First-half charge secures cup glory for Newtonmore

Newtonmore scored three times in the final 15 minutes of the first half to beat Lovat 3-0 in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup final at Mossfield, Oban.

There were few chances during the first half hour but ‘More got themselves in front on 31 minutes when Glen Mackintosh found strike partner Evan Menzies who sprinted to the left before turning marker Craig Mainland and squeezing the ball between keeper Stuart Macdonald and his right post.

Lovat’s Greg Matheson had an effort ruled out for offside before a quick-fire double late in the half had ‘More in control. Menzies played Jamie Robinson’s hit-in from the left on to Glen Mackintosh who rifled the ball home to make it 2-0 on 43 minutes.

’More’s Steven Macdonald won the ball from the restart and Glen Mackintosh turned provider, spreading the ball to Menzies on the right, and his low shot a triggered a rare Stuart Macdonald error as the ball crept through the keeper’s legs.

Lovat’s chances weren’t helped when they lost forward Marc Maclachlan with a dislocated knee early in the second half but the stark reality was that Newtonmore were never going to release their tight grip on the game and they looked the likelier to add

0 Andy Mackintosh: Captain.

to their tally as Macdonald redeemed himself with some smart saves before Newtonmore skipper Andy Mackintosh collected the trophy.

Two goals, an assist, another Camanachd Cup victory and the Albert Smith medal as man of the match meant Menzies has had worse afternoons. He said: “When you’ve had all the expectation and the pressure in the lead up to the final, then it’s relief that comes to the fore at the final whistle but we’re chuffed to bits. We were well prepared and we’ve worked hard all season and I know it’s a cliché but we treat each game exactly the same.”

Earlier in the day, Callum Maciver and Rory Maccoll scored as Beauly U14 beat Fort William U14 2-0 to lift the Macmaster Cup.

Skye Camanachd’s chances of escaping Marine Harvest Premiership relegation suffered a blow when they were beaten 7-1 by Kingussie at the Dell. Doubles from Roddy Young, Liam Borthwick and James Falconer and Ruaridh Anderson’s strike all came before Ross Gordon’s reply.