2011 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final …………. 5 Days To Go! | |
12 September 2011 Newtonmore have beaten Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup holders Fort William, Marine Harvest North Division 1 champions Kinlochshiel and Kyles Athletic’s conquerors Inveraray on the way to this year’s final. Newtonmore 8 Fort William 1 The Camanachd Cup had taken pride of place in the Fort William trophy cabinet for the last four years but the holders were knocked out of this year’s competition when they were floored by a devastating performance from Newtonmore at the Eilan. The sides had already met twice this season with each winning the away fixture. It was an under-strength Newtonmore side which beat Glenorchy 3-0 at Dalmally the previous week but manager Norman MacArthur had absentees Danny MacRae, Norman Campbell and Glen MacKintosh back in his line up although a hip injury still ruled out David Cheyne. The Fort had Gary Innes back after he missed the previous two matches due to work commitments. The influential John MacDonald also returned but midfield power-house Niall MacPhee was absent as he was working abroad. Duncan Rodger started in attack. No one predicted that Norman MacArthur’s side would run out such convincing winners and there was little evidence of what was about to unfold when all that separated the sides at the interval was a good Steven MacDonald strike from distance on 26 minutes and this came after the Fort had enjoyed some early pressure. However ’More stamped their authority in the second period and Glen MacKintosh made it 2-0 on 54 minutes when Danny MacRae knocked down a free hit from the middle of the park. Newtonmore tried using Danny MacRae at left wing forward against Lovat earlier in the season and they used this tactic again and it paid off as MacRae struck a double in 56 and 57 minutes to make it 4-0. His first was a back-hand shot from a free hit on the left and the second came when he ran at the visiting defence straight from the throw up. Gary Innes pulled a goal back a minute short of the hour mark, again from a set piece, but there was to be no come-back. Paul MacArthur made it 5-1 on 64 minutes when he rammed home a rebound after Paul MacKay saved a Danny MacRae penalty. Danny MacRae then took his personal tally to five goals when he shot home on 65, 75 and 87 minutes to make it 8-1 with the impressive Ackie MacRae involved in all three goals as he ran riot down the ‘More right. The Newtonmore support enjoyed their afternoon but Fort William’s run of eight consecutive finals was over and the men from the Eilan were two games away from their first final appearance since 1997. Kinlochshiel 3 Newtonmore 6 A large crowd at Kirkton saw Kinlochshiel put up a good fight before eventually going down 6-3 to Newtonmore in the quarter finals. It took a Ronald Ross goal in the last minute of extra time to separate Kinlochshiel and Kingussie in a Co-operative MacTavish Cup tie at the Dell earlier in the season and whilst ‘Shiel lost 5-0 to Newtonmore at the Eilan in the Artemis Macaulay Cup, the opening two goals were own goals and the west coast side felt they did not give a fair account of themselves that day so they were determined to correct that for this encounter. ‘Shiel boss Johnston Gill was pleased that keeper Graham Kennedy showed no ill-effects following his return from a groin injury against Skye Camanachd the previous weekend. However he was without the services of wing centres Steven Callander and Graeme Morrison. The ‘Shiel boss sprung a surprise by playing Finlay MacRae at full centre with John MacRae going to wing centre. David Falconer came into the attack. Danny MacRae missed out for Newtonmore the previous weekend because of a dead leg and ‘More paid their opponents respect by including a half-fit MacRae on the bench in case he was needed as they expected a tough tie. ‘More boss Norman MacArthur also put keeper Michael Ritchie on the bench after he missed the last couple of games as he was on holiday Sean MacQuarrie retained his place in goal. John MacKenzie put Newtonmore ahead after just 3 minutes but Keith MacRae made it 1-1 on 12 minutes. However Glen MacKintosh put the visitors in front for the second time on 26 minutes from the penalty spot after a ‘More forward was brought down inside the D. This was Newtonmore’s second spot hit of the game as referee Graham Irving had earlier penalised home keeper Graham Kennedy a couple of minutes earlier for using his head to deflect a goal-bound effort for a corner. However Glen MacKintosh failed to