Crowds flock to Oban for shinty showpiece
Newtonmore lifted shinty’s most coveted prize, the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup, for the 33rd time and the third year in succession and Skye Camanachd’s top flight survival chances were dealt a blow following the shinty action on Saturday 15 September 2018.
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup - final Lovat 0 Newtonmore 3
Newtonmore secured shinty’s top prize for the third season in succession when they beat Lovat 3-0 in the 111th Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup final at Mossfield.
This was only the second time these teams have met in a Camanachd Cup final but the sides were the competition’s most recent winners over the last three years.
Lovat have only ever tasted success twice in shinty’s most famous tournament whilst Newtonmore went into the final on the back of a record-busting 32 Camanachd Cup successes.
Lovat’s last win was only in 2015 whilst Newtonmore were going for three in a row having lifted the trophy in 2016 and 2017.
The players, led by presidents John MacRitchie (Lovat) and Norman MacArthur (Newtonmore), and the match officials were led on to the field by Oban High School Pipe Band before being introduced to eight-times Camanachd Cup winner George Fraser from sponsors Tulloch Homes, Roddy MacCuish from Argyll and Bute Council and Camanachd Association vice-chieftain Alex McNaughton and president Keith Loades ahead of throw-up.
This was a repeat of last year’s final. Lovat made three changes from the squad that day with Graeme MacMillan starting three years after a horror leg break. Marc MacLachlan and Duncan Davidson were also given starting slots after being substitutes a year earlier. The missing players were the injured Scott MacKenzie as well as Ryan Ferguson and Calum MacAulay. Martin Mainland started last year but was a substitute this time around.
Newtonmore made five switches from last year’s pool with Paul MacArthur, Ackie MacRae and the injured Fraser MacKintosh not involved from the starting line-up. Conor Jones and David Fraser were also missing. Scottish international Steven Macdonald, who was ruled out last year through suspension; Andy MacKintosh, who was denied a place in 2017 through injury; and 48-year-old keeper Kenny Ross, in his first Scottish final, all started whilst there were places on the bench for former Boleskine and Aberdeen University player Ewen Fraser and second team skipper Stuart Mitchell.
’More’s Steven Macdonald, who missed last year’s final through suspension, lined up against Lorne MacKay in the middle of the park whilst Lovat danger-man Greg Matheson was again picked up by Rory Kennedy.
Despite the morning rain, Oban groundsman Ian Hay had the pitch in great condition.
Lovat won the toss of the coin and opted to play into the wind in the first half.
Newtonmore went on the offensive from the throw-up and Iain Robinson’s low shot was saved by Scotland and Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald with Craig Mainland playing the rebound out for a corner.
Lovat soon responded with Duncan Davidson’s effort deflected for a corner.
A long ball from Daniel Grieve dropped into the ’More danger area and Kenny Ross did well as he came off his line and keep out Marc MacLachlan’s flick from the left with the ball rebounding out of play off the Lovat man.
It was a tense opening spell and a surging Michael Russell run forward on 10 minutes questioned the Lovat defence. Russell slipped the ball to the left to Evan Menzies in space but ’More’s top scorer tugged his shot wide of target.
When Craig Mainland was penalised for a challenge on Evan Menzies, Michael Russell rolled the free-hit inside to Iain Robinson but his snap-shot went low past the keeper’s right post.
There was always going to be a physical element to the final and goal judge Alex MacVicar drew referee Deek Cameron’s attention to an off-the-ball tussle between Drew Howie and Glen MacKintosh ahead of a Lovat goal-hit. Both players received a ticking off and a handshake defused the situation.
The first serious strike on goal came seconds later, on 15 minutes, when Michael Russell’s backhand strike drew a brilliant save as keeper Stuart MacDonald stretched high to palm the ball over the bar with his left hand.
At the other end, Duncan Davidson chested Graeme MacMillan’s lofted ball from the right down to Greg Matheson but well-timed Rory Kennedy challenge got the ball away with Matheson requiring spray after sustaining a hand injury.
As the match moved into the second quarter, Lovat applied some pressure and Lorne MacKay managed to find Lewis Tawse but Kenny Ross palmed his shot away safely for a corner.
Lovat continued to press and, from the resultant corner, Craig Ritchie blocked a fierce Lewis Tawse drive.
Glen MacKintosh had by now moved to buckshee forward and he made enough space to shoot on his right side but his effort lacked power and Stuart MacDonald again saved with his hand.
