Women’s shinty cup finals take centre stage
Badenoch & Strathspey won the WCA Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup, Glenurquhart lifted the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup and the North U21 eventually came out on top in the annual Caol Cup clash following the shinty action on Saturday September 1.
Women’s shinty Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup - final Skye Camanachd 1 Badenoch & Strathspey 4
Three goals late gave Badenoch & Strathspey the WCA Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup as they beat Skye Camanachd 4-1 in the final which was a 4.05pm throw up at the Dell on Saturday September 1.
With the venue decided at the start of the season, Badenoch had home advantage and this was the first women’s final to be broadcast live on television with BBC ALBA covering the game.
A big crowd gathered for the final and the pitch was in its usual immaculate condition.
Skye, who were the holders after beating Lochaber 6-1 in last year’s final, could hardly have had a more straightforward route to this year’s show-piece game. The islanders received a bye in the quarter-finals against Strathspey which led to a semi-final tie against Glasgow Mid Argyll and when they also failed to field a team, the Skye squad received free passage all the way to the final.
Badenoch on the other hand have had two tough ties to negotiate. Zoe Reid and Rhona MacIntyre gave them a 2-1 win at Aberdour in the quarter-finals whilst it took extra-time before they finally saw off Lochaber; winning 2-0 in the semi-finals thanks to strikes from Katie Falconer and Zoe Reid.
Skye Camanachd head coach Robbie Gordon gave Sarah Corrigall a start with Ilana Paterson, who had been suffering an injury, taking a place on the bench.
Badenoch head coach Scott Campbell and his assistant Iain Robinson were able to call on Kirsty Deans who missed three months of the season after suffering a leg break whilst playing football for Farmington Forfar.
The players were led on to the field by piper Cluanie Fraser who plays shinty for the Kingussie second team.
The squads were introduced to Steve Bracken and Iain Roberts from sponsors Marine Harvest, Peter Gow from player of the match sponsors www.petergow.co.uk and Women’s Camanachd Association President Lisa MacColl.
There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw-up as both squads and match officials gathered around the centre circle to remember Skye Camanachd’s former player and manager Ally ‘Mor’ Morrison who passed away the previous day.
Skye attacked from the start and they forced an early corner but Badenoch settled and Kirsty Deans played in Zoe Reid but Skye keeper Sarah-Jane Ferguson saved with her legs.
A good passing move out of the Badenoch defence ended with Rhona McIntyre and Kirsty Deans combining to set up a chance for Megan Ralph but her shot went past the keeper’s left post.
Kirsty Deans then drove wide from distance after creating space for the shooting opportunity.
Sara-Jane Ferguson was the busier of the two keepers at this stage and she had to clear her lines on a couple of occasions as Badenoch continued to press.
Skye responded and Lorna MacRae sent a good ball forward from the right of midfield and Sarah Corrigall turned her marker and ran in one-on-one with keeper Elizabeth MacGregor. However, the Scotland goalie was quickly off her line and she saved with her legs.
Kirsty Deans passed up a great chance on 17 minutes when she ran onto a clever ball from Zoe Reid but she shot wide.
Sarah-Jane Ferguson made two good saves with her legs in quick succession to keep out Kirsty Deans from the right and Rhona McIntyre from the left.
Skye were forced to replace defender Christina MacDonald with Katherine Dibble on 21 minutes as the game continued at a good pace despite the heat.
Elizabeth MacGregor did well to deny Jenna Beaton after another long ball from Lorna MacRae.
Kirsty Dean made another surging run, this time cutting in from the Badenoch left, but Sarah-Jane Ferguson came off her line to block Deans’ shot with her feet.
However, Kirsty Deans did find the net on 30 minutes. Deans saw her initial effort blocked but she jinked left and right to make enough space to fire in a low shot from the left which went across the keeper into the far corner of the net.
Christina MacDonald was able to return on 33 minutes with Katherine Dibble coming back off.
Kirsty Deans was always a threat and she outpaced the Skye defence a couple of minutes later but keeper Sarah-Jane Ferguson saved comfortably.
