Kyles Athletic won the 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup with a dramatic 6-5 victory over Inveraray at Mossfield, Oban on Saturday 15 September 2012.
There was a minutes silence ahead of the throw up as a mark of respect for Donald MacPhail’s wife Liz MacPhail of Glendaruel who passed away earlier in the week. Donald MacPhail played in the Kyles team which won the Camanachd Cup in 1994.
Inveraray’s Ruairidh Graham missed out on a place in the starting line-up with a groin strain but was given a place on the bench.
Inveraray played with the slight wind at their backs in the first half as the rain fell on a packed Mossfield.
After a cagey start, the deadlock was broken after just 7 minutes. Chris Crawford lost his marker and ran onto a Stuart Robertson shy from the right. He was allowed to run at the Kyles defence and looked to have over-run the ball inside the D. However he managed to knock the ball back to Russell MacKinlay who lofted it into the net to make it 1-0 to the men from the Winterton.
Kyles levelled on 12 minutes. Dunkie Kerr took a free-hit from the right which was touched on by John Whyte. Inveraray keeper Graham MacPherson came off his line to clear but missed ball and Roddy MacDonald stroked it into the net to make it 1-1.
Roddy MacDonald darted into the D again moments later but he steered the ball wide under pressure from Scott Robertson.
A Robbie MacLeod shot was deflected away by Allan MacDonald on 16 minutes and Kenny MacDonald came off his line to thwart Garry MacPherson seconds later.
Donald Irvine deflected away a Garry MacPherson shot on 18 minutes as the game continued to swing from end to end.
Kyles took the lead on 19 minutes when Roddy MacDonald collected a John Whyte pass after a huge Donald Irvine clearance. MacDonald fought off two challenges before beating MacPherson to make it 2-1 with a fine individual goal.
It was 2-2 after 20 minutes when a Euan McMurdo ball was deflected into the path of Garry MacPherson and he fired the a shot into the corner of the net past an unsighted Kenny MacDonald.
Inveraray’s Chris Crawford turned his marker from a David MacPherson shy on the left on 23 minutes and tucked into corner of net to put Inveraray back in front and they led 3-2.
Incredibly Russell McKinlay made it 4-2 on 29 minutes when he took down a ball from David MacPherson and knocked it low, into the net.
Kenny MacDonald denied Russell MacKinlay his hat-trick when he saved the Inveraray forward’s half volley on the half hour mark.
Robbie MacLeod shot high and wide from a 38 minute free-hit as Kyles tried to reduce the deficit.
At the other end, Garry MacPherson cut inside but shot just past the post on 42 minutes.
Kenny MacDonald made a great save from Euan McMurdo a minute later.
And Graham MacPherson showed his worth when he made a superb stop from Thomas Whyte seconds later.
Referee Graham Cameron’s half time whistle signalled the end of a quite breath-taking opening 45 minutes and Inveraray took a 4-2 lead into the interval.
The second half could not keep going at the same pace, could it ……?
Kyles had the wind in their favour in the second half but Euan McMurdo had the first shot of the second period after 47 minutes but it was wide.
Kyles were awarded a penalty on 51 minutes. Dunkie Kerr played a one-two but was brought down inside the D by the one rushing Graham MacPherson. Referee Cameron pointed to the spot after discussion with goal judge Duncan Kelly. Robbie MacLeod hit the penalty low and it bounced past MacPherson into the net to make it 4-3.
Graham MacPherson made a great diving save from Thomas Whyte moments later.
Inveraray restored their two goal advantage when Garry MacPherson collected a neat pass from Chris Crawford on 54 minutes and he bulleted a great shot from the right into the net to make it 5-3.
However it was 5-4 on 58 minutes when Fraser MacDonald sent a blistering, swerving drive past MacPherson to reduce the deficit to a single goal.
The Kyles comeback was complete on 61 minutes when Roddy MacDonald blasted the ball home to make it 5-5 and complete his hat-trick after good work by Fraser MacDonald.
Inveraray boss John Smylie made a double change to try and regain the ascendancy with Ruaridh Graham coming on for David MacPherson and Andrew MacMurdo taking the field in place of Stuart Robertson with 25 minutes remaining.
However Ruairidh Graham had to come off moments later after his groin injury flared up once more and David MacPherson returned to the action.
Graham MacPherson did well to save a Tom Whyte shot and then clear the danger on 68 minutes with Roddy MacDonald ready to pounce.
Kyles were turning the screw and MacPherson saved again, this time from Fraser MacDonald, a couple of minutes later.
Kyles Athletic made their first change when former Fort William player Ewen Campbell replaced John Whyte on 72 minutes.
A David Zavaroni shot rose over the bar a minute later.
Inveraray’s Allan MacDonald became the first player to be yellow carded after 77 minutes.
It was now wave after wave of Kyles Athletic attacks and after one such move, Roddy MacDonald hit the ball low and hard into the corner of the net for his fourth goal of the game which made it 6-5 to the Tighnabruaich side. Kyles were ahead for only the second time in the game and there were just 10 minutes remaining.
Inveraray fought back and a ball across the D saw a Chris Crawford snapshot hit the post with Kenny MacDonald beaten and just 5 minutes remaining.
Inveraray’s Neil Campbell came on for David MacPherson with just 3 minutes remaining.
Graham MacPherson saved a Roddy MacDonald shot with his feet on 89 minutes.
Inveraray made a late surge for a leveller but it was Kyles’ day and referee Graham Cameron’s final whistle sparked scenes of celebrations from the Kyles contingent.
The Camanachd Cup was presented to Kyles Athletic captain Andrew King by Sports Minister, Shona Robison MSP.
Kyles Athletic’s four goal hero Roddy MacDonald deservedly collected the Albert Smith Medal as Man of the Match from Rene Smith.
Inveraray from; Graham MacPherson, Scott Robertson (captain), Allan MacDonald, Nicolas Crawford, Douglas Dando, David MacPherson, Stuart Robertson, Chris Crawford, Garry MacPherson, Euan McMurdo, Russell MacKinlay subs Andrew McMurdo, Ruairidh Graham, Neil Campbell, Lewis MacNicol
Manager – John Smylie
Kyles Athletic from; Kenny MacDonald, Calum Miller, Donald Irvine, Rupert Williamson, Andrew King (captain), Dunkie Kerr, David Zavaroni, Robbie MacLeod, Roddy MacDonald, Tom Whyte, John Whyte, Fraser MacDonald, subs, Gordon Whyte, Zac Coley, Ewan Campbell, Cammy Keith
Manager – Norman MacDonald, James Perlich
Referee – Graham Cameron
Goal Judges - Duncan Kelly, Colin MacDonald
Fourth Official - Billy Wotherspoon