SHINTY ROUND-UP
cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final Kinlochshiel 3 Kingussie 2, after extra-time
Kinlochshiel won the cottages. com MacTavish Cup for the first time, coming from behind to beat Kingussie 3-2 in their 2pm throw-up at the Bught Park, Inverness.
Referee Des McNulty signalled a minute’s silence ahead of throw-up to mark the passing of Dougie MacDougall, born in 1928, who was one of Kingussie’s most loyal and well-travelled supporters for the best part of a century.
It was a cagey opening, but Kingussie took the lead on 10 minutes. Dylan Borthwick, with his back to goal, played the ball out to the Kingussie right where Ruaridh Anderson was darting forward and he cracked a great shot past Josh Grant to make it 1-0.
Kingussie now had their tails up and pressed Kinlochshiel but the west coast side defended well.
Kinlochshiel were enjoying their best period in the final so far but Kingussie’s Robert Mabon made several important interventions.
When the ball broke to Jordan Fraser on the left of the ‘D’, his shot was weak and Rory MacGregor comfortably saved with his feet.
A Kinlochshiel goal was coming and it arrived on the half hour. Keith MacRae played the ball inside, picking out Jordan Fraser’s run forward. If Fraser’s previous effort lacked power, this strike more than made up for it as he hit the ball across keeper MacGregor to make it 1-1.
Kingussie went back on the attack and Josh Grant had to make a quick double-save before Roddy Young rushed in from the right, but he pushed the ball into the side-netting.
There were a couple of late first half chances for Kinlochshiel as Keith MacRae lifted the ball over the bar following Donald Nixon’s firm hit-in on the left, then John MacRae shot wide from distance before Des McNulty brought an open and entertaining first 45 minutes to an end.
Kingussie were back on the field first for the start of the second half, with Ryan Borthwick replacing Calum Grant in defence.
Kingussie introduced Fraser Munro for Liam Borthwick as the final approached the hour mark, before Roddy Young went close for Kingussie following a nice passing move.
Kinlochshiel made a couple of changes with Jonnie MacAskill on for Duncan ‘DA’ MacRae and Archie MacRae replacing Duncan ‘WD’ MacRae soon after. When Ruaridh Anderson found Dylan Borthwick, his effort went wide, then Dylan Borthwick saw his snapshot saved with his feet by Josh Grant and the ball turned away for a corner with 20 minutes remaining.
Kingussie made their third change as Savio Genini came on for Dylan Borthwick for the final 15 minutes of regulation time.
Kieran MacPherson needed spray after taking a blow to the arm with five minutes remaining with thoughts already turning to the possibility of extra-time.
Kinlochshiel had a late set-piece chance when Archie MacRae was impeded. Donald Nixon found John MacRae but his effort was deflected away for a corner, taken by Jonnie MacAskill, with the ball going dangerously across goal before being cleared.
Kinlochshiel finished the 90 minutes on the attack, before referee Des McNulty took the final into extra-time.
Jordan Fraser hooked the ball over the top with the first chance of additional time following Keith MacRae’s free-hit on the left. Dylan Borthwick returned to the field to take over from Roddy Young.
Kinlochshiel took the lead for the first time in the match on 100 minutes. Donald Nixon’s hit-in on the right reached John MacRae who turned and blasted the ball high past the keeper to make it 2-1.
There was better to come for the west coast side a couple of minutes later as Archie MacRae skipped past Rory MacKeachan on the Kinlochshiel right before cutting in towards goal, keeping his composure to score a wonderful individual goal.
Kingussie responded and
Savio Genini won possession on the right but his shot lacked accuracy and referee McNulty signalled the end of the first period of extra-time.
Duncan ‘DA’ MacRae came back on for Keith MacRae for the final 15 minutes of this enthralling contest.
Josh Grant made a superb save to deny Ruaridh Anderson and Kingussie had to settle for a corner. Calum Grant came back on for Kieran MacPherson but Kinlochshiel were slowing the game down at every opportunity, as you would expect from a side holding a two-goal lead.
Keith MacRae came back on when Donald Nixon was forced to leave the field.
Kingussie pushed Robert Mabon forward and he shot wide from the left.
Kingussie pressed hard and Savio Genini and Robert Mabon had half-chances but they couldn’t breach the Kinlochshiel back line.
There was late drama as, with only moments remaining, Ryan Borthwick forced the ball home following James Hutchison’s free-hit but there was only enough time remaining to restart the match before the referee blew for time.
It is always easy to take Kinlochshiel talisman Finlay MacRae’s performances for granted but he was commanding throughout and was deservedly named man of the match, receiving the Tom Mackenzie Memorial Medal.
