The 2016 Balliemore Cup Final between Kilmallie and Caberfeidh takes place at Blairbeg on Saturday 16 July 2016.
Kilmallie have had a tough route to the final, beating Inveraray, Glasgow Mid Argyll and Beauly along the way.
Balliemore Cup - First Round
Saturday 9 April 2016
Inveraray 0 Kilmallie 1
The tie of the Balliemore Cup first round was the 3pm throw up between Marine Harvest National Division title rivals Kilmallie and Inveraray. This encounter was originally scheduled for the Canal Parks but was switched to the Winterton on Saturday morning because of an unplayable field.
Kilmallie were without Craig MacIsaac, Peter Carmichael, Liam Cameron and Liam MacDonald in their RBS MacTavish Cup first round defeat to Skye last weekend and all but the injured MacDonald returned for this one. Mark MacPherson’s squad was tested though as the venue switch meant Duncan Rodger couldn’t play as he attended a wedding and Steven McAllister was ruled out through work commitments. Wing centre Ryan Stewart, who suffered a hamstring injury against Skye the previous week, was also missing.
Inveraray boss Ruaraidh Graham fielded a strong side including the returning Garry MacPherson. David Robertson was back from injury and he started on the bench alongside Fraser Watt.
The pitch was soft but playable and Kilmallie took the lead after 12 minutes when Michael Rodger, who had been well-shadowed by Ally Munro, got away from his marker to score a well-taken goal.
Referee Lachie Wood showed an early yellow card to Kilmallie defender Craig MacIsaac who was eventually moved up front in the first half.
Inveraray had a chance to level when wing centre David MacPherson got away from Innes Blackhall but his back-post shot rose over the bar.
Inveraray deployed Nicolas Crawford in attack and he found himself one-on-one with Kilmallie keeper Shane Gillies who made an excellent save.
Shane Gilles was called into action once more just before the break and he made a fantastic stop from a Garry MacPherson shot.
Inveraray player / manager Ruaraidh Graham came on for an injured Grant Griffin in the second half and, on another day, he could have scored a couple of goals.
Inveraray goalie Scott MacLachlan was also busy in goals although his saves were more of a routine nature.
Both defences were solid and Kilmallie moved Michael Rodger back into their rear-guard to help protect their lead.
David Robertson’s return from a back injury is a boost for Inveraray but they are finding goals hard to come by.
Kilmallie are one of the fancied teams in this tournament and they will be at home to Ballachulish or Glasgow Mid Argyll in the quarter-finals.
Balliemore Cup – Quarter Finals
Saturday 4 June 2016
Kilmallie 3 Glasgow Mid Argyll 2
Glasgow Mid Argyll came back from two goals down before eventually losing out 3-2 to Kilmallie in their 3pm throw up at the Canal Parks.
Kilmallie boss Mark MacPherson was again minus keeper Shane Gillies so Robbie MacFadyen continued between the sticks. Liam MacDonald started despite suffering a broken nose against Fort William a week earlier. Jordan MacPhee and Grant MacKenzie were missing. Michael Rodger has been carrying an injury and he started on the bench and although he came on during the tie, he later had to be substituted.
GMA boss George Hay was without injured pair Brian Slattery and Ewan Murray and Brendan McLoone who was on holiday.
Kilmallie got off to a great start and they were 2-0 in front within the first 9 minutes thanks to a Duncan Rodger tap-in on 2 minutes and a Liam MacDonald shot from the right on 9 minutes.
GMA halved the deficit on 33 minutes with a contender for goal of the season. Craig Anderson, from the full forward position, came deep to flick the ball over his head and John MacNulty ran past him, letting the ball bounce once before volleying it into the top corner of the net, past helpless keeper Robbie MacFadyen, from around the penalty spot to make it 2-1.
The visitors drew level on 64 minutes. Craig Anderson hit a shot on his back-hand which came back off a defender but the ball fell nicely for the Scotland U21 forward who hit a waist-high shot from just outside the left of the D on his right side.
It looked as if referee Ronnie Campbell would have to take the tie to extra-time but there was delight for the home support when substitute Craig MacIsaac, in the third minute of stoppage time, sent a drive across keeper GMA Jonathon Oates into the net to make it 3-2.
Kilmallie will now play Beauly in this month’s Balliemore Cup semi-finals with Strathglass and Caberfeidh meeting in the other last-four tie.
Balliemore Cup – Semi Finals
Saturday 18 June 2016
Beauly 4 Kilmallie 8
Kilmallie reached the Balliemore Cup Final after they came from 4-1 down to beat Beauly 8-4 in an incredible semi-final tie at Craigard.
Beauly manager Stephen MacLean fielded his usual young side, still minus long-term absentee Barrie MacDonald, for this 1.30pm throw up
Kilmallie boss Mark MacPherson welcomed keeper Shane Gillies and wing centre Jordan MacPhee back. Mark Graham, Robbie MacFadyen and Grant MacKenzie were missing. Michael Rodger was fit enough to take a place in the starting line-up.
