Skye Camanachd Ladies 1 Badenoch & Strathspey Ladies 4 | |
03 September 2018 There was disappointment for Skye Camanachd Ladies as they lost 4-1 in the Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final against Badenoch & Strathspey Ladies at the Dell on Saturday 1 September 2018. With the venue decided at the start of the season, Badenoch had home advantage and this was the first women’s final to be broadcast live on television with BBC ALBA covering the game. A big crowd gathered for the final and the pitch was in its usual immaculate condition. Skye, who were the holders after beating Lochaber 6-1 in last year’s final, could hardly have had a more straightforward route to this year’s show-piece game. The Islanders received a bye in the quarter-finals against Strathspey which led to a semi-final tie against Glasgow Mid Argyll and when they also failed to field a team, the Skye squad received free passage all the way to the final. Badenoch & Strathspey on the other hand have had two tough ties to negotiate. Zoe Reid and Rhona MacIntyre gave them a 2-1 win at Aberdour in the quarter-finals whilst it took extra-time before they finally saw off Lochaber; winning 2-0 in the semi-finals thanks to strikes from Katie Falconer and Zoe Reid. Skye Camanachd Head Coach Robbie Gordon gave Sarah Corrigall a start with Ilana Paterson, who had been suffering an injury, taking a place on the bench. Badenoch & Strathspey Head Coach Scott Campbell and his assistant Iain Robinson were able to call on Kirsty Deans who missed three months of the season after suffering a leg break whilst playing football for Farmington Forfar. The players were led onto the field by piper Cluanie Fraser who plays shinty for the Kingussie second team. The squads were introduced to Steve Bracken and Iain Roberts from sponsors Marine Harvest, Peter Gow from player of the match sponsors www.petergow.co.uk and Women’s Camanachd Association President Lisa MacColl. There was a minutes silence ahead of throw up as both squads and match officials gathered around the centre circle to remember Skye Camanachd’s former player and manager Ally “Mor” Morrison who passed away the previous day. Skye attacked from the start and they forced an early corner but Badenoch settled and Kirsty Deans played in Zoe Reid but Skye keeper Sarah-Jane Ferguson saved with her legs. A good passing move out of the Badenoch defence ended with Rhona McIntyre and Kirsty Deans combining to set up a chance for Megan Ralph but her shot went past the keeper’s left post. Kirsty Deans then drove wide from distance after creating space for the shooting opportunity. Sara-Jane Ferguson was the busier of the two keepers at this stage and she had to clear her lines on a couple of occasions as Badenoch continued to press. Skye responded and Lorna MacRae sent a good ball forward from the right of midfield and Sarah Corrigall turned her marker and ran in one-on-one with keeper Elizabeth MacGregor. However the Scotland goalie was quickly off her line and she saved with her legs. Kirsty Deans passed up a great chance on 17 minutes when she ran onto a clever ball from Zoe Reid but she shot wide. Sarah-Jane Ferguson made two good saves with her legs in quick succession to keep out Kirsty Deans from the right and Rhona McIntyre from the left. Skye were forced to replace defender Christina MacDonald with Katherine Dibble on 21 minutes as the game continued at a good pace despite the heat. Elizabeth MacGregor did well to deny Jenna Beaton after another long ball from Lorna MacRae. Kirsty Dean made another surging run, this time cutting in from the Badenoch left, but Sarah-Jane Ferguson came off her line to block Deans’ shot with her feet. However Kirsty Deans did find the net on 30 minutes. Deans saw her initial effort blocked but she jinked left and right to make enough space to fire in a low shot from the left which went across the keeper into the far corner of the net. Christina MacDonald was able to return on 33 minutes with Katherine Dibble coming back off. Kirsty Deans was always a threat and she outpaced the Skye defence a couple