Kyles Athletic Win 2011 Macaulay Cup Final. | |
21 August 2011 Late goals from Dunkie Kerr and Roddy MacDonald gave Kyles Athletic a 2-1 win over old rivals Newtonmore to win the 2011 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final at Mossfield, Oban on Saturday 20 August 2011. These clubs have had many classic Camanachd Cup Final meetings in the sixties and seventies when the final was contested on a North versus South basis and this included six successive meetings between 1975 and 1980. Each side had won the Macaulay Cup nine times ahead of this meeting however neither club has enjoyed recent success. Kyles last triumph in 1989 whilst ‘More’s last success was in 1986. Kyles made a late change to their side with Fraser MacDonald only able to take a place on the bench so Peter Currie came into the starting line-up. Newtonmore keeper Michael Ritchie returned after serving a two match ban but manager Norman MacArthur had to do without the services of David Cheyne who was red carded in last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final win over Inveraray. The sides only previous meeting this season came at the Eilan in the league when a late Grant Irvine strike cancelled out Glen MacKintosh’s early penalty in a 1-1 draw. Newtonmore opted to play into the wind in the first half and Cameron Binnie had the first shot on target in two minutes but Kenny MacDonald saved with his feet and cleared for a corner. Kenny MacDonald made a great double save after 9 minutes when he stopped a Danny MacRae effort and then used his body to foil Cameron Binnie’s attempt from the rebound. Michael Ritchie was called into action for the first time on 21minutes when he deflected a Thomas Whyte shot onto his left post and away for a corner. Kenny MacDonald used his foot to stop a Danny MacRae drive from the right a couple of minutes later. Dunkie Kerr then went close on two occasions as Kyles started to come more into the game. Michael Ritchie came off his line to halt a Peter Currie run after 35 minutes. Newtonmore manager Norman MacArthur made the first chance of the afternoon when he introduced John MacKenzie in place of Ackie MacRae after 36 minutes and it proved to be an inspired change. Michael Ritchie did well to stop a snap-shot from Peter Currie as the Kyles man latched onto a stray ‘More shy. Newtonmore took the lead on 43 minutes when substitute John MacKenzie capitalised on a mistake in the Kyles defence and he gave Kenny MacDonald no chance as he thumped the ball into the roof of the net. Norman Campbell came to Newtonmore’s rescue on the stroke of half time when he stretched to clear the ball off the goal-line after keeper Michael Ritchie misjudged a long ball from midfield. Newtonmore enjoyed most of the pressure at the start of the second half and with the players tiring in the heat, Newtonmore replaced Jamie Robinson with Scott Chisholm. Michael Ritchie stopped a long ball from Dunkie Kerr on 70 minutes and Roddy MacDonald saw his shot from the rebound deflected wide. Grant Irvine then shot over as Kyles started to take a grip of the game. A good challenged from Fraser MacKintosh denied Grant Irvine a good shooting opportunity on 74 minutes and Roddy MacDonald went close 60 seconds later. Cameron Binnie spurned a great opportunity on 76 minutes when a good ball from Danny MacRae found him in space 15yards from goal but he was unable to connect with the ball. Dunkie Kerr ran down the Kyles’ left on 81 minutes and his shot went narrowly over the bar. Owen Fraser came on in place of Cameron Binnie in a bid to add fresh legs to the Newtonmore attack and Kyles took Colin MacDonald on for Grant Irvine. A Kyles goal seemed to be coming and it arrived after 87 minutes when the ball broke to Dunkie Kerr following a goal-mouth scramble and he fired into the net. The goal gave Kyles a huge lift and Newtonmore looked a tired side and there was more late drama to come. A cross from Peter Currie on the left found Roddy MacDonald on the Kyles right and he sprinted clear of his marker. MacDonald then fired low past ‘More keeper Michael Ritchie with the ball taking the slightest bounce off the surface on the way into the net to win the cup in dramatic fashion. Kyles Robbie MacLeod was named man of the match as his team adds the Artemis Macaulay Cup to the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup won earlier in the season. Kyles attention now turns to winning the Scottish Hydro Premier Division where Newtonmore again will be their main rivals. |