Kyles knocked out of Macaulay Cup

Artemis Macaulay Cup - semi final

Oban Camanachd are through to this year’s Artemis Macaulay Cup Final after coming from behind to beat Kyles Athletic 3-1 in their 3pm throw-up at Mossfield.

Kyles manager Robert Baxter was without skipper Innes MacDonald, who suffered a broken hand in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup quarter final win over Glasgow Mid Argyll in their last outing.

Baxter was dealt a further blow when Andrew King picked up a hamstring injury in training, so he also missed out.

Although Kyles had the better of the first half, Oban Camanachd claimed for a penalty when Louie MacFarlane went down inside the ‘D’ but referee Des McNulty waved away their pleas. They also had an effort ruled out when Louie MacFarlane had the ball in the net.

Roddy MacDonald had been causing Oban Camanachd problems throughout the first half and he gave the Tighnabruaich men the lead on 38 minutes.

The goal came from a wellworked free-hit when Roddy MacDonald ran forward to strike the ball which bounced into the bottom corner of the net, to Cammy Sutherland’s left, from five yards outside the ‘D’.

There were strong words in the Oban camp at the interval and the team looked a better proposition after the re-start.

Gareth Evans made a key switch five minutes into the second half, with Daniel Cameron pushed forward from defence to attack.

Oban Camanachd equalised on 55 minutes with Daniel MacVicar scoring his ninth goal of the season.

Blair MacFarlane cleared the ball up the park where it was gathered by Daniel Cameron, who played it into Daniel MacVicar’s path and he swept the ball into the far corner of the net on the half volley.

Substitute Daniel Madej put the Oban side ahead on 64 minutes. There was a battle for possession following a Camanachd corner and the ball spun into the air where Madej reacted quickest to crack home a volley from close range.

Daniel Madej was on the scoresheet again, with 20 minutes remaining, following good combination play from Evan MacLellan and Daniel MacVicar. Daniel Cameron saw his shot cut out by Callum Miller but Madej was first to the ball, slotting it home from close range to make it 3-1.

The 2022 Artemis Macaulay Cup final between Oban Camanachd and Kingussie takes place at Mossfield on Sunday August 21.