and seemed to be holding on until Daniel MacVicar equalised with six minutes left, but there was to be no late winner.Dan MacDonald gave Skye the breakthrough after quarter of an hour and doubled their lead early in the second half, with Fort unable to respond.These two games could have produced any of three different leaders but Kingussie remain one point clear of Camanachd while Fort drop to third, a further point behind and with a game in hand.Euan Dingwall and Matthew Sloss, both in the second half, lifted Newtonmore to just a further point adrift of a top three place.Roan MacVicar scored early for Kyles but Beauly refused to crumble and struck back before half time with an equaliser from Iain Hunter.Bute and Col Glen continued their pursuit of National Division leaders Lochaber. In Rothesay, Bute edged Glenurquhart 1-0 just a week after their spectacular 5-0 drubbing of the same opponents on the road. Meanwhile in Cannich, it was 3-1 for Col Glen against hosts Strathglass who still remain pointless.The English Shinty Association only makes rare forays north to compete in minor cup ties, but did so in style with a 7-1 eclipse of Stirling in the Bullough Cup at Yoker.

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JEEPERS KEEPERS: Clarke is in a pickle after Slicker's debut disaster... but maybe throwing the young goalie back in for Liechtenstein game could still be the best way forward?

ON a night in which the position of goalkeeper really did look like the loneliest one of all, words of consolation for Cieran Slicker echoed loud and clear across Hampden Park from the opposite dressing room. Iceland No 1 Elias Rafn Olafsson knows what it is like to be castigated for an absolute howler. In a Europa League group fixture away to Steaua Bucharest with his Danish club side FC Midtyjlland in November, he took a pass from kick-off at the start of the second half 35 yards from goal, whacked an attempted ball forward off opposing forward Daniel Birligea and watched it loop right back over his head towards goal. Birligea won the race to nod it in. Steaua won 2-0. Olafsson's rush of blood to the head went viral. It takes a strong constitution to shake that off and a heart of stone not to see another keeper going through similar agonies and not feel the urge to show some empathy. Olafsson did that on Friday night all right. 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'This was probably an opportunity that came a little bit too early for Cieran, but we'll be there to support him and help him,' said the national coach. Clarke has been hunting around for another keeper who hasn't disappeared on holiday and looks like he has settled on Ross Doohan. There certainly weren't many outstanding candidates. Scott Bain left Celtic for Falkirk after a spell as third-choice, but he has made only three appearances in two campaigns and didn't play at all last season. Doohan filled in for Aberdeen when Dimitar Mitov was injured, but his ambition has extended to little more than going back to former club Celtic to be the next Scott Bain. Former Rangers keeper Jon McLaughlin played only once for Swansea after going there last summer. Jon McCracken lost his place at Dundee. Zander Clark, Liam Kelly and Craig Gordon are all injured. Part of the problem is that Slicker's body language on Friday night was not good. He looked haunted from the moment Iceland's first goal went in. And if he is to convince Clarke he deserves a chance at wiping the slate clean, this is where Olafsson is unyielding. Slicker has to look the Scotland boss in the eyes and make it evident to him that he has the character to bounce back — because getting back out there on the field and showing what he can really do will be the best way to put Friday's calamities to bed. 'Playing again as soon as possible is 100 per cent the best thing, in my opinion,' said 25-year-old Olafsson, who earned just his seventh full cap at Hampden. 'To come into the game and know you're going to play. It's just about going to the hotel, then forgetting about (Friday) and moving on. 'I had one of those in that Europa League game. It was a pretty big mistake from kick-off, but that's how it is. 'To get over it, you just have to be honest and forget about it. It's a mistake by you. But it's a part of the game. 'When we make mistakes, it's very obvious — it leads to a goal. That's why it is a different position to the outfield players. 'Goalkeeper is definitely the loneliest position in the team. People see the mistakes. That's how it is. You have to be strong mentally for that. I feel empathy with him (Slicker). 'It's always tough, especially when you come into the game cold off the bench. When you come in and make some mistakes, it's hard to get back into the game. 'I feel it's hard making any debut, coming in when you don't expect to come in as a goalkeeper off the bench. 'International football is a different game as well. It's a little bit like European football. 'If you make mistakes, you get hit in the face. It's a different kind of football from the club level.' It's a tough one for Clarke. He needs to see in his weekend discussions that Slicker has been capable of putting that night from hell behind him. Let's face it, the fellow is in the wrong game if he hasn't. 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