Newtonmore won their first Artemis Macaulay Cup since 1986 when they beat Kyles Athletic 2-1 after extra-time at Mossfield.
Kyles Athletic were without Callum Miller, Iain MacDonald and Donald Irvine when they drew with Inveraray last weekend. MacDonald and Irvine returned but Miller was the biggest concern for bosses Norman MacDonald and James Perlich as he had been missing since picking up an injury in the Artemis Macaulay Cup semi-final win over Oban Camanachd at the end of July. However they were convinced by his fitness at training during the week and he started in defence. Kyles forward Roddy MacDonald was the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.
Newtonmore had injury concerns over defender Norman Campbell and forward Glen MacKintosh who both picked up knocks in the draw with Lovat last weekend. However both started and ‘More boss Paul John MacKintosh was able to list other injury victims Fraser MacKintosh and Andy MacKintosh as substitutes but long-term injury victim Rory Kennedy continued to miss out.
Whilst Kyles were Artemis Macaulay Cup holders, Newtonmore last won the tournament back in 1986 when they beat Kyles Athletic 5-3. Their next appearance in the final was in 2008 and their lack of success in this competition was a huge incentive to the current squad.
Kyles have not exactly been prolific in this competition over the same period but they had lifted the trophy in two of the last three years.
Kyles attacked from the throw up and Michael Ritchie had to make two early saves including turning away a Robbie MacLeod effort from the left in the second minute.
Newtonmore settled though and they got the first shot on target on 9 minutes when Glen MacKintosh found Michael Russell who played in Danny MacRae but Kyles’ keeper Kenny MacDonald saved MacRae’s effort with his feet before turning the ball away.
Newtonmore were starting to win the middle of the park and they broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when Calum Stewart touched the ball to his strike partner Danny MacRae and the bounce of the ball from MacRae’s low shot beat Kenny MacDonald to make it 1-0.
Danny MacRae turned provider on 20 minutes when he crossed from the right and Kenny MacDonald did well to stretch to his left to keep out Calum Stewart’s shot with his foot.
Newtonmore continued to press and Danny MacRae blasted a shot inches wide of the top corner of the net whilst Glen MacKintosh also went close.
Kenny MacDonald made a terrific stop to his right from a Michael Russell piledriver on 26 minutes.
In a rare Kyles attack on 27 minutes, Dunkie Kerr pushed forward but had to settle for a corner on the right. Grant Irvine got on the end of the corner at the back post but his shot flew across the goal.
Kyles enjoyed a flurry of pressure before ‘More countered and a Glen MacKintosh shot rose over the bar after 36 minutes.
For all Newtonmore’s pressure, they still only led by a single goal and Glen MacKintosh broke down the right on 40 minutes but Kenny MacDonald saved his effort and Calum Stewart put the rebound wide of the gapping goal.
There was an unusual scene seconds later when referee Deek Cameron blew for half time with 5 minutes of the first half still remaining. However fourth official Colin MacDonald pointed out the error and the players got back into their positions to play out the remainder of the half.
The pattern of play continued with Newtonmore in the ascendency but they couldn’t trouble Kenny MacDonald and it remained 1-0 when the break eventually did come around.
Fraser MacKintosh made his return from a broken ankle at the restart with Calum Stewart coming off.
Kyles now had the breeze at their backs and a Roberto Zavaroni ball into the D caused panic in the ‘More defence after 49 minutes but Michael Ritchie got the ball away before any damage was done.
Robbie MacLeod drifted a ball onto the goal seconds later and it rapped off the top of the bar to safely to Newtonmore’s relief.
Kyles now looked a much different prospect and they levelled on 53 minutes when Thomas Whyte did well down the right side of the park and when ‘More failed to clear their lines from his cross, Dunkie Kerr took advantage to crack the ball low into the net to make it 1-1.
Jamie Robinson suffered a knock on 55 minutes and Scott Chisholm came on in his place with Paul MacArthur going to full centre.
Newtonmore responded and Danny MacRae made space before shooting goalwards but Kenny MacDonald saved under his bar.
The injuries were starting to mount up for Newtonmore and Norman Campbell, who already had his leg strapped, required treatment to his knee on 63 minutes but he limped back into position.
