2016 Camanachd Cup Final …………. 3 Days To Go! | |
14 September 2016 The 2016 Camanachd Cup Final between Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd takes place at An Aird on Saturday 17 September 2016. Newtonmore have had to overcome three Marine Harvest Premiership sides on their route to the final, including 2015 winners Lovat.
2016 Camanachd Cup Final – The Road To The Final Camanachd Cup – Second Round Saturday 28 May 2016 Lovat 1 Newtonmore 4 Holders Lovat are out of the Camanachd Cup after they lost 4-1 to Newtonmore at Balgate. This was a difficult opening hurdle for the holders, made all the harder by a number of absentees. Lovat manager John MacRitchie was already without the injured Drew Howie and Martin Mainland. On top of that, a pre-arranged family holiday robbed him of the services of Greg Matheson, Michael MacKenzie, Scott MacKenzie and Fraser Gallacher. MacRitchie was unable to call up youngster Bailey MacKay as he was suspended but Graeme MacMillan declared himself fit to play and Callum Cruden, who had been out with a broken ankle, made his return to win a place on the substitutes’’ bench where he was joined by Euan Ferguson and Owen Ferguson who travelled up from London for the game. Danny Kelly and Mark Kelly started in defence with Lorn MacKay at full centre and Kevin Bartlett at full forward. Newtonmore had a free Saturday the previous weekend as players when officials attended the wedding of former player Cameron Binnie. Boss Paul John MacKintosh fielded his usual back line and midfield other than Craig Ritchie at wing centre. Chris Sellar at buckshee forward, Ian Robinson and Fraser MacKintosh on the wings and Evan Menzies at full forward made up the attack. There was a touch of experience on the bench with Norman Campbell, making his return following a knee operation, joined by Glen MacKintosh and David Fraser. Newtonmore took the lead after just 3 minutes when Daniel Grieve didn’t connect properly with an attempted clearance and the ball fell to an unmarked Evan Menzies and he dispatched a waist-high shot into the net to make it 1-0. Things did not look good for the make-shift Lovat side at this stage but they went on to have the better scoring opportunities during the first half. Referee Innes Wood kept a tight grip of proceedings and he showed the first of a number of yellow cards to Fraser MacKintosh on 5 minutes. A fierce Callum MacAulay shot from distance on 9 minutes was excellently saved with his stick by ‘More keeper Owen Fraser. A terrific Kevin Bartlett shot from a tight angle on 14 minutes produced another good Owen Fraser save and the on-rushing Graeme MacMillan just failed to connect with the rebound. Just 30 seconds later, Lovat goalie Stuart MacDonald made a good save and he then raced from his line to try and clear the ball. However Fraser MacKintosh got to it first but he sent the rebound high and wide of an empty net. A Lewis Tawse cross on 17 minutes was well controlled by Kevin Bartlett and, from edge of box, he spun and shot goalwards to force a great low save from Owen Fraser. Euan Ferguson came on for Graeme MacMillan with 10 first half minutes remaining. Newtonmore made their first change after 38 minutes as Norman Campbell was introduced at full forward with Chris Sellar withdrawn. Evan Menzies went to buckshee forward. Lovat certainly didn’t deserve to be behind at the break and they got their reward 4 minutes after the restart when a long ball forward from wing centre Ryan Ferguson was collected wide on the left by Kevin Bartlett who slipped past Rory Kennedy, who was by this time at full back in a positional swap with Steven MacDonald, and Bartlett scored from a tight angle to make it 1-1. The ball fell to Evan Menzies on 54 minutes and he sent a shot across the face of goal. A minute later, Lovat replaced Mark Kelly at the back with Callum Cruden. Rory Kennedy took a yellow card on 57 minutes for impeding a Kevin Bartlett run towards goal after Kennedy had lost his caman. A Paul MacArthur shy from the left on 62 minutes went over the Lovat defenders and fell to Iain Robinson on the right and his shot whistled across the face of the Lovat goal. Owen Ferguson appeared for his first game since the 2014 shinty season on 65 minutes, replacing Calum MacAulay. An injured Rory Kennedy made way for David Fraser on 69 minutes. Fraser went to wing centre with Craig Ritchie dropping back into defence. Glen MacKintosh came on for Iain Robinson a minute later. Newtonmore went in front on 74 minutes although the goal was some-what fortuitous. A long ball from the Newtonmore left was being ushered out of play by Stuart MacDonald at his left post when Callum Cruden raced across with an out stretched caman to inadvertently divert the ball past a helpless keeper on his right side to make it 2-1. The goal was a blow to the Lovat camp but Kevin Bartlett showed great fight and he had a shot well saved by Owen Fraser on 75 minutes and Euan Ferguson fell as he tried to steer the rebound goalwards. As the game moved into the final stages, Newtonmore turned screw and they got stronger as Lovat faded. Fraser MacKintosh first blocked and then dispossessed an attempted Danny Kelly clearance and MacKintosh’s superb shot from distance was equalled by a fantastic Stuart MacDonald save with his caman. Evan Menzies dispossessed Craig Mainland on 81 minutes and his fierce shot cannoned off home keeper Stuart MacDonald. A minute later, Glen MacKintosh capitalised on a mistake in the Lovat defence to make it 3-1. MacKintosh took possession from a central position on edge of the D and he doesn’t miss from there. Almost directly from the restart, the ball fell to Fraser MacKintosh and his first time shot flew high into the corner of the net to make it 4-1. Kevin Bartlett did manage another shot from a tight angle that flew just wide of goal but it is Newtonmore who progress to the quarter-finals of shinty’s premier competition. Considering their absentee list, the Lovat players gave a fantastic account of themselves with Danny Kelly proving to be a very strong defender and Lorn MacKay shining in what is arguably his best position in the centre of field. Kevin Bartlett impressed at full forward with numerous shots on target. In the end, Newtonmore deserved their win, especially for their dominance in the final 15 minutes of the game. They were best served by keeper Owen Fraser and defenders Steven MacDonald and Andy MacKintosh whilst Paul MacArthur’s passing in the final quarter of the game stretched the Lovat defence.
