Double Delight For GMA At 2015 Women’s Cup Final Day | |
06 September 2015 There was double-delight for Glasgow Mid Argyll at the 2015 Women’s Cup Finals Day at the Bught Park on Saturday 5 September 2015. This is the biggest day in the WCA’s shinty calendar with two matches played out on a warm afternoon.
Marine Harvest Challenge Cup Final Glasgow Mid Argyll 3 Ardnamurchan 3 (after extra-time – GMA won 2-0 on penalties) First up was the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup Final between the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team and Ardnamurchan. Evan MacRae was the match referee and the teams and officials were piped out for this 1pm throw up. GMA had the better of the early exchanges but the Ardnamurchan defence, and keeper (and captain) Katie MacPhee, were in top form. Ardnamurchan kame more into it and it took a good save from Laura Stuart in the GMA goal to keep them out. The first half ended goalless with the closest to an opener coming from GMA’s Elaine McGarrie who had the ball in the back of the net but the effort was ruled out for offside. However GMA’s Lauren Pike popped up on 40 minutes to give her side a 1-0. Kate Bradley equalised on 61 minutes and Carol-Anne Cameron put Ardnamurchan ahead just 5 minutes later. The game continued to swing from end-to-end and there was late heart-ache for Ardnamurchan as GMA’s Kirsty Gray made it 2-2 on 70 minutes. The game went into 10 minutes each-way extra-time and Geraldine Murphy put GMA back in front when she made it 3-2 just 3 minutes into the additional period. Ardnamurchan, prompted by Joanne Ford, were full of spirit though and Kate Bradley got her second, in the second half of extra-time, on 85 minutes to make it 3-3. With no further scoring, the final was to be decided by a penalty shoot-out and the more experienced GMA ran out 2-0 winners with captain Elaine McGarrie leading from the front, scoring the first spot-hit, and Gearoidin Ni Murchu getting the other. Ardnamurchan’s Mhairi Duncan was presented with the player of the match Quaich by John Angus Gillies from sponsors Marine Harvest. GMA captain Elaine McGarrie lifted the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup to the delight of her team-mates and both teams certainly served up a thoroughly entertaining encounter.
Valerie Fraser Cup Final Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Badenoch & Strathspey 0 The main event was the Valerie Fraser Cup Final between the Glasgow Mid Argyll first team and Badenoch & Strathspey. GMA are the holders and they recently pipped Badenoch to the Marine Harvest National Division 1 title, However Badenoch had the edge in the sides’ meetings this season; winning once and drawing the other match. The teams were piped out onto the park for this 3pm throw up and Archie Ritchie was the match referee. Badenoch started well and pressed the GMA goal and it took a good save from goalie Stephanie Keenan to prevent them going in front. At the other end, Joan Nicolson shot into the side-netting. This was always going to be a close contest and there was no scoring during a tense first half. It was Badenoch’s Scotland goalie Elizabeth MacGregor’s chance to shine as she saved well after the restart. GMA have relied on Joan Nicolson’s goals this season and she came up trumps once again on 59 minutes when she scored following a goal-mouth scramble to make it 1-0. Badenoch, prompted by captain Rhona McIntyre and the impressive Kirsty Deans, tried hard to get back on level terms but GMA saw out the closing stages to win the women’s shinty’s top prize. Badenoch’s Kirsty Deans was named player if the match and GMA captain Rachel McCafferty was presented with the prestigious Valerie Fraser Cup by sponsor Peter Gow. |