Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final – Road To The Final. | |
30 July 2010 The Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final between Glenurquhart and Lovat takes place at the Eilan on Saturday 31 July 2010. Both sides have had some good wins on the road to the final. Round 1 There was expected to be a close tie at Balgate where Lovat met Newtonmore in a 12 noon throw up. An under-strength Newtonmore side eventually went down 6-2 to the 2009 Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup finalists. The visitors even took Evan Cheyne out of retirement to play full back in the tie. Jamie Matheson gave Lovat the lead after 16 minutes and Jimmy MacKenzie made it 2-0 on 39 minutes. Owen Ferguson virtually ensured Lovat’s path into the next round when he made it 3-0 just a couple of minutes before the break. Ferguson added his second a minute into the second period to make it 4-0. ‘More’s Mark MacDonald pulled a goal back on 58 minutes but Owen Ferguson went on to complete his hat-trick just after the hour mark. David Wilde pulled another goal back for the visitors but Ferguson scored his fourth and Lovat’s sixth goal 4 minutes from time. Lovat now travel to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel. Marine Harvest Division 3 side Lochcarron were always going to be up against it when they were drawn against Marine Harvest Division 2 reigning champions Glenurquhart at Battery Park. The home side went 3-0 down early in the match and their cause wasn’t helped when they lost the influential David MacCuish to an accidental head knock during this period. MacCuish later required several stitches and a hospital check-up but he is recovering well. Glenurquhart were too strong for the home side and eventually ran out 12-0 winners. David Smart was their top scorer with a double hat-trick whilst veteran Stuart Morrison scored twice. Youngsters Ross MacAulay and Ewan Brady also found the net and the visitors even pushed full back Gregor MacCormack forward later in the game and he helped himself to a couple of goals. Round 2 The 2009 runners up Lovat headed for Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel with the knowledge that they were 5-1 winners when the sides met at the same venue last month. Connel MacKellacher gave the visitors a 22 minute lead whilst Jamie Matheson added a second 3 minutes later. A strike from Alan MacRae on the hour mark gave Lovat a comfortable 3-0 win. There was another interesting clash between sides from Marine Harvest North Division 2 and 3 in Aberdeen where the Students hosted Glenurquhart. Aberdeen University gave a good account of themselves, taking the tie to extra time before going down 3-1. Former Skye Camanachd player Kenny MacLeod scored for the home side but a brace from Gregor MacCormack and a goal from veteran Stuart Morrison saw the Glen through to the next round. Quarter Finals Holders Fort William met Marine Harvest North Division 2 champions Glenurquhart at An Aird. Both teams won through to the Strathdearn Cup semi finals during the week but one would not make it to the last four of this competition. Sean Cameron and Sean Cruickshank scored for Fort William but a Ruaraidh Cameron double and a goal from Ewan Fraser gave the Glen a fantastic extra time win. Inveraray and Lovat met in a 3pm throw up at the Winterton. The home side have been struggling in Marine Harvest South Division 1 this season whilst Lovat have been inconsistent by their own standards. However Lovat’s decision to try and maintain the strength of their reserve side, even although their first team was short, paid dividends as they ran out 4-0 winners. Greg Matheson scored a hat-trick on 24, 42 and 85 minutes whilst his older brother Jamie Matheson scored the other on 75 minutes to win a semi final spot. Semi Finals The first semi final was between Glenurquhart and Kyles Athletic met at Blairbeg. The Glen started as favourites to clinch a final spot against a Kyles side which led Marine Harvest South Division 1. It was Glenurquhart who made it through to their second cup final of the season with a 2-0 win. The Glen scored a goal in each half with Ruaraidh Cameron netting 5 minutes from the break and Ewan Brady getting the other from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half. Lovat beat Kingussie 5-1 at Balgate to win through to the final. Lovat have been a good cup side in recent seasons. Marine Harvest U17 Player of the Year Greg Matheson bagged a hat-trick with goals on 10, 22 and 52 minutes to put Lovat 3-0 up before veteran Kevin Thain pulled a goal back for Kingussie. However Duncan Davidson made it 4-1 on 75 minutes and Lewis Tawse added a fifth 4 minutes later. Lovat now play Glenurquhart in the final on 31 July 2010 and this is a repeat of the 2010 Strathdearn Cup Final. The Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final throws up at 4pm and will be shown live on BBC ALBA. The Final will be refereed by Ron Kennedy from Newtonmore. |