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Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final …………. 3 Days To Go! | |
12 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 last appearance in the final of shinty’s premier event was in 2009 when they lost 4-3 in a dramatic meeting with Fort William. They were also beaten finalists in 2000 when Kingussie won 3-1. A 3-1 win over Fort William at the Bught Park, Inverness gave them their last success in 1994 when they were captained by Davie Taylor. However their previous final appearance in 1983 against Strachur & District is of particular interest as this was the last time that two South teams contested “la mor na Camanachd!” The date was 4 June 1983 and The Police topped the music charts with “Every Breath You Take”. In a sporting contest, former Arsenal player Emmanuel Eboué, was born that day and, in the 53rd French Women’s Tennis Final, Chris Evert beats Mima Jausovec 6-1, 6-2. However shinty was the main event at Claggan Park, Fort William in what was the first “open” final with only the first and second rounds of the competition taking a North / South seeding. Kyles beat Aberdeen Camanachd (who played in the South) and Glasgow University to reach the open quarter-final draw. They were paired with Kingussie and got past them before beating Skye Camanachd in the semi-finals. Strachur & District were first round winners over Oban Camanachd and they defeated Glenorchy to reach the quarter-final stage. They then got past Kinlochshiel before earning a final spot with a shock 2-0 victory over holders Newtonmore thanks to goals from Roddie Leitch and Donald MacPhail. Key players for Kyles were 40 year old full centre Kerr Crawford and 34 year old Scott Turner in attack. They also had a 21 year old keeper called Kenny MacDonald who was playing in his first season for the first team, having played only sixteen senior games ahead of the final. Strachur, who had lost 5-0 to Kingussie in the Macaulay Cup Final, relied on Duncan “Doughnut” MacDonald in defence, Robert Jackson in midfield and ex-Butte player Roddie Leitch in attack. It was reported in the 1983 Shinty Year Book that the crowd was disappointingly low for this 3pm throw up and it was regrettable that there was no television coverage as broadcasters gave priority to the General Election which was just 5 days away and which would see Margaret Thatcher return for a second term in Downing Street. Shinty fans unable to make the trip had to settle for radio coverage. Both defences were on top following a relatively uneventful first half. However the game came to life in the second period and Kyles Athletic struck first as a James MacDonald corner came through a ruck of players and Billy Patterson whipped the ball into the net. Strachur levelled when Roddie Leith found Robert Jackson in space. Kenny MacDonald made a great save from Jackson’s effort but John MacDonald nipped in to score from the rebound. Strachur went in front for the first time in the game thanks to a Roddie Leitch effort. They held this lead until 3 minutes from time when the Tighnabruaich men produced a dramatic finish to the game. First substitute Robert Baxter pounced on a poor clearance out of defence to make it 2-2. There was still time for Kyles to bag a winner as Strachur keeper John Duncan, who had been excellent throughout the afternoon, tried to clear only for Donald MacRae to force the ball over the line to give Kyles Athletic a 3-2 win. Strachur’s 17 year old defender Ewan Paterson became the youngest player to win the Albert Smith medal as man of the match. Kyles Athletic from; Kenny MacDonald, Andy Irvine, Colin MacColl, Duncan MacVicar (captain), George Nicolson, James MacDonald, Kerr Crawford, Peter Turner, Donald MacRae, Scott Turner, Ronnie Irvine, Billy Paterson, subs Robert Baxter, Scott Sims, Angus Briggs Strachur & District from; John Duncan, Ernie MacPherson, Peter Jackson, Donald MacDonald, Ewan Paterson, David MacPherson, Charlie Taylor, Robert Jackson, Roddie Leitch, Neil MacRaild, Donald MacPhail, John MacDonald, subs Stephen Limbert, David Limbert Referee – Ian MacInnes (Oban) There is a picture of the winning Kyles Athletic squad amongst the photographs on the following link Naidheachdan - Cupa na Camanachd A week after the final, South Division 1 winners Kyles Athletic went down 1-0 to Newtonmore in the Weatherseal Final. ‘More had won North Division 1 ahead of second place Kingussie with Skye Camanachd third. Substitute Ricky Ross got the only goal of the game after 71 minutes. The match was to be the last appearance for Kyles’ legends George Nicolson, Kerr Crawford and Scott Turner. Tickets for the 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic 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. |