Keith MacRae, who has fought back to fitness following a knee injury, raised the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup for the first time in his club’s history last month. This was another milestone as MacRae became the first Kinlochshiel player to raise the MacTavish Cup in the competition’s 123-year history, with Stuart Walkden from sponsors cottages.com looking on.
A jubilant Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill said: ‘Making history, that’s what we are good at, at the moment. This was a big occasion for our fans and our community and we are delighted. I always said Kingussie would be a tough nut to crack and they proved that today as the game could have gone either way. Without a doubt, we are the best team in Scotland at the moment.’
Bullough Cup final Kyles Athletic 3 Lochside Rovers 3 Kyles Athletic won 3-1 on penalties)
The Kyles Athletic second team came from behind three times before eventually beating Lochside Rovers 3-1 on penalties to lift the Bullough Cup at Tighnabruaich.
Full report at www.lochabertimes.co.uk
Mowi Senior League A Fort William P Glenurquhart P
Fort William’s clash with Glenurquhart at an Aird was called off because of covid restrictions affecting the visitors.
Lochaber P Skye Camanachd P
Skye Camanachd were unable to field a team for their meeting with Lochaber at Spean Bridge.
Mowi Senior League B Caberfeidh 8 Lovat 1
Caberfeidh trounced Lovat 8-1 at Castle Leod.
The match helped both teams reduce suspensions with Caberfeidh’s Connor MacGregor and Lovat duo Lorne MacKay and Callum Cruden all knocking a game off their respective bans.
There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw-up to mark the previous day’s passing of Johnnie Sinclair, whose family’s association with Caberfeidh stretches back to the founding of the club in 1896. Kyle Grant gave Caberfeidh the lead on two minutes and they never looked back. Ben MacDonald on 10 minutes and Craig Morrison’s first on 24 minutes made it 3-0. Lewis Tawse pulled a goal back on 38 minutes to leave the hosts 3-1 ahead at the break.
Kevin Bartlett restored Caberfeidh’s three-goal cushion on 52 minutes with Craig Morrison completing his hattrick on 63 and 65 minutes.
Kyle Grant and Kevin Bartlett scored their second goals of the afternoon on 77 and 82 minutes respectively.
The sides are scheduled to meet again in the league this Saturday at Balgate.
Mowi Senior League C Oban Celtic P Aberdour P
Aberdour were unable to field a side for their trip to play Oban Celtic at Mossfield.
Mowi North League A Skye Camanachd P Fort William P
The Skye Camanachd second team were unable to fulfil their fixture with the Fort William second team at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Mowi North League B Newtonmore 6 Caberfeidh 0
The Newtonmore colts scored three times in each half to beat the Caberfeidh colts 6-0 at the Eilan.
Newtonmore took the lead through Craig Macleod on 10 minutes, with Sorley Thomson adding a second on 25 minutes.
Daniel Craven struck four minutes later meaning the hosts led 3-0 at the break.
Craig Macleod got his second on the hour with Tristan Ross making it 5-0 on 70 minutes.
Kyle Clark rounded off the scoring with four minutes remaining.
Lovat P Glenurquhart P
The meeting between the Lovat seconds and the Glenurquhart seconds at Balgate was called off because of covid restrictions.
Mowi North League C Beauly P Strathglass P
There was disappointment for the Beauly reserves and the Strathglass reserves as their match at Braeview Park was postponed because of an unplayable field.
This is only the second match this season to be called off because of an unplayable pitch.
Mowi South League B Bute 0 Glasgow Mid Argyll 2
The Bute seconds played well despite going down 2-0 to the Glasgow Mid Argyll seconds at the Meadows.
Nick Lavin opened the scoring on 25 minutes, with Neil Robertson clinching victory 15 minutes from time.
Tayforth P Aberdour P
Tayforth were unable to field a team for the Aberdour second team’s visit to Peffermill.
Mowi Central League Ardnamurchan 3 Oban Celtic 5
Andrew MacDonald’s hattrick helped the Oban Celtic second team come from 3-1 down to beat Ardnamurchan 5-3 at Strontian.
Herbie Patterson gave Ardnamurchan the lead on six minutes but Keegan Macphee levelled on 17 minutes.
Freddie Patterson scored on the stroke of half-time to give the hosts a 2-1 interval advantage.
Freddie Patterson got his second on 54 minutes and Ardnamurchan now led 3-1.
Oban Celtic made some positional changes and Andrew MacDonald took centre stage, scoring twice on 75 and 76 minutes to make it 3-3.
It was Andrew MacDonald again as he completed his hat-trick on 80 minutes to give Celtic a 4-3 lead. Joe MacVicar netted a couple of minutes later to complete the 5-3 victory.
Glenorchy P Kilmory P
Kilmory were unable to field a team for their match with Glenorchy at Mart Park.