Iain Robinson’s back-hand strike from distance on 29 minutes was deflected for a corner but a Newtonmore breakthrough was coming.
And it arrived on 31 minutes. David MacLean intercepted a Lovat clearance following Norman Campbell’s massive goal-hit.
MacLean played a straight ball forward to Glen MacKintosh who turned and passed possession to Evan Menzies.
Menzies, last year’s match winner, controlled the ball with his feet before darting to the ’More left, across the penalty spot with marker Craig Mainland in pursuit. Menzies then turned on a sixpence and forced a shot between keeper MacDonald and his right post to make it 1-0.
The goal sparked Lovat into action and they spurned an immediate chance to level when Graeme MacMillan’s corner from the right fell for Marc MacLachlan but Norman Campbell got his left leg in the way to deflect MacLachlan’s shot to safety.
Greg Matheson had the ball in the net on 34 minutes when he got on to Marc MacLachlan’s cross from wide to the right but goal judge Lachie Wood spotted that Matheson was marginally offside and the effort was correctly ruled out.
There was a flashpoint for referee Deek Cameron to deal with when Lorne MacKay and Michael Russell exchanged jabs to the mid-rift with the end of their sticks and, as Russell fell winded, Callum Cruden ran into the grounded player, kneeing him in the process. The incident was spotted by fourth official Robert Baxter and Cruden was shown a yellow card for his part.
Kenny Ross did well to save with his feet from Marc MacLachlan on 41 minutes after the Lovat full forward was able to bring down a high ball from Lorne MacKay’s free-hit from the centre circle.
The save was all the more important given what happened next.
Jamie Robinson’s shy from the left was scooped on by Evan Menzies and Glen MacKintosh got away from Drew Howie before sweeping the ball low into the net, beating an unsighted Stuart MacDonald inside his left post.
And if that wasn’t bad enough for Lovat, disaster struck just 14 seconds later. Steven Macdonald won the ball from the restart and found Glen MacKintosh who held off Drew Howie before playing the ball into space on the right. Evan Menzies ran out and shot early. Scotland keeper MacDonald seemed to have the effort covered but it squirmed through his feet and into the net and ’More led 3-0.
Steven MacDonald was booked for diving into a challenge as Greg
Matheson got away from him in first half stoppage time.
With a couple of minutes’ stoppage time played, referee Deek Cameron brought the first half to a close.
Lovat, now playing with the wind, had it all to do but Newtonmore, who didn’t leave the pitch during the interval, went back on the offensive from the restart with Iain Robinson flashing a shot wide.
Stuart MacDonald then palmed down a long ball from David MacLean before clearing his lines.
Lovat suffered another blow just a couple of minutes into the second half when full forward Marc MacLachlan landed awkwardly whilst challenging for a high ball with Norman Campbell, twisting his left knee in the process. MacLachlan was left writhing in agony and was helped from the field by Campbell. It was later confirmed that he had suffered a dislocated knee. Bailey MacKay came on in his place.
The MacLachlan injury coupled with Newtonmore’s three-goal cushion seemed to knock the stuffing out of the final for the next 10 minutes or so.
Glen MacKintosh blasted the ball over the junction between post and bar when a Craig Mainland knockdown fell into his path just after the hour.
The rain started to fall and Lovat made a second change on 64 minutes as Martin Mainland replaced Graeme MacMillan. Mainland went to wing centre with Lorne MacKay pushed into the attack.
Lovat desperately needed a goal but the closest they came were a couple of scrambles in the ’More goal area. Newtonmore made their first change on 68 minutes as David MacLean, on his first start following injury, was withdrawn in favour of Drew MacDonald. When Jamie Robinson played in Evan Menzies with 20 minutes remaining, the ’More forward looked sure to complete his hat-trick as he fired in a blistering shot from the right but Stuart MacDonald made a breath-taking reflex save with his club.
Just seconds later, Kenny Ross blocked a Duncan Davidson shot and he then palmed the dropping ball away for a corner.
Craig Ritchie needed attention after a trip on Lewis Tawse, with the Lovat player’s trailing stick catching him on the knee. Referee Cameron signalled that time would be added on with Lovat keen to get the match restarted.
Steven Macdonald then required treatment before continuing his role in the middle of the park.
Evan Menzies went close again, jinking to make space on the left, but his effort went just over the top.
Menzies seemed to pull up just a couple of minutes earlier as he chased a ball to the left. With two crucial league games on the horizon, manager Paul John MacKintosh took no chances, taking Menzies off with Ewen Fraser taking over. Neil Stewart also came on for a limping Michael Russell.
