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Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final …………. 4 Days To Go! | |
11 September 2012 The 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic takes place at Mossfield, Oban on Saturday 15 September 2012. Kyles Athletic’s route to the final included a replay, a marathon trip to the west of Scotland and a battle with the cup holders. Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Second Round Saturday 2 June 2012 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Kyles Athletic 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll earned a replay after a resolute performance against Kyles Athletic in their 3pm throw up at Yoker. Exiting last season’s Camanachd Cup at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Newtonmore was a big disappointment for Kyles and they were determined to go a step further this year. When Robbie MacLeod gave Kyles a first half lead on 26 minutes, it looked like the favourites would progress to the next round. However GMA defended well and soaked up a lot of pressure before leveling through Andy Mathie 8 Minutes from time to earn a replay at Tighnabruaich. Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Second Round Replay Saturday 7 July 2012 Kyles Athletic 7 Glasgow Mid Argyll 1 Five goals in the last half hour earned Kyles Athletic the last place in the quarter finals of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup as they beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 7-1 at Tighnabruaich. Kyles had David Zavaroni back after he missed the previous week’s win over Lovat. They also had Donald Irvine available although his work commitments mean that he will likely miss the crucial league clash with Newtonmore a fortnight later. Three of the players – Zack Coley from Kyles and GMA pair Finlay MacMillan and Craig Anderson – were named in the Scotland U17 squad which would tour Ireland later on the month. Gordon Whyte got the home side off to a great start with a goal after just 3 minutes and a 41 minute David Zavaroni strike made it 2-0 at the break. However Andy McGhee pulled a goal back a couple of minutes into the second half and it remained 2-1 until Roddy MacDonald struck on the hour mark. The 2011 Marine Harvest National Player of the Year got his second 6 minutes later to make it 4-1. This left Kyles in control and GMA chasing the game. The Orion Group Premiership side went on to add gloss to their victory as Fraser MacDonald struck on 73 minutes and Dunkie Kerr made it 6-1 just 3 minutes later. Fraser MacDonald got his second on 83 minutes to wrap up a 7-1 win which earned Kyles a trip to Portree the following Saturday to play Skye in the quarter-finals. GMA’s Mark Bain suffered a nasty hand cut which would keep him out of action for a couple of weeks. Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Quarter Final Saturday 14 July 2012 Skye Camanachd 2 Kyles Athletic 5 Kyles Athletic were the first team through to the Scottish Hydro Camanachd semi-finals following their 5-2 win over Skye Camanachd at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Click on the following link to read the match report in full Skye Camanachd 2 Kyles Athletic 5 Saturday 11 August 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Semi Final Kyles Athletic 2 Newtonmore 1 The 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final will be an all-South affair between Kyles Athletic and Inveraray after Kyles beat Newtonmore 2-1 in their semi-final at Mossfield. Newtonmore were 5-2 winners when the sides met in Tighnabruaich on league duty three weeks earlier but Kyles were missing defender Donald Irvine that day and he was in defence for this 4.05pm throw up. However young defender Zac Coley was still side-lined with a broken hand and Rupert Williamson started in his place. Calum Miller was given a marking job on Newtonmore danger-man Danny MacRae. Newtonmore manager Norman MacArthur started with Scott Chisholm at wing centre. Newtonmore, playing into the Mossfield breeze, thought they had taken an early lead when Fraser MacKintosh rifled the ball home after good work by Danny MacRae but the goal was disallowed for offside. Kyles then came within a whisker of going in front when Fraser MacDonald got on the end of a Ewen Campbell cross from the right. But with Michael Ritchie dashing from his line to narrow the angle, MacDonald pushed the ball just the wrong side of the post. Kyles made the break-through on 31 minutes. Full centre David Zavaroni won possession from a Newtonmore shy on their left and the ball dropped for Roddy MacDonald. He played the ball across to Fraser MacDonald and as Thomas Whyte collected MacDonald’s pass, he lifted the ball over Michael Ritchie to put Kyles 1-0 in front. Kyles enjoyed the bulk of the pressure and they extended their lead on 42 minutes. Referee Graham Cameron penalised Paul MacArthur in the middle of the field and Andrew King took the free-hit. Roddy MacDonald knocked the ball down to Fraser MacDonald and he slipped the ball back to Roddy MacDonald who had darted into the D and he steered the ball one-handed through Michael Ritchie’s legs into the net. Holders Newtonmore were not going to give up this trophy easily though and Danny MacRae pulled a goal back a minute before the break. Scott Chisholm closed down a clearance from the Kyles defence. The ball broke for Jamie Robinson who played in Glen MacKintosh. He tried a first time effort but was challenged by Robbie MacLeod. Glen MacKintosh then managed to prod the ball forward to Danny MacRae who was almost on the penalty spot and he turned and fired low into the bottom left corner of Kenny MacDonald’s net to make it 2-1. ‘More’s Glen MacKintosh was booked for kicking out at Robbie MacLeod after the goal was scored. Kenny MacDonald turned away Danny MacRae drive as Newtonmore looked to get back on level terms. MacDonald then stopped a MacRae effort with his foot and he stretched to sweep the ball away for a corner. Substitute Evan Menzies then saw a shot rise over the bar as Newtonmore took a grip of the midfield area. Kyles brought Roddy MacDonald back in a move to try and win the midfield battle in the Oban heat. The games most controversial moment came when Robbie MacLeod won the ball and slipped it to Dunkie Kerr on 67 minutes. Kerr played a long ball forward which Fraser MacDonald controlled and, despite the attentions of Norman Campbell, he made his way into the D before slipping the ball past Michael Ritchie. However the Kyles supporters’ cheers were short lived as referee Graham Cameron had blown for an infringement by Campbell on MacDonald when allowing advantage would have would have been a better option for the men from Tighnabruaich. Kyles were unable to make anything from the resultant free-hit. Newtonmore tried to freshen things up by taking off full centre Jamie Robinson and reintroducing John MacKenzie with Glen MacKintosh coming back to the middle of the park. Ewen Campbell had the chance to put the outcome beyond doubt on 82 minutes when Fraser MacDonald played him in but his shot flashed across goal. Kyles tried to add to their lead in the closing minutes but as Graham Cameron’s whistle signalled the end of the 90 minutes, it was Kyles Athletic who went through to the final which is also be at Mossfield. Calum Miller was outstanding in defence for the victors, and he deservedly picked up the BBC Alba man of the match award. This will only be the second time that two South sides have contested shinty’s premier prize. The first was in 1983 when Kyles beat Strachur & District 3-2 in Fort William. The Kyles keeper that day was a 21 year old Kenny MacDonald who collected winners’ medal in his debut season for the first team and he is still going strong. Tickets for the 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and Under 12s get in free! If you are unable to get to the game, the whole match will be shown live on BBC2 Scotland. Coverage starts at 2.15pm and commentary comes from Hugh Dan MacLennan and Fort William and Scotland forward, Gary Innes. |