Lorna MacRae shot wide from 25 yards out with the final attempt of the first half and Badenoch deservedly took their 1-0 lead into the break.
During the interval, the crowd were entertained by a shinty exhibition from four development teams.
Lorna MacRae ran through at the start of the second half, playing a one-two with Sarah Corrigall, but Elizabeth MacGregor saved well with her hand.
Play switched to the other end and Sarah-Jane Ferguson made a good stop with her stick to keep out Kirsty Deans’ drive from the left.
Roma Fraser had to come off on 50 minutes to get a cut leg attended to but she returned to the field seven minutes later. Kirsty Deans dropped back into a deeper role to help cover.
However Skye took advantage of Fraser’s absence and Lorna MacRae took a Sarah Corrigall pass at the edge of the D but her back-hand effort went past the post.
A Skye goal was coming and they levelled on 55 minutes when Lorna MacRae scored her 28th goal of the season. The Badenoch defence struggled to clear a Sarah Corrigall ball from the left and MacRae hammered the ball over the keeper and into the net to make it 1-1.
Skye’s Jenna Beaton sent a backhand effort across the keeper but just the wrong side of the post and an under-pressure Badenoch were glad to get Roma Fraser back on.
Sarah-Jane Ferguson made a save with her feet from Kirsty Deans on 62 minutes before swiping the rising ball away for a corner with her stick.
Lorna MacRae then sent a Helen Lamond hit-in from the right past the post, hitting the bouncing ball on the half-volley.
Elizabeth MacGregor cleared a couple of dangerous balls into the D and Sarah-Jane Ferguson won a race for the ball with Kirsty Deans as both goalies continued to star.
Kirsty Deans then sent a dipping effort just over the top.
The next goal was always going to be crucial and Zoe Reid got it on 71 minutes. Kirsty Deans won possession and saw an initial shot saved but Zoe Reid was on hand to turn the ball low into the net to make it 2-1. Time was running out for Skye who threw everything at Badenoch and both Abby MacLean and Ilana Paterson were now on.
Badenoch picked the islanders off and, with Rona Stewart urging her team on from full centre, Rhona McIntyre made it 3-1 on 79 minutes, turning Kirsty Deans’ low ball from the right into the net from close range.
Zoe Reid got her second in stoppage time to seal the win as she lost her marker and rammed home a rebound after Sarah-Jane Ferguson had made another save from Kirsty Deans.
With a couple of minutes stoppage time added to the regulation 80 minutes, referee Des McNulty, who was in control throughout, brought the final to an end.
The Badenoch forwards took their chances up front and their defence, particularly Roma Fraser marking Lorna MacRae, had a good afternoon.
Both keepers were on top form but it was Badenoch’s Kirsty Deans who was named player of the match and her influence was undeniable.
All that was left was for Badenoch captain Mairi Stewart to come forward and receive her presentation caman and the Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup from Marine Harvest’s Steve Bracken and the celebrations began.
The sides are still battling it out for the Marine Harvest National Division 1 title and although Skye have a four-point lead, Badenoch have a game in hand with the sides still to meet in Portree.
Inverness 3 Glenurquhart 4
Glenurquhart and Inverness met in the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup final which was a 1.45pm throw-up at the Dell on Saturday September 1.
Glenurquhart had comfortable wins over Cowal & Bute and the Ardnamurchan second team on their way to the semi-finals where they edged out Lovat 4-3.
Inverness beat Oban Lorn and the Lochaber second team 3-1 before beating the Skye Camanachd second team in the semi-finals.
The Glen, who top Marine Harvest North Division 2, went into the final as favourites against an Inverness side who were second bottom in the division.
Katie McMillan gave Inverness a four-minute lead when she forced home a rebound after Glen goalie Laura Stoddart had made a save.
But Abi Stoddart netted on 18 and 22 minutes to turn the final Glenurquhart’s way.
Abi Stoddart completed her hattrick on 26 minutes before Katie McMillan got her second a couple of minutes later to make it 3-2 at the break.