capitalise on this first opportunity from the spot. Keith MacRae levelled again on 32 minutes but ‘Shiel were only able to maintain parity for two more minutes as Jamie Robinson made it 3-2 to the visitors on 34 minutes. Robinson had started the match at full centre but Norman MacArthur made a tactical change in bringing Steven MacDonald back to full centre to combat the threat posed by the pacy Finlay MacRae and Robinson took MacDonald’s place in the forward line. The switch paid further dividends when Jamie Robinson added his second goal a couple of minutes after the break to give the men from the Eilan a 4-2 advantage. John MacKenzie also scored his second goal sixty seconds later to make it 5-2 to Newtonmore. Jamie Robinson killed off ‘Shiel’s challenge when he completed his hat-trick on 64 minutes although Finlay MacRae pulled a goal back for Kinlochshiel 11 minutes from time to make the final score 6-3 in ‘More’s favour. Inveraray 2 Newtonmore 5 A huge day of shinty action at Spean Bridge started at 12.45pm as Inveraray met Newtonmore for a place in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final. Inveraray boss John Smylie has been short of players in recent weeks but he had key men back for this one. Russell McKinlay travelled North and Douglas Dando also returned. Newtonmore were without suspended keeper Michael Ritchie so reserve keeper Sean MacQuarrie took his place in goal before dashing off to the Canal Parks to play for the second team in their later throw up against Fort William in the Strathdearn Cup semi finals. Newtonmore brushed aside holders Fort William earlier in the competition whilst Inveraray knocked out the much fancied Kyles Athletic side so both teams had to work hard to reach the last four. Inveraray last appeared in a Camanachd Cup Final in 2007 but it was Newtonmore who made it through to their first final since 1997 with a 5-2 extra-time win. Newtonmore took the lead on 10 minutes when Danny MacRae collected Steven MacDonald’s shy from the right and shot low into the net. Newtonmore had a scare moments later when a ball from distance bounced off Sean MacQuarrie’s right post before the keeper cleared the danger. Newtonmore were next to go close when Inveraray keeper Graeme MacPherson made a good save in the air from Danny MacRae. Paul MacArthur cracked a great 35 yard shot off the Inveraray post as ‘More looked to press their advantage. However it was Inveraray who leveled on 15 minutes when a Russell McKinlay pounced on a mishit from ‘More keeper Sean MacQuarrie to make it 1-1. Newtonmore dominated the remainder of the half but some good goalkeeping from Graeme MacPherson, including one outstanding save from a blistering Cameron Binnie drive, ensured the sides went into the break all square. Newtonmore were forced to replace Ackie MacRae after he took a blow to the face when shooting at goal and David Cheyne came on in his place. Russell McKinlay is rarely available for Inveraray away fixtures and he showed his worth when he put his side 2-1 ahead on the hour mark as he bulleted home a corner from the right. Newtonmore continued to dominate and they leveled on 75 minutes. Graeme MacPherson made a good save from a Danny MacRae shot but the resultant corner fell to substitute David Cheyne and he blasted the ball into the roof of the net. Cheyne went from hero to villain when he was sent off 5 minutes later by referee Graham Cameron after late challenge on Inveraray full back Scott Robertson. There was no further scoring so the match went into extra-time. Newtonmore continued to have the bulk of the play even although they were a man down. However it took a good Sean MacQuarrie save to deny Inveraray’s Garry MacPherson following a breakaway in the first half of extra-time. It became eleven-a-side when Inveraray’s Andrew MacMurdo was sent off for a second bookable offence early in the second period of extra-time. Inveraray’s woes increased when Glen MacKintosh scored from the resultant free-hit which was taken by Steven MacDonald and this put the men from the Eilan 3-2 in front with 109 minutes played. Inveraray tried to fight back but Glen MacKintosh got his second a couple of minutes from the end although Graeme MacPherson was unlucky not to save the shot. Danny MacRae got his second to make it 5-2 just before the final whistle when he fired a corner from the left into the net off MacPherson’s post to seal a deserved Newtonmore win. The 2011 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between Newtonmore and Kingussie at the Bught Park, Inverness throws up at 2.30pm. |