Camanachd Cup – Quarter Finals Saturday 9 July 2016 Newtonmore 4 Skye Camanachd 2 Newtonmore beat Skye Camanachd 4-2 at the Eilan. Evan Menzies returned for ‘More after suspension whilst Rory Kennedy was also back but Fraser MacKintosh was still missing. Skye had skipper Neil MacVicar back after injury but they were minus Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Chris MacLennan, Iain Nicolson and David MacInnes. Newtonmore put Skye under pressure from the throw up and Jamie Gannon made a terrific save with his feet after Jamie Robinson had drifted in from the left and fired the ball goalwards. Skye survived the early ‘More onslaught and a James Pringle shot went wide mid-way through the half. Newtonmore took the lead on 25 minutes. An initial shot was saved with his hand by Skye keeper Jamie Gannon but Evan Menzies bundled the rebound over the line to make it 1-0. Jamie Gannon pulled off a terrific save with his hand from a deflected Glen MacKintosh shot just 3 minutes later. Evan Menzies got his and Newtonmore’s second goal with a low shot from 20 yards out with just a couple of first half minutes remaining. Skye started second half well and ‘More keeper Owen Fraser made a good stop with his feet to deny Danny Morrison a couple of minutes after the restart. The Skye rear-guard were defending well but there was little they could do on 55 minutes as Norman Campbell made it 3-0 with a 20 yard drive. ‘More substitute Iain Robinson made it 4-0 on 70 minutes when he created a bit of space for himself before sending a low shot into the corner of the net. A 20 yarder from Skye substitute Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod was expertly dealt with by keeper Owen Fraser as the tie moved into the final 15 minutes. Skye had made substitutions which aided them as an attacking force and, with 6 minutes remaining, a superb 20 yard shot from Jordan Murchison flew past Owen Fraser to make it 4-1. Skye were awarded a penalty on 88 minutes when referee Deek Cameron penalised Owen Fraser for playing the ball whilst on the ground. Jordan Murchison made no mistake from the spot hit, sending a low shot into the corner of the net. Newtonmore deserved their place in the last four of the Camanachd Cup and the sides
Camanachd Cup – Semi Final Saturday 13 August 2016 Kinlochshiel 1 Newtonmore 2 Newtonmore are through to the Camanachd Cup Final after they beat Kinlochshiel 2-1 in their 4.05pm throw up at the Bught Park. Jordan Fraser returned for Kinlochshiel after missing the previous weekend’s league win over Kyles Athletic. Newtonmore’s Jamie Robinson and Andy MacKintosh both recovered from knocks and both started. Newtonmore opened with the wind advantage but Kinlochshiel made a bright start with Keith MacRae and then Jordan Fraser threatening the Newtonmore goal early in the contest. Norman Campbell needed treatment after 10 minutes. He took a knock following a Finlay MacRae challenge which saw the two full centres lock horns. Campbell was able to continue but he was moved to full forward with Jamie Robinson going to full centre and Neil Stewart dropping back to wing centre. ‘Shiel had a grip of the midfield and Oliver MacRae flicked on a high Gordie MacDonald ball from the right before shooting low past the keeper’s left post. Paul MacArthur was booked by referee Deek Cameron on 15 minutes for a comment made after playing the ball forward from midfield. Newtonmore’s first real chance came a minute later as Chris Seller strode forward but he tugged the ball past ‘Shiel goalie Scott Kennedy’s right post. There was an opportunity for ‘More a minute later when Neil Stewart played the ball in from the right. Jamie Robinson pushed the ball into the heart of the ‘Shiel defence where it was missed by the back-line and Norman Campbell surged forward to the left of the D and he took a touch before flicking the ball to the keeper’s right but Scott Kennedy was wise to it and he forced the ball away for a corner on the ‘More left. Norman Campbell then took a Paul MacArthur’s corner in the air but steered it wide of goal. As much as Kinlochshiel dominated the opening 15 minutes, Newtonmore were coming more and more into the game and when Norman Campbell lofted a ball forward midway through the first half, David Falconer looked favourite to clear the danger but he missed his hit. Glen MacKintosh took advantage but Scott Kennedy moved quickly across his goal to keep the ball out with his feet at his left post at the expense of a corner. Kinlochshiel were forced to make a change on 25 minutes when defender Conor Cormack suffered a serious hand injury which will require surgery. .John Don MacKenzie came on in his place. ‘Shiel’s Mark MacDonald had to scramble