Auto-pilot Glen delivers the Cup
NEWTONMORE matchwinner Glen MacKintosh admitted he was on autopilot when scoring the goal that made it a record 31 Camanachd Cups for the Badenoch men yesterday.
The peerless marksman’s third-minute goal turned out to be the afternoon’s only one as PJ MacKintosh’s men edged past Oban.
Playing in their first major showpiece for 15 years, Oban proved they are not too far away from mounting a serious challenge to the reigning champions.
However, there are few teams able to contain goal-hungry MacKintosh when he is in poaching mode.
“The winner was pretty much a snap-shot” said the 36-year-old.
“The ball came across the box. I don’t remember too much about it. I just hit it and it was good to see it hit the net.
“We worked really hard for the win as Oban made it very difficult for us. The whole team played really well and it was great to come back to An Aird, where we won in 2013 against Kyles, and do it again.”
In front of around 3000 supporters on a glorious day in Fort William, MacKintosh gave the Speyside outfit the platform to win the final.
A bad clearance from Gavin Stobart gifted Evan Menzies an early chance to run at the Oban rearguard. When he was stopped, the ball broke to MacKintosh and the veteran dispatched the ball home instinctively.
Due to advancing years, there was speculation that he may have hung up his stick in 2016 but Newtonmore will be relieved he decided against it.
On this form, it may be difficult to leave him out of the Scotland line-up in October, if he puts himself forward.
It was the perfect start for Newtonmore but something which Oban had outlined as their principal fear in this final.
In the second half, Norman Campbell had two efforts to extend Newtonmore’s lead saved by Stobart, who had a fine afternoon for Ian Hay’s Oban.
They gave a very good account of themselves but More deserved the silverware, if anything for their greater ability to apply the killer touch.
“It means so much for the club and everyone in Newtonmore,” said a delighted More boss, MacKintosh.
“The players all work so hard and they deserve what they achieve. They are a great bunch of boys to work with.”
Newtonmore now have the chance to secure a treble, with the league title within sight.