The closest to a goal during five minutes of stoppage time was when a long Drew MacDonald ball from the right dropped nicely for Jamie Robinson but keeper Stuart MacDonald spread himself to keep Robinson’s chip out with the side of his face.
Newtonmore didn’t have a failure in their ranks. Norman Campbell strolled through what seems likely to be his last Scottish final as he plans to step down from first team shinty at the end of the season. Young defender Craig Ritchie turned in one of his best performances in a Newtonmore shirt whilst Steven Macdonald controlled the midfield for log spells. Up front, Evan Menzies starred with two goals and an assist, and his all-round performance earned the coveted Albert Smith medal for man of the match which was presented by Fort William first team manager Victor Smith; Albert Smith’s grandson.
Lovat will look back at the final with regret. They never really got going, or perhaps were not allowed to get going, and they seem to find goals hard to come by against a mean Newtonmore defence.
This Newtonmore squad know their way around a celebration and whilst they’ll mark this success in the traditional manner, they also know that a win against Oban Camanachd at the Eilan this coming Saturday will add the Marine Harvest Premiership to the trophy cabinet.
Lovat from: Stuart MacDonald; Drew Howie, Craig Mainland, Daniel Grieve, Callum Cruden; Danny Kelly, Lorne MacKay, Lewis Tawse (captain); Duncan Davidson, Graeme MacMillan, Greg Matheson, Marc MacLachlan; subs Martin Mainland, Thomas Fraser, Bailey MacKay, Chris Johnston
Newtonmore from: Kenny Ross; Norman Campbell, Rory Kennedy, Craig Ritchie, Andy MacKintosh (captain); David MacLean, Steven Macdonald, Jamie Robinson, Michael Russell, Iain Robinson, Evan Menzies, Glen MacKintosh; subs Drew MacDonald; Neil Stewart, Ewen Fraser, Iain Richardson, Stuart Mitchell Match referee – Deek Cameron Goal judges – Lachie Wood and Alex MacVicar
Fourth official – Robert Baxter Linesmen – Des McNulty, Graham Fisher, Jim Innes and Neil MacDonald
Marine Harvest Premiership Kingussie 7 Skye Camanachd 1
The only scheduled Marine Harvest Premiership fixture of the day was the 11.30am throw up between Kingussie and Skye Camanachd at the Dell.
This match was rescheduled at Skye’s request as the original date clashed with Runrig’s final concert in Stirling. Kingussie manager John Gibson had Savio Genini free of suspension but he was unavailable for this one. Louis Munro was also missing whilst Lee Bain joined Owen Reid and the returning Fraser Munro on the bench. Ryan MacWilliam, James Hutchison and Rory MacGregor made up the midfield.
Skye manager John MacLeod was without keeper Iain MacLeod so Ryan Morrison took over between the sticks. Jordan Murchison, Stewart Grant and John Gillies were also missing. Martin Pringle started in defence with Iain Nicolson in midfield alongside Kenny Campbell and Ally ‘Cleodi’ MacLeod.
It was an even opening and Skye had a chance on 12 minutes when Ruaraidh MacLeod went through one-on-one with Kingussie keeper Craig Dawson but the youngster sent the ball past the post.
Skye’s Iain Nicolson was booked by referee Calum Girvan a minute later for a challenge on Rory MacGregor.
Roddy Young followed up his hattrick in the previous week’s league win over Lochaber with the opening goal in this contest. Young collected the ball by the penalty spot and he turned his marker with his shot looping over the keeper and into the net to make it 1-0 with 14 minutes played.
Skye’s Ruaraidh MacLeod sent another effort wide just three minutes later but it was Liam Borthwick who
added a second Kings goal on 24 minutes. The ball came in to Roddy Young at full forward and Borthwick made a run off him. Young slipped the ball through to Borthwick and he hit a first time shot past the keeper.
James Falconer added his name to the scoresheet on 34 minutes. Liam Borthwick sent the ball in low and hard from out wide and it touched off Falconer’s club and went up into the air and over the goalie’s head before resting in the net to make it 3-0.
Liam Borthwick got his second just five minutes later. There was a melee in the box with Roddy Young and Liam Borthwick both having shots cleared off the line before Borthwick eventually squeezed the ball home to make it 4-0 at half-time.