Referee Tina Marshall, who had a fine match, awarded the Glen a 50-minute penalty when Hazel Hunter was brought down inside the D. Hunter picked herself up to score from the spot to make it 4-2.
Katie McMillan completed her hat-trick on 54 minutes when she ran on to a low corner, hitting the ball first time and giving the keeper no time to react but the Glen stayed in front to seal a 4-3 win.
Inverness keeper Caitlin Mutch made some great saves during the game, earning the player of the match accolade.
Glen captain Siobhan Thomson was presented with the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup.
Men’s shinty Caol Cup - U21 representative match North U21 1 South U21 1
(after extra-time - North won 4-2 on penalties)
The North U21 came out on top following a penalty shoot-out in the annual Caol Cup clash against South U21 at Craigard on Saturday September 1.
The Caol Cup was not played last year with North victorious in 2015 and 2016.
A good-sized crowd gathered for the game and both South manager Kenny Wotherspoon and his North counterpart Norman MacArthur selected strong squads for this 1pm throw-up, naming players with premiership and national league experience.
The North made a late change with Innes Blackhall replacing Craig Ritchie whilst the South’s Conner Howe passed a fitness test after suffering a hamstring injury.
Howe’s afternoon only lasted 15 minutes when he had to be replaced by Glasgow Mid Argyll’s Calum Mclay after a recurrence of the hamstring problem.
The fact the first half remained goalless was mainly down to some great saves from Inveraray keeper Scott MacLachlan, who continued his good form into the second period.
It was South full centre Jonnie MacAskill who opened the scoring just after the hour. Daniel MacVicar did well down the right and he played a ball to the back post. There was a scramble with a lot of bodies around the penalty spot and the ball broke to Jonnie MacAskill, who had pushed forward, and he scored.
The North had switched Blair Morrison from defence to attack and he was involved in the equalising goal which came with only three minutes remaining. Morrison ran into the box with the ball and with keeper Scott MacLachlan coming off his line, Findlay MacDonald saw a shot blocked before he turned home the rebound to make it 1-1 with the South claiming for offside.
With no further scoring, referee John Wood took the contest to an extra-time period but with neither side able to score again, the outcome was decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Fraser Watt went first for the South and he scored with the North’s Blair Morrison doing like-wise. Ross MacMillan made it 2-1 and when the North’s Will Cowie missed, Daniel MacCuish had the chance to make it 3-1 but his effort went over the bar. Alexander Michie, Savio Genini and Findlay MacDonald then all netted for the North and with the South’s Ross MacRae and Daniel MacVicar seeing their penalties saved by Shane Gillies, the North won the shoot-out 4-2 and their skipper Blair Morrison lifted the trophy.
As well as keeper Scott MacLachlan, Ross MacMillan played very well in the South defence with Andy MacDonald, Michael MacKinnon and 16-year-old Daniel Sloss also doing well for a South side which only loses a couple of players ahead of next year’s rematch.
Blair Morrison, Calum Grant and Innes Blackhall caught the eye for the North and Scotland U21 manager Allan MacRae will certainly have a headache as he tries to whittle the pool of players down to a final squad ahead of the international against Ireland.
South U21 from: Scott MacLachlan (Inveraray): Andy MacDonald (Oban Celtic), Daniel Sloss (Oban Camanachd), Michael MacKinnon (Oban Celtic), Ross MacMillan (Oban Celtic) (captain): Ruaraidh Graham (Inveraray), Jonnie MacAskill (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Daniel MacCuish (Oban Camanachd); Daniel MacVicar (Oban Camanachd), Fraser Watt, (Inveraray), Connor Howe (Oban Camanachd), Scott MacDonald (Kyles Athletic); subs: Calum Mclay (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Arik MacKechnie (Glenorchy), Cian MacPhee (Ballachulish), Ross MacRae, (Kyles Athletic), Ross Montgomery (Inveraray) Manager – Kenny Wotherspoon Assistant – Les Kinvig North U21 from: Shane Gillies (Kilmallie); Robert Mabon (Kingussie), Rory MacKeachan (Kingussie), Calum Grant (Kingussie), Blair Morrison (Caberfeidh) (captain): Innes Blackhall (Kilmallie), Danny Kelly (Lovat), Savio Genini (Kingussie), John Gillies (Skye Camanachd), Calum MacDougall (Kilmallie), Findlay MacDonald (Lochaber), Will Cowie (Skye Camanachd); subs: Alexander MacMillan (Fort William), Alexander Michie (Kingussie), Roddy Young (Kingussie), James Pringle (Skye Camanachd), Ruaridh Anderson (Kingussie) Manager – Norman MacArthur Assistant – Stevie Borthwick
Marine Harvest North 2 Caberfeidh 10 Lewis Camanachd 2
The Caberfeidh second team beat an under-strength Lewis Camanachd 10-2 at Castle Leod.
