Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final………….3 days To Go! | |
15 June 2010 2009 MacTavish Cup runners up Kingussie are determined to go one better this year ahead of the 2010 Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final at the Bught Park on Saturday 19 June 2010. Kingussie’s quest to win the competition started on 3 April 2010 when manager Stevie Borthwick welcomed Ronald Ross back into the side for their tricky cup trip to Blairbeg to play Glenurquhart. Lee Bain was also called into the side following his goal scoring appearance for the reserves the previous weekend and both players made important contributions to this one. The home side got off to a great start when Billy Urquhart fired them into the lead after just 6 minutes. The Glen held on to this advantage until 10 minutes into the second half when Ronald Ross equalised. Lee Bain made it 2-1 on 70 minutes but the Glenurquhart response was instant as Neale Reid levelled a minute later. Just when it looked as if it would take a period of extra time to separate the sides, Ronald Ross popped up with just 8 minutes remaining to put the Kings into the next round. A Ronald Ross inspired Kingussie came out on top against Newtonmore in the first Badenoch derby of the season in the MacTavish Cup at the Eilan on 1 May 2010. It took extra time to separate the sides in what was a repeat of the 2009 final. Newtonmore suffered a blow ahead of this clash with 18 year old defender Andy MacKintosh missing out with a broken thumb. Kingussie were without influential defender Ally MacLeod. Kings manager Stevie Borthwick stuck with his young players for this clash with only veteran Rory Fraser called up to play in defence. Newtonmore struck first when David Cheyne netted after 10 minutes and things looked bleak for the Kings when they lost defender Ian Borthwick after 10 minutes when his injury problems struck again. There was no further scoring in the first half and that was mainly down to an excellent display from ‘More keeper Michael Ritchie. However Kingussie did draw level on 50 minutes through a Ronald Ross strike but they only remained on level terms for 3 minutes as Evan Menzies restored ‘More’s lead. When Cheyne added his second on 70 minutes, the holders looked to have one foot in the next round. Kingussie pulled a goal back just 3 minutes later through Ross to set up a dramatic finish. And dramatic it was as Ronald Ross beat Ritchie in the last minute to complete his hat-trick and take the tie into extra time. Kingussie took the lead for the first time in the match just 4 minutes into the extra time period and it was Ronald Ross again who did the damage to score his and Kingussie’s fourth goal and take his side through to the next round. Newtonmore lost forward Danny MacRae during extra time with a suspected broken thumb. As well as Ross, Fraser Munro at wing centre was excellent for the victors. Beauly shocked Kingussie by taking a first minute lead in their semi final tie at Braeview Park on 29 May 2010. Barrie MacDonald and Jamie MacLennan combined to set up a chance for the unmarked David Neilson and he made no mistake as he shot past Andrew Borthwick in the visiting goal. Innes Simpson returned to the Beauly line-up after suffering a broken ankle against Oban Celtic earlier in the season. Kingussie were missing Louis Munro with a hand injury. There was heavy rain throughout the match which made under-foot conditions very difficult. Kingussie levelled on 16 minutes through Ronald Ross and the sides remained all square at the break. Shinty’s record scorer went on to put his side into the final with a second half hat-trick. Goals two and three came after 63 and 71 minutes and he added his fourth deep into injury time. League champions Kingussie were unsuccessful in the cups in 2009 but they have now given themselves a great chance of winning the first senior domestic prize of the 2010 season. Beauly took heart from the fact they competed so well for an hour against one of the top teams in the game. The Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final at the Bught Park, Inverness throws up at 12.20pm. |