the ball away for a corner after a dangerous Chris Sellar run and the irony of the earlier injury to Norman Campbell was that the men from the Eilan looked a better unit with Jamie Robinson at full centre and Campbell at full forward. Evan Menzies was next to go close as he played a one-two with Norman Campbell before running in on goal but he just wasn’t able to get any force in his shot; under pressure from John Don MacKenzie. The west coast side returned on the offensive and an Oliver MacRae shot went wide of goal following a ‘Shiel set-piece after Steven MacDonald was penalised for barging Jordan Fraser in the back. Kinlochshiel were moving the ball around nicely and when Gordie MacDonald set up Finlay MacRae around 22 yards from goal, his shot rose just over the top. Newtonmore took the lead on 39 minutes. Evan Menzies closed down a clearance on the Newtonmore left before playing the ball to Norman Campbell. Campbell moved away from goal before drifting the ball in to Glen MacKintosh who took it down with his back to goal. MacKintosh made just enough space to shoot high towards the goal and although Scott Kennedy got a stick to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out of the net. Scott Kennedy had to move smartly to flick a low Chris Sellar shot from the right away for a corner as the contest moved into the closing stages of the first half. Sellar went close again before his side took their 1-0 lead into the break. Kinlochshiel now had the breeze in their favour in the second half but it took a superb Scott Kennedy save just under his bar to keep out a Norman Campbell drive on 54 minutes after Paul MacArthur had played the ball forward from midfield. Owen Fraser saved with his feet from John MacRae and MacRae went even closer with a low drive across goal from the resultant corner. Owen Fraser then saved with his feet again, this time from Oliver MacRae. Newtonmore made a couple of changes just short of the hour mark as Drew MacDonald and Ackie MacRae took over from Norman Campbell and Chris Sellar. David Falconer needed treatment after a midfield collision before Glen MacKintosh took an Evan Menzies pass and shot into the side-netting. Newtonmore doubled their lead on 68 minutes. A Neil Stewart shot from a Jamie Robinson pass was deflected for a corner. Ackie MacRae sent in the corner from the right and when the ball broke to Neil Stewart, he sent a low strike into the net despite Scott Kennedy’s attempts to keep the ball out with his feet. Kennedy then saved well with his hand from Glen MacKintosh after the ‘More hit-man held off John Don MacKenzie and cut in from the left. Play quickly switched to the other end and a John MacRae shot flashed wide after a quick break forward on 71 minutes. A hurried Keith MacRae snap-shot a couple of minutes later lacked power and the Kirkton side knew they needed to score next. ‘Shiel came within a whisker of pulling a goal back on 77 minutes. John MacRae found Jordan Fraser and his shot took a deflection off man of the match Steven MacDonald before spinning just past the post. The Kinlochshiel goal was coming and it arrived following a set-piece a minute later. Oliver MacRae scooped the ball ahead of Keith MacRae who lost his marker and he sent a low strike into the net from just inside the D to make it 2-1. Newtonmore immediately made their third change as Fraser MacKintosh took over from Jamie Robinson. Kinlochshiel continued to press but Newtonmore used their experience to see out the closing stages although they did have a couple of late scares. First, Finlay MacRae broke down the right and played a one-two with John MacRae but his ball into the D was bundled away for a corner at the back post by Rory Kennedy. Duncan “DA” MacRae took over from Jordan Fraser before the corner was taken and, when it was, Owen Fraser got his legs behind a Keith MacRae effort at his left post. Kinlochshiel will rue not scoring when they were dominant early in the match. Conor Cormack’s enforced substitution was another blow. However we then saw Newtonmore do what Newtonmore do and they now await the winners of this coming weekend’s semi-final meeting between Oban Camanachd and Lochaber at the Taynuilt Sports Field
Event Details The 2016 Camanachd Cup between Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd throws up at 2pm. Robert Baxter will be the match referee and he will be assisted by goal judges Graham Irving and Deek Cameron. The linesmen will be John Wood, Iain Kennedy, Ross Brown and Neil Ferguson whilst Innes Wood is the fourth official. Admission is £10 / £5 concessions whilst U12s go free if accompanied by a paying adult. The match will also be broadcast LIVE on BBC 2 Scotland from 1.45pm. |