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Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final ………….. 3 Days To Go! | |
11 September 2013 The Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore takes place at An Aird on Saturday 14 September 2013. The Camanachd Cup was traditionally contested on a North / South basis, with the winners from the North part of the draw facing the South section winners in the final, until 1983 when the draw was made open. Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore regularly faced eachother in the final prior to the introduction of the open draw and they contested every final between 1975 and 1980. However, remarkably given both teams’ Camanachd Cup tradition, they have not met in the final since.
Saturday 17 May 1975 Camanachd Cup Final (Replay) Kyles Athletic 0 Newtonmore 1 The “Old Firm” of the shinty world lined up in Fort William a week after their thrilling 3-3 draw at the Dell. The first meeting at the Dell on Saturday 10 May 1975 was the fourteenth time these sides had met in what was the 68th Camanachd Cup Final. Newtonmore went into the game as favourites. They had been unbeaten all season and six-goal Brian Stewart had just helped them beat Lovat 12-0 to win the MacTavish Cup for the sixth successive season and the Macaulay Cup also sat proudly in their trophy cabinet. Also, no fewer than nine of their players had been in the team which beat Kyles 7-1 in both the 1970 and 1971 finals. And of course the venue for the 1975 final was just a couple of miles down the road which ensured a large Newtonmore support. However Kyles were to be nobody’s push-overs and, although they were a younger less experienced side, they had some of shinty’s great names in their line-up. A crowd of around 4,000 shinty enthusiasts gathered at the Dell in great anticipation for this 3pm throw up in what was described at the time as a torrential downpour of driving rain. They were not to be disappointed. Newtonmore lived up to their pre-match favourites tag and they made a devastating start, racing into a 3-0 lead with just 12 minutes played. John Fraser pounced onto a poor goal-hit by Kyles’ keeper Billy Paterson to crash Newtonmore into an early lead. Ken Smith added a second on 10 minutes and when George Fraser made it 3-0 a couple of minutes later, things looked bleak for Kyles. Only Kyles’ defender Chic Jamieson seemed to stand between Newtonmore and a rout during these early exchanges. Newtonmore even had a chance to extend their advantage when they were awarded a penalty. However Billy Paterson atoned for his earlier error when he brilliantly saved George Fraser’s well struck effort. This seemed to settle Kyles and there were chances at both ends during the remainder of the half but keepers Billy Paterson and Hugh Chisholm made crucial saves so ‘More took their 3-0 advantage into the break. The Kyles centre line, superbly prompted by wing centre Duncan MacNeil, started to control the final from the start of the second half. However the Newtonmore defence, with John MacKenzie in commanding form, stood firm and Kyles pushed Neil Blair forward midway through the half in a bid to change their fortunes. Kyles eventually pulled a goal back 20 minutes from time when sixteen year old Chic Turner found a way past Hugh Chisholm to make it 3-1. Kyles were now in full swing and Alan Cook made it 3-2 on 80 minutes and it was very much game on! The equaliser came just 3 minutes later when Chic Turner notched his second goal of the afternoon to make it 3-3. Newtonmore, who had established such a commanding early lead, were now hanging on and Neil Blair hit the base of the post with Hugh Chisholm beaten and Chic Turner was just inches away from grabbing a hat-trick and a dramatic winner. The final whistle took the final to a replay and Kyles Duncan MacNeil was the unanimous choice as man of the match for which he received the coveted Albert Smith medal.
A huge crowd of around 6,000 congregated in Fort William for the Camanachd Cup Final replay a week later. The weather, in complete contrast, was brilliant sunshine. The final was also a contrast to the events of a week earlier and it is fair to say that this occasion did not produce the same drama served seven days earlier. It was a much tighter affair, with closer marking and in turn, fewer chances at either end. Defences were on top and both keepers were in commanding form. Kyles made the better start without making the breakthrough. The only goal of the game came on 55 minutes when brothers George Fraser and John Fraser carved open the Kyles defence and veteran Brian Stewart provided the finish to make it 1-0. Kyles had the chance to equalise late in the game when they were awarded a penalty. Teenage forward Chic Turner, who had scored twice in the first game, was given responsibility but he put the spot-hit wide of target. Newtonmore used all their experience to see out the remainder of the game to win the famous trophy for the 21st time. Newtonmore captain George Fraser was presented with the Camanachd Cup, and silver mounted caman, by Camanachd Association Chieftain Mr W P Cameron. Kyles Athletic from: Billy Paterson (captain), Chic Jamieson, George Nicolson, Neil Blair, Scott Turner, Duncan MacNeil, Kerr Crawford, Russell Thorburn, Robert Baxter, Chic Turner, Alan Cook, John Paterson, subs David MacCallum, Peter Turner, Tom Baxter, Colin MacColl, Ronnie Irvine Newtonmore from: Hugh Chisholm, David Cheyne, Donnie MacGregor, Sandy Ralph, John MacKenzie, Ian Bain, David MacLachlan, David Ritchie, John Fraser, George Fraser (captain), Ken Smith, Brian Stewart, subs John MacBean, Angus MacRae, Ken MacKintosh
Footnote These clubs’ dominance in the game of shinty was emphasised when their reserve sides met in the Sutherland Cup Final in Oban. This time Kyles took the spoils with a 6-3 victory. Newtonmore had raced into a 3-0 lead with goals from Jim MacAdie and a Ken MacKintosh brace. However Kyles stormed back and Peter Turner, Tom Nicolson (twice), Alan Cook (twice) and teenager Chic Turner were all on target to seal a 6-3 triumph.
Event Details The 2013 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final is a much anticipated clash and expectations have been raised higher following the sides’ meeting in the recent Artemis Macaulay Cup Final which Kyles Athletic won 4-3. Throw up is at 2.15pm and the whole match will be broadcast live on BBC 2 Scotland. Innes Wood is the match referee and he will be assisted by goal judges George MacKay and Willie Cameron. Ted MacDonald will be the fourth official whilst Archie Ritchie, Alex MacVicar Calum Girvan and John MacGregor will be the linesmen. As well as the main match there are also two national U14 shinty finals taking place earlier in the day. Skye Camanachd and Oban Camanachd contest the prestigious MacMaster Cup Final whilst Lochcarron and Milngavie & Bearsden meet in the Development Trophy Final. Other features include live music performances, trade stalls including the Shinty Shop, a range of local food and drink to enjoy and the Big Screen will be pitchside should you miss any of the action. Tickets are now on sale: both online and by telephone via Ticketmaster. They are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and under 12s go free if accompanied by an adult. There are also a number of offers available: if you purchase your ticket in advance from Ticketmaster, either online or over the phone, you will receive a free match programme on the day. To buy your ticket visit Ticketmaster or call 0844 844 0444. Additionally, if you attend the BLAS Festival Show "CURAIDHEAN NA CAMANACHD - Shinty's Heroes" which takes place in the Nevis Centre, Fort William on Friday 13 September 2013, you will receive a 20% discount on your Cup Final ticket. Camanachd Association members also receive 20% discount on their tickets if they produce their membership card although both 20% offers cannot be claimed on the same ticket. |