Kilmallie threatened first and a Duncan Rodger shot was saved with his feet by Josh Grant with the ball spinning up and over the bar.
However it was Beauly who took the lead on 5 minutes when Ryan MacKay and Conor Ross combined with the former seeing his shot hit come back off the post and the ball fell for Calum Morrison in the middle of the goal and he sent the rebound over the shoulder of keeper Shane Gillies to make it 1-0.
Kilmallie equalised 12 minutes when Michael Rodger won possession from Beauly’s Liam Mutch and he sent a low shot into the net to make it 1-1.
Beauly went on to have a purple patch and they soon led 4-1. They went back in front on 20 minutes when Conor Ross netted from inside the D.
A Ross Forbes shot a minute later took a wicked bounce in front of Kilmallie keeper Shane Gillies and the ball kicked into the net to make it 3-1.
Beauly were on top with full centre David MacLean dominating proceedings.
Beauly added a fourth on 23 minutes with probably the goal of the match. Jack MacDonald collected possession in midfield before turning past marker Martin Stewart and holding off a couple of challenges and he sent a shot from distance high into the net to make it 4-1.
A minute later, referee John Angus Gillies booked Andrew Morrison for a trip on Duncan Rodger just outside the D as he ran in on goal. The Kilmallie set-piece saw Bryan Mackay flick the ball into the air and a stretching Duncan Rodger sent his goal attempt wide of the post.
Michael Rodger was next into the book for kicking out at an opponent following a touchline challenge on 28 minutes.
Kilmallie full back Alan MacDonald performed heroics to clear the ball off the line to prevent what could have been a clinching fifth Beauly goal on the half hour mark.
Liam MacDonald was booked for a late swing on Liam Mutch on 37 minutes and the Canal Parks side seemed frustrated at their lack of possession for their forwards.
Beauly could have sealed the win but Kilmallie keeper Shane Gillies made three first class saves to keep his side in the tie.
The Kilmallie forwards were coming deep to try and help their midfield and, with just seconds of the first half remaining, Liam MacDonald held off Beauly full back Andrew Morrison before striding forward and firing a back-handed shot home to make it 4-2. There wasn’t even enough time for referee John Angus Gillies to restart the match.
Kilmallie boss Mark MacPherson made a couple of significant changes at the break which went on to influence the final outcome. Craig MacIsaac came on in defence and Martin Stewart was pushed on into midfield. This seemed to strengthen both the Kilmallie back line and their centre line and, as a result, they made the better start to the second half
With David MacLean tiring, the Beauly midfield looked vulnerable and Kilmallie reduced the deficit on the hour mark when Duncan Rodger opened his account as he sent the ball high into the net from the right of the D.
Beauly made a couple of changes on 65 minutes with Marc MacLachlan and Robbie Brindle taking over from Conor Ross and Sandy Elrick.
A minute later, Josh Grant came off his line and threw himself at the ball to deny a Michael Rodger run forward.
Referee John Angus Gillies booked Peter Carmichael on 67 minutes for a swing which struck Beauly’s Calum Morrison on the head but, fortunately, he was wearing a helmet. Morrison had been in the act of taking the ball down at the edge on the D before the challenge.
Liam MacDonald drew Kilmallie level on 75 minutes when he crashed a good ball forward high onto the net to make it 4-4.
Kilmallie went in front for the first time in this tie with only 14 minutes remaining when Liam MacDonald cut the ball to Duncan Rodger and he swiped a shot home from inside the D to make it 5-4.
Kilmallie added a sixth with just 10 minutes remaining as a darting run forward from Michael Rodger, down the Kilmallie right ,caused problems in the Beauly defence and Rodger laid the ball on a plate for Liam MacDonald to complete his hat-trick to make it 6-4.
Referee John Angus Gillies awarded Kilmallie a penalty on 82 minutes for an infringement on Kilmallie substitute Aaron Sandison who had burst into the D. But the normally reliable Duncan Rodger saw is penalty saved by Josh Grant.
Kilmallie, who were much better in the second half, also had defender Craig MacIsaac yellow-carded for a swing which caught Ross Forbes as the hot temperatures seemed to require a calming influence from referee John Angus Gillies.
Duncan Rodger completed his hat-trick on 90 minutes when he turned and thumped the ball into the roof of the net to make it 7-4.
As the tie moved into injury time, Beauly were unable too clear a corner and Michael Rodger volleyed home from 10 yards out to make it 8-4.
This was a great advert for shinty and the Kilmallie supporters were delighted to see their team reach the 2016 Balliemore Cup Final.
Event Details
The 2016 Balliemore Cup Final between Kilmallie and Caberfeidh throws up at 2.30pm.
Admission is only £5 / £3 concessions. Children aged under 12 go free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Martin MacLean is the match referee.