Stuart Krzyzanowski on seven minutes and David Mellis on 35 minutes scored the only goals of the first half as Cabers led 2-0 at the break.
The hosts scored four times in six minutes as Stuart Krzyzanowski took his tally to four goals with efforts on 50, 52 and 56 minutes, punctured by a David Mellis goal on 51 minutes, and Caberfeidh now led 6-0.
Ally Lamont pulled a Lewis goal back on 65 minutes but Declan Wilson netted on 76 minutes to make it 7-1.
Michael MacDonald made it 7-2 with 10 minutes remaining but James MacLeod on 86 minutes, a fifth from Stuart Krzyzanowski on 88 minutes and James MacLeod on the stroke of full-time took Cabers into double figures.
Kilmallie 1 Lochaber 6
The Lochaber reserves overcame the Kilmallie reserves 6-1 at the Canal Parks.
Aiden Love scored the Kilmallie goal but Ben Delaney and five-goal Lachlan Campbell gave Lochaber victory.
Strathglass 2 Boleskine 3
Boleskine came from behind to beat the Strathglass colts 3-2 at Cannich.
Boleskine took the lead on four minutes when Duncan MacPherson scored.
However, just a couple of minutes later, Colin Birnie drew the hosts level.
Raymond Fraser gave Strathglass a 2-1 interval lead when he netted a couple of minutes before the break.
Boleskine’s James Anderson made it 2-2 just eight minutes after the restart.
The winning goal came on 72 minutes when Boleskine’s Stuart MacRae made it 3-2.
Strathspey Camanachd P Lochcarron P
The 1.30pm throw up between Strathspey Camanachd and Lochcarron at Grantown Grammar School will be rescheduled as west coast shinty mourned the passing Skye Camanachd stalwart Ally ‘Mor’ Morrison.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Bute 1 Jack Mathieson Trophy Glenorchy 0 Taynuilt 0
The Glasgow Mid Argyll second team and the Bute second team drew 1-1 at Yoker.
Former Skye Camanachd player John Angus Gillies gave GMA the lead just four minutes into the second half. But Bute travelled with a strong squad and Ryan Craig’s goal 10 minutes from time ensured a deserved share of the points. (Glenorchy won 2-1 on penalties)
Glenorchy won the Jack Mathieson Trophy, beating Taynuilt 4-2 on penalties at Mart Park in a game which was part of the Dalmally Show.
This hard-fought match finished goalless and was eventually decided on penalties.
Glenorchy won the shoot-out 2-1 with their keeper Andrew Smith making four saves and Scott MacIntyre converting the decisive penalty.
Youth Shinty MacMaster Cup – semi-finals
Fort William U14 and Beauly U14 will meet in the MacMaster Cup Final at Mossfield on Saturday September 15 following the semi-final ties.
Fort William U14 6 Caberfeidh U14 1
Fort William U14 were 6-1 winners against Caberfeidh U14 in their last four tie at Blairbeg.
Cameron Stephen gave the Fort an early lead and Leah Maxtone made it 2-0 at the break.
A good finish from Jack Kearney made it 3-0 and the same player added a fourth before substitute Max Kelly and another from Cameron Stephen completed Fort William’s scoring.
