Kinlochshiel U14s Win 2010 Donnie MacLean Sixes. | |
27 September 2010 Kinlochshiel U14 won the 2010 Donnie MacLean Sixes following an excellent day’s youth shinty at Spean Bridge on Sunday 26 September 2010. A total of 12 teams took part in this popular annual competition and they were split into 2 leagues. League A featured 6 U14 sides from Glenurquhart, Inveraray, Kilmallie, Kinlochbervie and Lochaber and Newtonmore. Kilmallie U14 won League A with a 100% record whilst Glenurquhart U14 also qualified for the semi finals in second place. League B also had 6 U14 sides from Beauly, Caberfeidh, Fort William, Kinlochshiel, Lochcarron and Lovat. Kinlochshiel U14 only dropped one point to finish in top place but Beauly U14 and Caberfeidh U14 were level on points and equal on goal difference so a play-off took place. This finished goalless so it took a penalty shoot-out to separate the sides with Caberfeidh U14s going through after they scored all 3 of their penalties. The first semi final between Glenurquhart U14 and Kinlochshiel U14 was a close affair with Oliver MacRae netting a last gasp winner to give Shiel a 3-2 win and a place in the final. Kilmallie U14 were too strong for Caberfeidh U14 in the second semi final winning 6-1. There was a terrific individual display from Kilmallie’s Craig MacIsaac who scored 5 goals with Mathew Duncan getting the other. It was fitting that the 2 league winners should meet in the final and Craig MacIsaac continued his scoring streak when he netted off a rebound to put Kilmallie ahead. Shiel levelled when Aidan MacRae was put clean through on goal and he finished confidently to make it 1-1. Mathew Duncan fired low into the net to put Kilmallie ahead again and it looked ominous for Shiel when a long range effort from Kilmallie’s Shaun Campbell put his side 3-1 ahead. However Aidan MacRae reduced the deficit with an important strike at the second attempt just before the interval. Oliver MacRae crashed a back-hand effort into the net early in the second half to make it 3-3. Kinlochshiel took the lead for the first time in the game with the pick of the final’s 9 goals. Oliver MacRae played a great one-two with Aidan MacRae before giving the keeper no chance with a rasping shot. Shiel looked dangerous with every attack and it took a couple of important saves from Kilmallie keeper Alexander MacIsaac – both with his feet – to keep the west coast side at bay. However Aidan MacRae stopped a clearance from Kilmallie keeper MacIsaac before beating a defender and the goalie to complete his hat-trick and put his side 5-3 up. Kilmallie never gave up and Mathew Duncan ran through to net just on the final whistle to make the final score 5-4 to Kinlochshiel. Kinlochshiel now add the Donnie MacLean trophy to the MacMaster Cup which they won last weekend. The organisers are to be commended for what was a fantastic day’s shinty on a glorious Spean Bridge day. |