Newtonmore Retain 2015 Artemis MacAulay Cup | |
25 August 2015 Newtonmore lifted the 2015 Artemis MacAulay Cup with a 3-1win over Inveraray in their 3.15pm throw up at Mossfield on Saturday 22 August 2015. Inveraray had selection problems and they went into the match without the injured John Kennedy, Chris Crawford and Grant Griffin. However David MacPherson had recovered sufficiently from a hamstring problem to take up a place on the bench. Euan McMurdo also returned to the side after missing the previous weekend’s defeat to Oban Camanachd and there was a place on the bench for Ally Munro who suffered broken toes in that match. Newtonmore’s Michael Russell was free of suspension after he missed last weekend’s SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi-final defeat to Kyles Athletic and he started in defence which allowed Steven MacDonald to be pushed into the forward line. Captain Cameron Binnie started in midfield and Scott Campbell and Craig Ritchie dropped onto the bench. The Oban High School Pipe Band led the teams onto the field for the 67th Artemis MacAulay Cup Final. Graham Mitchell from sponsors Artemis and Councillor Roddy MacCuish were introduced to the teams ahead of throw up along with out-going MacAulay Association President Fraser Inglis. Inveraray’s Graham MacPherson was first keeper to be called into action when he saved a Glen MacKintosh shot with his hand before clearing the ball for a corner after MacKintosh had taken down a cross from the right. Glen MacKintosh then rattled Graham MacPherson’s left post with a shot from the left a minute later. It was all Newtonmore and the opening goal came after just 8 minutes. A poor Graham MacPherson goal hit went to Glen MacKintosh who got away from Andrew McMurdo and ran in on goal. MacPherson dashed off his line and dived into a challenge which upended the onrushing ‘More forward. However Newtonmore punished their opponents from the free-hit. Steven MacDonald, with his back to goal, slipped the ball to his left and Evan Menzies lost his marker and bulleted the ball over MacPherson’s shoulder into the net to make it 1-0. Glen MacKintosh had the ball in the net from the restart but his effort was ruled out for offside. Newtonmore were threatening to run away with the game and Graham MacPherson saved from Fraser MacKintosh whilst Glen MacKintosh’s bouncing shot from the rebound came back off the post with 15 minutes played. For all Newtonmore’s pressure, they were still only 1-0 ahead and Inveraray came close to equalising on 25 minutes when a Euan McMurdo shot was blocked, the rebound came to Lewis MacNicol but Michael Ritchie saved with feet but the ball fell for Fraser Watt inside the D but Ritchie did really well as he threw himself to the ground to save with his caman. Graham MacPherson made a brilliant double save just after the half-hour mark as he first stretched to keep out a Glen MacKintosh drive and he then kept Steven MacDonald’s effort from the rebound out with his feet. Newtonmore finally doubled their advantage on 34 minutes with a goal following a terrific passing move. Cameron Binnie and Paul MacArthur played the ball out of midfield. Fraser MacKintosh collected possession and slipped the ball to Evan Menzies who found Glen MacKintosh on the left and he crossed for Steven MacDonald who turned and sent a shot just inside Graham MacPherson’s left post to make it 2-0 with 34 minutes played. Garry MacPherson played a short pass to Fraser Watt on 38 minutes and Watt’s shot was saved by Michael Russell and Ruairidh Graham was just unable to get on the rebound. Inveraray made a change seconds later with David MacPherson replacing Fraser Watt. David MacPherson took up usual wing centre slot with Ruairidh Graham pushed forward into attack. Graham MacPherson saved with his caman from Glen MacKintosh, turning the ball away for a corner and MacPherson then saved with his feet from Fraser MacKintosh following the resulting corner. David MacPherson lofted a ball forward from the left of midfield to Graham MacPherson who knocked the ball into the path of Euan McMurdo but he was unable to get any power in his shot. Newtonmore cemented their dominance a minute before the break. Glen MacKintosh picked up a clearance out of the Inveraray defence wide on the right and his cross found Steven MacDonald in space at the back post and he slipped the ball low into the net from close-range to make it 3-0 at the break. David MacPherson was booked by referee Lachie Wood on 58 minutes for a late swing which caught Glen MacKintosh on the leg. Graham MacPherson saved with foot from Steven MacDonald’s fee-hit from just outside the D. Newtonmore continued to dominate without being able to add to their tally. Michael Ritchie did well to come off his line and block a Lewis MacNicol drive at the back post following a David Robertson free-hit on the left with 72 minutes played. There was a raft of substitutions with 13 minutes remaining. Scott Chisholm, Craig Ritchie and Conor Jones replaced Jamie Robinson, Fraser MacKintosh and Evan Menzies as Newtonmore made their first changes. At the same time, Ally Munro came on for Douglas Dando for Inveraray. Inveraray pulled a goal back on 79 minutes. Andrew McMurdo chested down the ball following a Newtonmore corner from the right and he sent the ball forward to David Robertson in midfield. Garry MacPherson played Robertson’s pass to Lewis MacNicol and MacPherson ran wide on the left to collect MacNicol’s return ball. MacPherson looked up before picking out Lewis MacNicol on the penalty spot and he fired a low shot which took a deflection past an unsighted Michael Richie into the corner of the net to make it 3-1. The goal gave Inveraray a boost and although they had more of the ball around the ‘More goal, they weren’t able to get the second which would have set up a grand-stand finish. Fraser Watt returned to the field as he replaced Ally MacDonald with 3 minutes of the regulation 90 minutes remaining Lewis MacNicol sent a drive just the wrong side of the post a minute later. At the other end, a bouncing shot from Conor Jones was saved with his feet by Graham MacPherson with the ball spinning up and coming off the keeper’s left post – the third time in the match a Newtonmore effort had come back off the frame of the goal. Referee Lachie Wood’s final whistle sounded just 12 seconds into stoppage time and Newtonmore captain Cameron Binnie collected the coveted silver mounted caman and lifted the MacAulay Cup, presented by Graham Mitchell from sponsors Artemis. Inveraray goalkeeper Graham MacPherson, who was playing his last match for the Winterton side after 29 years as a first team player, was deservedly awarded with the Man of the Match Quaich. Inveraray from: Graham MacPherson; Andrew McMurdo, Allan MacDonald, Nicholas Crawford, Douglas Dando; Ally MacDonald, David Robertson, Ruairidh Graham; Lewis MacNicol (captain), Garry MacPherson, Fraser Watt, Euan McMurdo; subs David MacPherson, Ally Munro Newtonmore from: Michael Ritchie; Norman Campbell, Andy MacKintosh, Michael Russell, Rory Kennedy; Jamie Robinson, Cameron Binnie (captain), Paul MacArthur; Steven MacDonald, Fraser MacKintosh, Evan Menzies, Glen MacKintosh; subs Scott Chisholm, Craig Ritchie, Conor Jones Match Referee – Lachie Wood Goal Judges - John McGregor, Billy Wotherspoon Linesmen - Alan Harrison, Alex MacVicar |