Kai MacAulay netted for Cabers.
Beauly U14 4 Lochaber U14 0
Beauly U14 defeated Lochaber U14 4-0 in their semi-final at The Eilan.
Callum MacIver gave Beauly an early lead and a rehearsed free-hit led to a Euan MacCormick making it 2-0.
Lochaber fought back but a Beauly counter-attack saw Euan MacCormick and Callum MacIver combine to set up Rory MacColl who made it 3-0 at the break.
Euan MacCormick’s pass then sent Michael Brindle on a solo run and he sealed the 4-0 victory.
Skye Camanachd delight as Fearann Eilean Iarmain gesture honours Sir Iain Noble
Skye Camanachd were this week toasting Fearann Eilean Iarmain, who have gifted ownership of the Pairc nan Laoch pitch to the island club in honour of Sir Iain Noble.
Skye Camanachd already owns the Skye Camanachd Clubhouse and previously leased the surrounding land, including their shinty pitch.
Shinty on Skye is thriving with seven teams playing out of the impressive facility and securing ownership of the associated land is a massive boost to the club’s future plans.
Sir Iain Noble was one of Scotland’s most far-sighted entrepreneurs and, at the heart of everything he did, Sir Iain was a passionate and active advocate of Gaelic.
In establishing Fearann Eilean Iarmain in 1972, Sir Iain made a commitment to reverse the decline of Gaelic and reinvigorate the local economy, promoting Gaelic through business enterprises in Sleat and creating long term employment and career opportunities in the area.
His significant contribution to Scottish industry and finance began when he established Scotland’s first Merchant Bank in Edinburgh, Noble Grossart.
It was both his passion for the Gaelic language and culture and his commitment to its revival both locally and nationally that were his prime objectives, and for which Sir Iain will be best remembered in Skye.
In recognition of his services and contribution to Gaelic language and culture, Sir Ian was awarded the OBE in 1998. He died on December 25 2010, aged 75, and is survived by his wife, Lady Lucilla Noble, whom he married in 1990.
Skye Camanachd Chairman Douglas MacDougall said: ‘Skye Camanachd has, over the last 125 years, been an integral part of life on Skye from the earliest days of local community teams all across the island to where we are today with seven active teams competing at regional and national levels.
‘Twenty years ago the club moved from the King George V playing fields to Pairc nan Laoch where, due to hard work and endeavour by numerous volunteers, we are fortunate to have one of the best club facilities in shinty. During this period, we have been tied to a lease but in our heart of hearts, it has always been a yearning desire to secure the future of shinty on Skye by owning the land we play on.
‘This approach by Lucilla Noble to gift this asset from Fearann Eilean Iarmain to Skye Camanachd in honour of her late husband, Sir Iain Noble, is beyond our wildest dreams. I’m sure the whole shinty community on Skye will join me in thanking Lucilla for her generosity in allowing us security of tenure thus preserving a strongly held island tradition.
‘Sir Iain was passionately committed to Skye; to its language and culture, its history and its future prosperity. Pairc nan Laoch – The Field of Heroes – has a new hero to whom the Skye Camanachd is indebted.’
Lucilla Noble said: ‘Sir Iain held shinty in high regard and had a great appreciation of the shinty playing tradition and its status in the cultural heritage of Gaelic.
‘I am very pleased indeed for Fearann Eilean Iarmain to make this contribution towards securing a strong future for shinty in Skye and l am delighted to gift Pairc nan Laoch to Skye Camanachd in honour of Sir Iain.
‘Through Sir Iain’s lifelong commitment to the language and culture of Gaelic, his innovative endeavours to ensure Gaelic in education, in the work environment and in the community, and his key contribution to the economic development of Skye, he was an inspirational figure to a younger generation.
‘He would be delighted to see the increasing popularity of shinty today, with the high level of skills and the passion of all those involved providing great opportunities for the talented teams of Skye.
‘Tha Fearann Eilean Iarmain a’guidhe gach beannachd do Sgioba Camanachd an Eilein airson na bliadhnaichean ri teachd.’