Inveraray have had to beat some top-class opposition to reach the 2015 Artemis MacAulay Cup Final where they will meet Newtonmore at Mossfield on Saturday 22 August 2015.
Inveraray’s route to the final was as follows:
Saturday 2 May 2015
Artemis MacAulay Cup – First Round
Inveraray 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll 0
Inveraray edged out Glasgow Mid Argyll 1-0 in their tie at the Winterton. John Kennedy returned from injury for Inveraray but he was an unused substitute. Forward Chris Crawford was out after dislocating his thumb last weekend so Douglas Dando started up front. Andrew McMurdo missed out as he was at a wedding. GMA were without attacker Craig Anderson, Nick Lavin, Andy Mathie and Jamie MacFadyen. Inveraray U17 player Allan Cameron, who came off the bench in place of Crawford against Newtonmore last weekend, was again called into action during the first half to replace Douglas Dando and he was a real live-wire who gave the visiting defence little peace. The closest to a first half goal was a Lewis MacNicol shot from distance which was kept out by GMA goalie Paul Creighton. Inveraray took more of a grip of the contest in the second half and as the tie went on, it looked more and more likely that one goal would settle it. The winner came on 76 minutes and it was a first senior strike for Allan Cameron who took his goal really well following a home corner. GMA had a late penalty claim when substitute Calum McLay went down inside the D but referee John MacGregor waved away their claims. Inveraray will be delighted to be in the next round after seeing off a bright young GMA team and they will host Kyles Athletic in the quarter-finals.
Saturday 6 June 2015
Artemis MacAulay Cup – Quarter Final
Inveraray P Kyles Athletic P
The last eight derby tie between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic was postponed as the Winterton was unplayable and switching the tie to Tighnabruaich was not an option. The tie will be rescheduled for a later date.
Saturday 20 June 2015
Artemis MacAulay Cup – Quarter Final
Inveraray 3 Kyles Athletic 1
Inveraray are through to the Artemis MacAulay Cup last-four after they beat Kyles Athletic 3-1 in their quarter-final tie at the Winterton. 3pm. Forward Euan McMurdo was back for Inveraray after missing last weekend’s league defeat to Fort William through work commitments. Defender John Kennedy was also back after spending a few weeks in the States. Kennedy was given the job of marking Kyles’ danger-man Roddy MacDonald with Nicholas Crawford shadowing the on-form Grant Irvine. Roberto Zavaroni was back for Kyles after missing their last match – the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup win over Kinlochshiel – which was three weeks earlier. Zavaroni started on the bench. Inveraray could hardly have started better as Chris Crawford gave them the lead after just 10 seconds. Roddy MacDonald drew Kyles level on 13 minutes with a cracking strike which gave Inveraray keeper Graham MacPherson no chance. Inveraray’s David Robertson was playing well at full centre against the energetic Davis Zavaroni and Robertson broke forward on 16 minutes to send a stunning strike into the roof of the Kyles’ net to make it 2-1 and Inveraray took that lead into the break. Kyles started the second have well with their centre line coming more into the game. The next goal was going to be crucial and Inveraray got it on 62 minutes. Inveraray wing centre David MacPherson hit a long shy towards the back post. The ball was missed by everybody and Euan McMurdo raced in to stroke the ball past keeper John Whyte to make it 3-1. Kyles were back in the tie just a couple of minutes later. Inveraray goalie Graham MacPherson had time to clear his lines but an uncharacteristic error gave Gordon Whyte the chance to score to make it 3-2. This made for a tense last quarter but the Inveraray defence, superbly marshalled by John Kennedy, was strong and the Winterton side deserved their place in the last four. Inveraray were on their game and they will now face Oban Camanachd in the Artemis MacAulay Cup semi-finals. Kyles will have better days and their thoughts will now turn to next weekend’s Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final against Oban Camanachd at the Taynuilt Sports Field.
Saturday 25 July 2015
Artemis MacAulay Cup – Semi Final
Oban Camanachd 0 Inveraray 2
A goal in each half saw Inveraray beat Oban Camanachd 2-0 in their Artemis MacAulay Cup semi-final at Mossfield. Oban Camanachd had Iain Hay in charge after he took over from Gus Campbell as first team boss. Hay was able to call on the services of Gary McKerracher and Scot MacMillan who both missed the SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup defeat to Newtonmore a fortnight earlier. Oban Camanachd were still without the injured Lorne Dickie. Inveraray player / co-manager Garry MacPherson was forced to watch from the sidelines as he served a one-game ban for a passing the disciplinary points threshold. Chris Crawford was still nursing a shoulder injury but David MacPherson returned after missing last week’s league defeat to Kyles Athletic with a hamstring problem. The experienced Ruairidh Graham started in the Inveraray forward line as did John Kennedy. There was a place for the returning Ally Munro on the bench and he made a substitute appearance later in the game. Inveraray went in front on 18 minutes. The goal came following an Inveraray corner. There was a scramble around the goal area and when the ball broke out to Euan McMurdo, he sent a sweet 25 yard drive high into the net to make it 1-0. The clinching goal came 14 minutes from time when Lewis MacNicol made it 2-0 with a shot which beat Oban Camanachd keeper Gavin Stobbart at his post. There was a flash-point with around 10 minutes remaining when referee Lachie Wood consulted with goal judge Dougie Cameron before showing Oban Camanachd’s Scott MacMillan a red card when he head-butted Douglas Dando as the players took position ahead of a set piece. There was still time for Inveraray keeper Graham MacPherson, who was in good form all afternoon, to make a notable save following a shot from a tight angle. Oban Camanachd’s James MacMillan was named man of the match. So Inveraray will now meet Newtonmore in next month’s Artemis MacAulay Cup Final at Mossfield. Almost the whole of the Marine Harvest Premiership separates the sides however Inveraray’s only league win, and Newtonmore’s only league defeat, came when the sides were separated by a Grant Griffin goal at the Winterton during the opening month of the season. Oban Camanachd will now concentrate on top league survival and they will hope that a second half injury suffered by Keith MacMillan won’t keep him out for long.
The 2015 Artemis MacAulay Cup Final between Inveraray and Newtonmore throws up is at 3.15pm and the whole match will be broadcast LIVE on BBC2 Scotland. Match commentary will come from Hugh Dan MacLennan.
Lachie Wood is the match referee.