It’s Camanachd Cup triple joy for Newtonmore
Newtonmore lifted the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup for the third successive season, beating Lovat 3-0 in the final at Mossfield, Oban.
This was a repeat of last year’s final and there was a cagey opening to the match during which the closest to a goal was a Michael Russell shot which Lovat goalie Stuart Macdonald saved with his hand. Newtonmore, who started with the wind advantage, looked the likelier to score and they took the lead on 31 minutes. David Maclean and Glen Mackintosh combined to find Evan Menzies who ran out to the left with Craig Mainland in chase. Menzies cut back inside and his shot beat unsighted keeper Stuart Macdonald by his right post.
The goals that made the difference came in the final three minutes of the half. When Jamie Robinson’s hit-in was knocked on by Evan Menzies to Glen Mackintosh, his shot had just enough power to beat the keeper. Newtonmore’s Steven Macdonald won the ball from the restart and Mackintosh and Menzies swapped roles as the former found Menzies on the right and his strike deceived the keeper to make it 3-0 at half-time.
Lovat needed to score next but their chances suffered a blow when attacker Marc Maclachlan was forced off soon after the restart with a dislocated knee.
In truth, Newtonmore controlled the second half and could have added to their tally before referee Deek Cameron’s final whistle signalled a 33rd Camanachd Cup success.
Newtonmore’s Andy Mackintosh received the captain’s presentation silver-mounted caman and the Camanachd Cup from Tulloch Homes chief executive George Fraser.
Mackintosh, who missed last year’s final through injury, said: “It’s what you dream of – to captain Newtonmore in the Camanachd Cup Final. We were written off at the start of the season. People said we were an ageing side and past it but that just spurred us on.” Two-goal Evan Menzies, who was awarded the coveted Albert Smith medal as man of the match, added: “It feels good. We’ve worked hard all season.”
■ Skye Camanachd’s Marine Harvest Premiership survival chances are hanging by a thread as they lost 7-1 to Kingussie at the Dell. Roddy Young, Liam Borthwick and James Falconer all scored twice with Ruaridh Anderson getting the other before Ross Gordon’s counter.