James Falconer got his second with a fine solo goal just four minutes after the restart. Falconer beat his marker on the wing before getting past the full back and taking the ball around the keeper and tucking it into the bottom corner of the net as he entered the D. Kingussie extended their advantage on 53 minutes. Liam Borthwick switched play to Roddy Young on the wing. Young turned his marker and cut in but was brought down at the edge of the D. Referee Calum Girvan played advantage and the ball bounced out to the edge of the box where an unmarked Ruaridh Anderson had run into the middle and he fired a back-hand shot though a group of players and through the unsighted keeper’s legs to make it 6-0.
Skye were allowing the Kingussie forwards too much space and Roddy Young got his second on 59 minutes. Liam Borthwick played a ball inside and from a similar position to his first goal; Young turned his marker twice before shooting home.
Skye got some consolation on the hour when Ross Gordon sent a kneehigh rocket shot from the left into the net to make it 7-1.
Kingussie have found goals hard to come by this season but their seven goals during the first hour of this game will give confidence to their young forward line of Ruaridh Anderson, Roddy Young, Liam Borthwick and James Falconer.
Kingussie will finish the season with home and away matches against Kinlochshiel whilst Skye are still four points behind eighth placed Caberfeidh with three matches remaining – away to Lovat, Caberfeidh and Oban Camanachd.
However, they will have to play these fixtures without manager John MacLeod who stepped down after the game. His assistants Donnie ‘Digg’ MacDonald and Iain ‘Dowel’ MacLeod will take the team for the remainder of the season.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Caberfeidh 2 Kilmallie 1
A late Paul Ross goal gave the Caberfeidh seconds a 2-1 win over the Kilmallie seconds in an entertaining match at Castle Leod.
Ian MacColl, who normally plays in goals for the Caberfeidh reserves, gave them the lead on 15 minutes but Kilmallie’s Struan Ross equalised just three minutes later.
And that’s the way it stayed until four minutes from time when Paul Ross popped up with the winner.
Strathspey Camanachd P Lochaber P
The match between Strathspey Camanachd and the Lochaber reserves at Grantown Grammar School has been rescheduled for Saturday October 6.
WCA Round Up
With the North and South trails taking place at the Jubilee Park and Ganavan, and the North U14 and South U14 trials happening at Ganavan and Craigard, there was just one top flight Women’s Camanachd Association fixture on Sunday September 16.
Marine Harvest National Division 1 Badenoch & Strathspey 22 Ardnamurchan 0
Badenoch and Strathspey had a big win over-newly promoted Ardnamurchan in their 2pm throw up at the Dell.
This was Badenoch’s game in hand on league leaders Skye and they took full advantage against their less experienced opponents.
Kirsty Deans scored six times with Mairi Stewart getting four goals and Rona Stewart, Elizabeth McGregor and Jeanette McGregor all grabbing hat-tricks. Roma Fraser, Sarah Caird and Katie Falconer got the others.
This was Badenoch’s second successive victory since their recent Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup final win over Skye whilst Robbie Gordon’s Skye side has still to play since that day.
Badenoch now trail Skye by just two points. Skye have a 100 per cent record in the division whilst Badenoch’s only defeat was a 3-1 reverse against the islanders at the Dell earlier in the season. Both sides have just two league fixtures remaining. Both Skye games are at home.
Indeed they have only played twice at home this season – against newly promoted pair Ardnamurchan and Strathspey – as Aberdour, Fort William and Glasgow Mid Argyll failed to travel to Portree and forfeited the points as a consequence.
In the remaining matches, Skye host Lochaber on Saturday September 22 whilst Badenoch welcome Glasgow Mid Argyll to the Dell a day later. Skye Camanachd and Badenoch and Strathspey are then due to meet at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree in what could be a title-decider on Saturday October 6.
WCA Scotland U18 Development Squad
The Women’s Camanachd Association coaching team has announced this year’s Scotland U18 Development squad.
They will play a challenge match against the Scotland Development Squad at Braeview Park on Sunday October 21.
Throw-up is at 1pm and the game will form part of the shinty/hurling/ camogie weekend.
Scotland U18 from:
Caitlin Mutch - Inverness Hannah Johnson - Inverness Roma Fraser – Badenoch and Strathspey
Emma Gordon – Skye Camanachd Christina McDonald – Skye Camanachd
Kirsty Dibble - Skye Camanachd Katherine Dibble – Skye Camanachd Amy Disher - Lochaber Mairi Duncan - Lochaber Abi Stoddart - Glenurquhart Kate Bradley - Ardnamurchan Eilidh Ross - Ardnamurchan Orla McCarthy – Glasgow Mid Argyll
Anne Fairbairn – Fort William Emily Gordon - Glengarry Leona Falconer - Glengarry
Youth Fixtures Kenneth MacMaster Cup final Beauly U14 2 Fort William U14 0
The 2018 Camanachd Cup final at Mossfield was preceded by the Kenneth MacMaster Cup Final between Beauly U14 and Fort William U14.
