2011 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final …………. 2 Days To Go! | |
15 September 2011 Badenoch rivals Newtonmore and Kingussie last met in the Camanachd Cup Final back in 1997 on a blustery day in Fort William. Newtonmore were to finish in sixth place in the eight team Premier Division and they were up against a Kingussie side which had already bagged the MacTavish Cup and Macaulay Cup with single goal victories over Fort William and Oban Camanachd respectively. Kingussie would also go on to capture the Premier Division title. If that wasn’t daunting enough for ‘More, they went into the final without captain Evan Cheyne who was suspended. The Kingussie forward line that day was Davie Anderson, Kevin Thain, Ally Borthwick and Ronald Ross and it was a combination which many regard to be the sides greatest ever attack. They were about to show why. Newtonmore played with the wind at their backs in the first half and they almost took the lead when Norman MacArthur shot over the bar. A minute later a Ronald Ross effort was kept out by a combination of Newtonmore keeper Cheyne and the frame of the goal but the Ross was on hand to give the Kingussie fans reason to start the celebrations when he netted after 8 minutes. The Newtonmore defence was finding the free-flowing Kingussie attack a real handful and Brian Cheyne was booked by referee Rab MacMillan for bringing down the on-rushing Davie Anderson on 14 minutes. Ally Borthwick made it a double whammy when he netted the Kings second from the resultant free-hit. Davie Anderson hit the inside of the post before Newtonmore threatened through Sean Latimer and Orsten Gardner. Ronald Ross latched on to a superb Michael Clark ball before losing his marker and shooting low into the net to make it 3-0. Michael Ritchie was next to find his way into referee MacMillan’s notebook for a foul on Kevin Thain with half an hour played. Ronald Ross chipped the fourth goal high into the ‘More net from a corner to complete his hat-trick. A Kevin Thain volley made it 5-0 and the same player got his second with a blistering drive from distance to give Kingussie a six goal lead at the break. Newtonmore manager David Cheyne must have realised that it wasn’t going to be his day when he watched a mis-hit Ally Dallas shot drop into the back of the ‘More net. Ronald Ross scored his fourth to make it 8-0 before Sean Latimer at last gave the Newtonmore supporters something to cheer about when he scored with a fantastic 40 yard drive. Newtonmore showed their mettle by forcing a good save from Kingussie keeper Iain Anderson and they had the ball in the net for a second time only for the effort to be disallowed for offside. Their respite was brief though as Kevin Thain hit the back of the net to complete his hat-trick to make it 9-1. Ally Borthwick’s second goal of the afternoon made it double figures before substitute Dave Thomson scored the eleventh goal which equalled the previous record haul set ironically by Newtonmore in their 11-3 win over Furnace in 1909. The record-breaking twelfth goal was scored in injury-time by Ronald Ross. Newtonmore’s final league position suggests that they did well to reach the Scottish Final in 1997 but it was their mis-fortune to meet a Kingussie side firing on all-cylinders. Kingussie captain Ally Borthwick lifted the famous trophy which was sponsored by Glenmorangie, and he took home the prestigious captain’s silver mounted caman. Ronald Ross’ over-all performance and five goal haul earned him the sought after Albert Smith medal as man of the match. The “Grand Slam” Kingussie line-up, managed by Ian Ross, included current manager Stevie Borthwick as well as talisman Ronald Ross although not in their wildest dreams could they expect a repeat scoreline this weekend. The result was Camanachd Cup Final record which stands to this day. Current players Norman Campbell and Michael Ritchie played for Newtonmore that afternoon although keeper Ritchie featured as an outfield player. Current manager Norman MacArthur also featured and they have had a long wait to try and erase the memory of what Ritchie was later to call, “the worst day of my life.” (Thanks to the 1997-98 Shinty Year Book for background information) |