Shiel are the history makers as they lift Cup for first time
LOVAT 1 KINLOCHSHIEL 3 “We’ve now won it once and we can win it again!”
That was the message from jubilant Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill who had just seen his side see off Lovat in Oban to win the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
Speaking after a wonderful showpiece encounter, Gill said: “I’m overwhelmed. This is just fantastic for the whole community and I think they were probably all here today to watch us.
“It was one of the best cup finals ever and when you add the three or four younger players we have coming through, I believe we can do it again.
“It has been a great occasion and every single man performed so well out there.
“At half-time we said we weren’t here to lose the trophy but to win the Cup. The players are all experienced but we pointed out some small things and they finished the job in the second half.
“We still have the Mactavish Cup to play for this season. We’ve never won that before either, so there’s something else to aim for.”
Fraser Heath’s shot off the post was the closest to a goal during the tense early exchanges but Kinlochshiel captain Keith Macrae put his mark on the final, breaking the deadlock on 25 minutes.
A stray Lovat hit-in was swept on by John Macrae and Keith Macrae rifled the ball high into the net from a central position.
’Shiel pressed for a second but couldn’t find a way past Lovat keeper Stuart Macdonald and they were hit with a sucker-punch in first half stoppage-time when Greg Matheson crashed the ball home from the left to make it 1-1 at half-time.
’Shiel regained the lead on the
hour and it was that man Keith Macrae again as he raced down the middle on to Jordan Fraser’s long ball before lifting it over Stuart Macdonald as the keeper came off his line.
Keith Macrae made it a day to remember in injury-time.
Lovat didn’t deal with Donald Nixon’s long free-hit and John Macrae was again the provider with Keith Macrae smashing the ball inside the near post from the left of the D to complete his hat-trick and win the Camanachd Cup.
Kinlochshiel’s Conor Cormack
was awarded the Albert Smith medal as Man of the Match before Keith Macrae lifted the Camanachd Cup in front of the red and white army of ’Shiel supporters who were ready to celebrate like never before.
Winning skipper Macrae said: “The boys worked so hard today and this is reward for the all the commitment over the years. We’ve stuck together as a squad and worked so hard and it has really clicked for us this year.
“I don’t score many hat-tricks, so I’ll certainly take one in the Camanachd Cup Final.”