Beauly went into this 11am throw up as pre-match favourites. After getting a first round bye, they beat Skye and Lochaber to reach the final.
Fort William overcame their Lovat, Newtonmore and Caberfeidh counter-parts on their path to Oban.
Beauly got off to a great start as Callum MacIver gave them the lead after just two minutes, scoring from close range.
Rory MacColl added a second goal just 10 minutes into the second half when his back-hand strike, following a knock-down out of the Fort defence, went low past keeper Struan Stephen. The young Fort William squad will take much from the game with almost all of their players eligible for the same competition next season.
Beauly have some fine young players and they are unbeaten this season. Their captain Euan MacCormick was presented with the MacMaster Cup.
Graham Fisher was the match referee.
When two worlds collide
The worlds of art, specifically printmaking, and shinty have come together for a project that celebrates the culture and heritage of one of Scotland’s oldest sports.
The Throw Up 20.18 project, organised by Highland Print Studio and funded by Highland Culture Strategic Board’s Highland Culture: Take Pride, Take Part programme, commissioned four artists to work with designated shinty clubs during 2017 and into the 2018 shinty season. A selection of the final work was exhibited for the first time at last weekend’s Camanachd Cup final in Oban.
The artists created a series of artworks inspired by the contemporary culture and heritage of the iconic, indigenous sport. Over the past 12 months they have spent time getting to know the people involved in the clubs, from players to volunteers, to fans, and through them find out more about the sport, the club and its history.
Each artist has worked using a number of disciplines including; photography, linocut, screen printing, photogravure and knitting to capture and portray original artwork as a legacy to the clubs involved.
Artist Tom Smith, from Lateral North, has been working with Beauly Shinty Club to develop an interactive artwork to showcase three stories at a local, national and international level which highlights the significance of shinty within the community. Through the use of augmented reality they aim to bring these compelling stories to life.
Perhaps the saddest story explores Beauly’s team during the First World War. Regarded as perhaps the community’s greatest ever team, Beauly won the Camanachd and MacTavish Cups in 1913, the first club to do that particular double.
The team was captained by Andrew Paterson and his brother Donald played alongside him. Shortly after that great victory, both brothers would leave for war and never return. The community and club were devastated by the loss, with 13 men from the village’s Ferry Road alone never returning home.
Donald, a great piper, was killed at the battle of Festubert where his blood stained pipes and a pipe tune were both recovered. This tune, named ‘Beauly Shinty Club’, was thought to reminisce the 1913 victory.
A generation later, the pipes have now been taken on by his nephew and renowned piper Duncan MacGillivray. These restored pipes have now been played around the world including Copacabana beach.
The works of the other artists on the project include:
Roddy Buchanan (Fort William Shinty Club): Roddy is a Glasgowbased artist who exhibits his work nationally and internationally. Roddy was interested by the interaction of the players on the field and his work captures the moments when players lock in battle.
Deirdre Nelson (Newtonmore Camanachd): Deirdre often works with textiles, including projects based in Fair Isle and Shapinsay. Deirdre focussed on the community and the numbers involved at maintaining the club, both on and off the field. One of her findings was that there were more bakers than first team players which she has documented in screen print.
John McNaught (Skye Camanachd): John who grew up in Skye and is an artist working from Cromarty in the North of Scotland. He is a specialist in printmaking and photography, both freelance and as studio manager at Highland Print Studio in Inverness. He used mixed media print making to mark Skye Camanachd celebrating 125 years.
Highland Print Studio Director Alison McMenemy said: ‘This has been a great experience learning more about this unique sport. The level of commitment from shinty communities to running the clubs year on year is remarkable. These players play like professionals; to achieve and maintain that level of skill and fitness alongside a day job is truly impressive. These guys are true athletes.’
Steven Mackenzie, who is the Camanachd Association’s communications director and is also Beauly Shinty Club secretary added: ‘We’ve been really looking forward to seeing the artwork all in one place. I know the teams involved have enjoyed working with the artists and sharing stories of the clubs’ past. From a Beauly perspective, working with Tom, who is a former Lovat player, has been a pleasure and we hope he has a better understanding and new found respect for his traditional rivals.’