of minutes later but keeper Sarah-Jane Ferguson saved comfortably. Lorna MacRae shot wide from 25 yards out with the final attempt of the first half and Badenoch deservedly took their 1-0 lead into the break. During the interval, the crowd were entertained by a shinty exhibition from four development teams. Lorna MacRae ran through at the start of the second half, playing a one-two with Sarah Corrigall, but Elizabeth MacGregor saved well with her hand. Play switched to the other end and Sarah-Jane Ferguson made a good stop with her stick to keep out Kirsty Deans’ drive from the left. Roma Fraser had to come off on 50 minutes to get a cut leg attended to but she returned to the field 7 minutes later. Kirsty Deans dropped back into a deeper role to help cover. However Skye took advantage of Fraser’s absence and Lorna MacRae took a Sarah Corrigall pass at the edge of the D but her back-hand effort went past the post. A Skye goal was coming and they levelled on 55 minutes when Lorna MacRae scored her 28th goal of the season. The Badenoch defence struggled to clear a Sarah Corrigall ball from the left and MacRae hammered the ball over the keeper and into the net to make it 1-1. Skye’s Jenna Beaton sent a back-hand effort across the keeper but just the wrong side of the post and an under-pressure Badenoch were glad to get Roma Fraser back on. Sarah-Jane Ferguson made a save with her feet from Kirsty Deans on 62 minutes before swiping the rising ball away for a corner with her club. Lorna MacRae then sent a Helen Lamond hit-in from the right past the post, hitting the bouncing ball on the half-volley. Elizabeth MacGregor cleared a couple of dangerous balls into the D and Sarah-Jane Ferguson won a race for the ball with Kirsty Deans as both goalies continued to star. Kirsty Deans then sent a dipping effort just over the top. The next goal was always going to be crucial and Zoe Reid got it on 71 minutes. Kirsty Deans won possession and saw an initial shot saved but Zoe Reid was on hand to turn the ball low into the net to make it 2-1. Time was running out for Skye threw everything at Badenoch and both Abby MacLean and Ilana Paterson were now on. However Badenoch picked the Islanders off and, with Rona Stewart urging her team on from full centre, Rhona McIntyre made it 3-1 on 79 minutes, turning Kirsty Deans’ low ball from the right into the net from close range. Zoe Reid got her second in stoppage time to seal the win as she lost her marker and rammed home a rebound after Sarah-Jane Ferguson had made another save from Kirsty Deans. With a couple of minutes stoppage time added to the regulation 80 minutes, referee Des McNulty, who was in control throughout, brought the final to an end. The Badenoch forwards took their chances up front and their defence, particularly Roma Fraser marking Lorna MacRae, had a good afternoon. Both keepers were on top form but it was Badenoch’s Kirsty Deans who was named player of the match and her influence was undeniable. All that was left was for Badenoch captain Mairi Stewart to come forward and receive her presentation caman and the Marine Harvest Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup from Marine Harvest’s Steve Bracken and the celebrations began. The sides are still battling it out for the Marine Harvest National Division 1 title and although Skye have a four point lead, Badenoch have a game in hand with the sides still to meet in Portree. Skye Camanachd Ladies from: Sarah Jane Ferguson; Christina MacDonald, Caitlin MacLean, Emma Gordon; Izzy Law, Rhianna Kirk, Helen Lamond; Lorna MacRae (captain), Jenna Beaton, Sarah Corrigall; subs Ilana Paterson, Katherine Dibble, Abby MacLean, Holly MacLean Badenoch & Strathspey Ladies from: Elizabeth MacGregor; Janette MacGregor, Roma Fraser, Sarah Caird; Mairi Stewart (captain)., Rona Stewart, Megan Ralph; Zoe Reid, Rhona MacIntyre, Kirsty Deans; subs Katie Falconer, Eilidh Ross, Klaudia Ordys, Natasha Andean Match Referee – Des McNulty Scorers Skye Camanachd Ladies Lorna MacRae (55) Badenoch & Strathspey Ladies Kirsty Deans (30) Zoe Reid (71, 80) Rhona MacIntyre (79) |