Kyles’ Roddy MacDonald was the next to require treatment but he also continued on the field of play.
Michael Ritchie made a superb save with his foot from a Roddy MacDonald snap-shot on 67 minutes and the keeper cleared his lines.
Dunkie Kerr blazed the ball over on 75 minutes when a one-handed Roddy MacDonald flick found him in space at the back post. It was a miss that would prove costly for Kyles
Kyles made a change on 77 minutes with Colin MacDonald replacing Roberto Zavaroni in attack.
Kenny MacDonald stopped a Fraser MacKintosh flick towards his heft post with his foot on 78 minutes.
A Roddy MacDonald turn and shot saw Michael Ritchie deflect the ball for a corner - although the original shot looked to be going wide - with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Thomas Whyte required treatment on 84 minutes after being caught by a Cameron Binnie swing.
Danny MacRae found Glen MacKintosh with just a couple of minutes remaining but Kenny MacDonald saved with his hand.
There was still time for Kenny MacDonald to save with his feet from Danny MacRae before referee Deek Cameron took the final into an extra-time period after almost 7 minutes injury time.
Both teams made changes with Calum Stewart and Jamie Robinson coming back on in place of Evan Menzies and Paul MacArthur for Newtonmore and the injured Thomas Whyte making way for Sandy MacKenzie for Kyles.
There was little in the way of goalmouth action during the first period of extra-time until Fraser MacKintosh won the ball on the ‘More right and found Jamie Robinson but the full centre’s shot rose over the bar with 100 minutes played.
Seconds later, play switched to the other end and Michael Ritchie turned away Dunkie Kerr’s shot.
Glen MacKintosh shot over with a minute of the first extra period remaining.
Roddy MacDonald was chopped down by Steven MacDonald as he burst forward on 107 minutes. Grant Irvine shot wide from the resultant free-hit.
At the other end, Calum Stewart flashed a shot past the post.
Dunkie Kerr sent a lofted ball from midfield on the Newtonmore goal on 111 minutes and Michael Ritchie did well to keep the ball out under his bar and the Kyles forwards were unable to get onto the rebound.
Newtonmore went back in front on 114 minutes. Captain Scott Chisholm played a long, dangerous ball into the Kyles goal area and the Tighnabruaich men were unable to clear the danger and a Glen MacKintosh challenge on Iain MacDonald made just enough space for Fraser MacKintosh to crash the ball low into the corner of the net to make it 2-1.
Kyles Athletic’s David Zavaroni picked up the final’s first yellow card with just 3 minutes to go for a late challenge on Michael Russell on the touchline on the Newtonmore right.
With just 90 seconds of regulation time remaining, youngster Liam Mullender came on for Newtonmore with goalscorer Fraser MacKintosh heading back for the bench after making such a telling contribution.
Kyles threw everyone forward and forced a couple of late corners on the left but, with Kyles’ Cameron Keith making a late appearance, Newtonmore stayed strong to win their first Macaulay Cup since 1986.
Newtonmore won the inaugural Macaulay Cup in 1947 but this was only their tenth win in the competition but it is one they will saviour and it is one that will complete a “Grand Slam” medal collection for several of their players.
Newtonmore captain Scott Chisholm raised the Macaulay Cup aloft and the first piece of a league and cup double attempt was completed for the men from the Eilan.
Kyles Athletic from: Kenny MacDonald; Callum Miller, Donald Irvine, Iain MacDonald, Zac Coley; Dunkie Kerr, David Zavaroni, Robbie MacLeod; Grant Irvine, Thomas Whyte (captain), Roberto Zavaroni, Roddy MacDonald; subs Colin MacDonald, Sandy MacKenzie, Cameron Keith, Rupert Williamson, Leighton Reid,
Newtonmore from: Michael Ritchie; Norman Campbell, Cameron Binnie, Ackie MacRae, Steven MacDonald: Michael Russell, Jamie Robinson, Paul MacArthur; Glen MacKintosh, Calum Stewart, Evan MacRae, Danny MacRae; subs Scott Chisholm (captain), Fraser MacKintosh, Liam Mullender, Scott Campbell, Andy MacKintosh
Match Referee – Deek Cameron