Women’s Cup Final Day Success for Badenoch & Strathspey and Strathglass | |
09 September 2013 Badenoch & Strathspey lifted the Valerie Fraser Cup whilst Strathglass won the Marine Harvest Challenge Cup at the Women’s Cup Final Day at the Eilan on Saturday 7 September 2013.
Marine Harvest Challenge Cup Final Strathglass 4 Glasgow Mid Argyll 0 The Marine Harvest Challenge Cup Final between the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team and Strathglass got the day under-way at 12.30pm with Dave Stafford as match referee. GMA had edged out Cowal & Bute 6-5 in their semi final. Fiona Mathie scored four times for GMA with Lauren Pike getting the other. The impressive Nicola Irvine scored all five Cowal and Bute goals. Strathglass received a bye after Aberdour were unable to raise a team for their last four meeting. After a goalless first half, Strathglass hit GMA with four goals in a devastating 9 minute spell. Hazel Hunter put Strathglass ahead on 51 minutes. Hazel Hunter then got her and the Strath’s second goal a couple of minutes later and when Laura Fraser made it 3-0 on 55 minutes, it seemed sure that the trophy was set for Cannich. Sarah Pocock sealed a 4-0 win with a goal on 59 minutes.
Valerie Fraser Cup Final Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Badenoch & Strathspey 3 The stage was then set for Glasgow Mid Argyll and Badenoch & Strathspey to contest the prestigious Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup and the referee for this 2.30pm throw up was John Angus Gillies from Skye. GMA had beaten Skye Camanachd 11-0 in their semi final day at the University of Stirling on Sunday 21 July 2013. The GMA scorers were Joan Nicolson, who is originally from Glenconnon on Skye, with four goal; captain KT Drain grabbed a hat-trick, Lisa Norman bagged a brace and Alana McGarrie and Kirsten Munro got the others. The second semi-final was a much closer affair with Badenoch & Strathspey beating Lochaber 4-3 after extra time. Jane Nicol was the Badenoch star scoring all four of their goals. Kirsty MacDonald bagged a brace for Lochaber with Rebecca Stafford getting the other. GMA went into the final as favourites. They were unbeaten this season and had already got the better of their opponents twice in the league. Badenoch, in contrast, were appearing in their first ever Valerie Fraser Cup Final. A fantastic long range shot from Megan Ralph on 33 minutes flew into the net to make it 1-0 and gave the large Badenoch support plenty to cheers about. Rona Stewart shot home to double Badenoch’s advantage and make it 2-0 on 50 minutes. GMA enjoyed more than their fair share of possession but they were struggling to turn this advantage into goals. However they did pull a goal back on the hour when Joan Nicolson, who is originally from Skye, hit a low strike across Badenoch keeper Elizabeth MacGregor to make it 2-1. GMA had a great chance to equalise when referee John Angus Gilles awarded them a penalty. However the chance was spurned with keeper Elizabeth MacGregor making the save from Lisa Norman's spot-hit. It was so fitting that Badenoch’s third goal should come from Jane Nicol, who was playing her last game following a shinty career in which she has been one of the ladies’ game’s iconic players. Nicol’s goal came on 80 minutes and Badenoch held onto this lead to secure a famous 3-1 win Badenoch captain Sarah Caird was presented with the Valerie Fraser Cup by sponsor Peter Gow whilst Camanachd Association President Archie Robertson was also in attendance. GMA’s Rachel McCafferty was named player of the match. Click on the following link to read more ahead of the big day WCA |