Kinlochshiel Lift 2010 Balliemore Cup. | |
19 July 2010 Kinlochshiel won the 2010 Balliemore Cup following a monumental tussle with Lochaber at An Aird on Saturday 17 July 2010. Lochaber, with a stiff breeze at their backs, started well and they pinned Shiel back for the opening minutes of the game. However it was Kinlochshiel who took the lead with their first attack on 6 minutes as Keith MacRae turned Lochaber full back Lachlan Campbell on the Shiel right. MacRae then cut in on goal and before crashing an unstoppable backhand shot into the top left corner on Jake Keenan’s net. The west coast side almost doubled their advantage on 13 minutes when the Lochaber defence afforded Keith MacRae too much space but he blasted the ball into the side net. A minute later, Graham Kennedy had to look lively to sweep the ball for a corner before making a good stop from Lochaber’s Shaun Nicolson with his feet. Lochaber keeper Jake Keenan made a brilliant save with his caman on 23 minutes from a Fraser MacVicar rocket after the Shiel forward had been set up by John MacRae. A few minutes later, Shiel’s Zander Grant required treatment as Ben Delaney’s swinging caman accidently caught him in the mouth. However the hardy defender resumed play after attention from medic John Don MacKenzie. Lochaber’s pressure was rewarded on 33 minutes. The Shiel defence cleared a Carl Dignan shy but when the ball came back to the Lochaber wing centre, he chipped it into the area where Scott Patterson won possession and made space for himself before seeing his blocked shot spin into the air. It looked as if Graham Kennedy was about to palm the ball to safety but he misjudged it and the ball spun into the net with Shaun Nicolson following up just in case. Lochaber took the lead on 37 minutes. Ian Love did well to keep the ball in play on the Lochaber right and he crossed to Scott Patterson who turned and blasted the ball high past Kennedy. Shiel responded and John MacRae went close on 38 minutes before requiring attention for a facial knock when he was caught by Lachlan Campbell’s caman. The stoppages meant almost 5 minutes injury time but no one in the An Aird crowd was complaining. Shiel started the second half with the breeze in their favour. However it was Lochaber who almost extended their lead on 48 minutes but Angus Morrison miss-hit his shot when clean through on goal and Graham Kennedy saved with his feet. Lochaber did score a minute later. Good control and strength from Ben Delaney set up a chance for Shaun Nicolson and he shot low past Graham Kennedy to make it 3-1. Keith MacRae tried to pull a goal back as he ran in on goal from a free-hit but Jake Keenan saved with his feet at the expense of a corner as this thrilling game swung from end to end. An Angus Morrison shot from distance dipped just over the bar and a Ben Delaney shot went just the wrong side of the post on 53 minutes as Lochaber looked for a fourth goal which would surely seal victory. A brilliantly scooped free hit from Finlay MacRae on 55 minutes lifted the ball into the D for Gordie MacDonald to first-time the ball goalwards but Jake Keenan made a great save with his hand to clear the ball for a corner. Graham Kennedy made a fantastic save from Ben Delaney following a Lochaber free hit on 63 minutes to keep his side in the game. He got his body in the way to stop an Angus Morrison run and it was clear that the next goal was going to be vital. Neil Fraser came on for Graeme Morrison on 65 minutes and joined the right side of the Shiel attack. He made an instant impression. A minute later Shiel pulled a goal back when Fraser MacVicar tussled for possession and the ball broke to Steven Callander. The full centre volleyed it forward for the on-running Gordie MacDonald to expertly strike the ball one handed past Jake Keenan to make it 3-2. An unsighted Jake Keenan saved well from a 25 yard Steven Callander drive on 70 minutes. A minute later Shiel were level. Neil Fraser did well on the right to cross for Finlay MacRae who tucked a low shot into the net which beat Jake Keenan to his right. Neil Fraser was causing havoc in the Lochaber defence and he shot just wide on 73 minutes. On 76 minutes Lochaber manager Mike Delaney brought Zander Ferguson on for Danny Delaney who was feeling his hamstring. The rain started to make conditions tricky as both sides fought to gain the advantage. John Don MacKenzie was warned by referee Deek Cameron for bringing down Shaun Nicolson on 82 minutes and Graham Kennedy made an incredible save with his stick to prevent a Shaun Nicolson shot from going in at his right post. Finlay MacRae burst through on 85 minutes but his shot came back off the post with Jake Keenan beaten. Angus Morrison threatened a minute later but Kennedy saved and there was not letting up from either side. Graham Kennedy again saved from Angus Morrison on 89 minutes and the Shiel keeper also cleared the danger from the resultant corner. Neil Fraser played a dangerous ball goalwards but Gordie MacDonald just couldn’t reach it. John Don MacKenzie was booked one foul too many on Shaun Nicolson on 90 minutes but Lochaber couldn’t make anything from the free hit. Then came the most dramatic of endings. On 93 minutes Carl Dignan played the ball into the danger area and although Shaun Nicolson was fouled but he kept possession and a shot low into the net. He looked to have won the cup for the Spean Bridge men. However Kinlochshiel had other ideas and from the throw up, with just 30 seconds remaining, Finlay MacRae scooped the ball across goal, Gordie MacDonald cut in back and Keith MacRae shot low into the net to take the final into extra time. Lochaber restarted with wind advantage and Angus Morrison found himself clean through after 2 minutes but Graham Kennedy again saved with his feet. The driving rain was making it difficult for players to keep their feet and Shaun Nicolson was only inches wide on 4 minutes. Steven Callander received a blow to the face which left him with a broken nose on 11 minutes. Graham Kennedy did well to keep out Scott Patterson effort as he blocked the ball and cleared with his hand as the first half of extra time drew to a close. Shiel started the second period of extra time brightly but it was Lochaber who came close when a Ben Delaney shot whistled just past the post after a couple of minutes of the second period. Keith Loades and Johnston Gill brought Iain MacDonald on in place of Gordie MacDonald with 10 minutes remaining Lochaber introduced Keith Neville for Angus Morrison a couple of minutes later. Shiel suffered a blow when John Don MacKenzie was sent off with 7 minutes remaining when he lashed his stick at the back of Keith Neville’s legs after the Lochaber man had been holding MacKenzie’s stick. Finlay MacRae dropped back into defence for the remainder of the game. There was still time for Graham Kennedy to make a couple of important stops before Deek Cameron blew to take the game into a penalty shoot-out. Penalties Lochaber – Lachlan Campbell – saved – 0-0 Kinlochshiel – Keith MacRae – goal – 0-1 Lochaber – Ben Delaney – missed – 0-1 Kinlochshiel – Finlay MacRae – missed – 0-1 Lochaber – Keith Neville – missed – 0-1 Kinlochshiel – John MacRae – goal – 0-2 Lochaber – Zander Ferguson – saved – 0-2 Kinlochshiel win 2-0 on penalties. Kinlochshiel captain Paul MacRae, who was excellent throughout, was presented with the trophy by Camanachd Association President Duncan Cameron. Kinlochshiel’s Keith MacRae won the BBC ALBA man of the match. Both teams deserve enormous credit for putting on a thoroughly entertaining game and, as with both their earlier meetings this season, there was little between the sides. |