Newtonmore have turned in some fine performances on the way to the 2015 Artemis MacAulay Cup Final where they will meet Kyles Athletic at Mossfield on Saturday 22 August 2015.
Newtonmore’s route to the final was as follows:
Saturday 9 May 2015
Artemis MacAulay Cup – First Round
Newtonmore 5 Glenurquhart 1
Newtonmore are through to the Artemis MacAulay Cup second round after they beat Glenurquhart 5-1 at the Eilan. With Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh unavailable, Iain MacKintosh looked after the side. Evan Menzies returned from injury for ‘More but Cameron Binnie was still out. Ally MacKintosh remained sidelined for the Glen who were also without Ewan Brady. The first half ended goalless and that was mainly because of some terrific saves from Glenurquhart keeper Stuart MacKintosh who continuously thwarted the ‘More forward line of Rory Kennedy, Fraser MacKintosh, Evan Menzies and Glen MacKintosh. Whenever Glen played the ball forward they found Steven MacDonald to be commanding at buckshee back and his distribution was excellent throughout the game. Glenurquhart’s Euan Lloyd sustained a head cut on 38 minutes so Connor Golabek was given a first team debut after his early season switch from Inverness. Golabek showed enough to suggest he’ll have something to offer to the Blairbeg side, especially in the second half. Lloyd reappeared for the last half-hour of the match, after receiving treatment. Newtonmore made the breakthrough on 53 minutes with Glen MacKintosh finally beating his name-sake in the Glen goal to make it 1-0. Fraser MacKintosh had the ball in the net on 62 minutes but his effort was ruled out as referee Deek Cameron had already blown his whistle as MacKintosh was impeded before scoring. Referee Cameron pointed to the penalty spot on 65 minutes when Glenurquhart’s Andrew Corrigan was felled inside the D and Neale Reid stepped up to make it 1-1. Newtonmore’s response was immediate and they went back in front a minute later with Fraser MacKintosh on target to make it 2-1. The visiting defence were under pressure and Fraser Heath was excellent for them at the back. Glenurquhart took Billy Urquhart on in place of Andrew Corrigan in an attempt to get back on level terms. Fraser MacKintosh got his second and ‘More’s third with a spectacular lob on 75 minutes and he completed his hat-trick to make it 4-1 with just 10 minutes remaining. Glenurquhart threw on James MacPherson but it was Newtonmore who would round off the 5-1 win with Glen MacKintosh’s second goal of the game a couple of minutes from time. Newtonmore will travel to play the winners of the tie between Kilmallie and Kinlochshiel in the second round.
Saturday 27 June 2015
Artemis MacAulay Cup – Quarter Final
Kilmallie 0 Newtonmore 12
Newtonmore are into the Artemis MacAulay Cup semi-finals after they beat Kilmallie 12-0 in their 3pm throw up at the Canal Parks. Kilmallie were without Peter Carmichael as he started a two game ban following his red card in the Balliemore Cup defeat to Beauly last weekend. Craig MacIsaac also had to sit this one out as he served a one game ban for a bookings points accumulation. Shane Gillies returned in goal for Kilmallie after missing last week’s game. However Michael Rodger was another notable absentee. Newtonmore also has suspension troubles. Jamie Robinson served the second match of his two-game ban whilst Chris Sellar served a one-game ban for a bookings points accumulation. Defenders Norman Campbell and Cameron Binnie were absent through injury. Goals from Glen MacKintosh on 3 and 12 minutes gave ‘More an early cushion and Evan Menzies on 21 minutes and Glen MacKintosh just 4 minutes later – to complete his hat-trick - made it 4-0 at the interval. Glen MacKintosh notched another on 50 minutes with Fraser MacKintosh making it 6-0 a couple of minutes later. Paul MacArthur bagged a brace with goals on 60 and 65 minutes to make it 8-0.There was no let-up for Kilmallie as Conor Jones on 70 minutes and Craig Ritchie a couple of minutes later made it 10-0. Glen MacKintosh got his fifth goal of the afternoon on 76 minutes and Conor Jones made it a dozen with his second strike just 5 minutes from time. The margin of victory sent a message to other sides that whilst Newtonmore might have suffered a set-back with their RBS MacTavish Cup Final defeat to Glenurquhart, they are determined to make up for it in shinty’s other competitions. Innes Wood was the referee.
Saturday 25 July 2015
Artemis MacAulay Cup – Semi Final
Newtonmore 4 Lovat 2
Newtonmore saw off a second half Lovat fight-back to beat the Balgate side 4-2 at Braeview Park. Norman Campbell and Steven MacDonald were back in the Newtonmore side and Rory Kennedy started at buckshee forward. Lovat boss John MacRitchie was on holiday so James Gallacher and Fraser Gallacher looked after the side. Michael MacKenzie started in defence with Danny Kelly pushed forward into attack in place of the absent Lewis Tawse. Callum Cruden was deployed at buckshee forward. Lovat started well and took the game to Newtonmore. Things did not look good for ‘More as Evan Menzies had to leave the field for concussion following a collision with Lovat buckshee back Craig Mainland, although he did return 5 minutes later, Then Paul MacArthur was withdrawn with a tight hamstring and he was replaced by Craig Ritchie. Newtonmore moved Cameron Binnie to buckshee back after around 15 minutes and they then started to dominate the tie. Evan Menzies put Newtonmore ahead on 21 minutes when he collected a Fraser MacKintosh pass after the winger had played the ball down the line. Menzies finished well from a tight angle. Just 3 minutes later, ‘More top scorer Glen MacKintosh punished a Daniel Grieve error to put his side 2-0 ahead. Lovat began to come more into the tie but their vulnerability at the back was underlined when Glen MacKintosh was allowed too much space and he turned and fired home his second goal of the game on the stroke of half-time to give Newtonmore what looked like an unassailable 3-0 interval lead. When referee Deek Cameron spotted an infringement by ‘More goalie Michael Ritchie a couple of minutes into the second half, he awarded the home side a penalty. Greg Matheson stepped up to convert to make it 3-1. Lovat took encouragement from this and with Kevin Bartlett now playing at full centre; the forwards were getting more of the ball. A fierce shot from distance from Lorne MacKay was well saved by Michael Ritchie, high to his left on the hour mark. Lovat got themselves right back into the tie on 61 minutes when Callum Cruden was first to react to a loose ball and he scored from close in to make it 3-2. It was now game-on and a fierce shot from Greg Matheson on 66 minutes fizzed inches wide of the Newtonmore goal. However it was all effectively over a minute later when Jamie Robinson, who had switched positions with Rory Kennedy, was left unmarked and he hit a screamer from 25 yards to make it 4-2. Newtonmore came close to adding to their tally with Fraser MacKintosh in particular driving past the Lovat defence on more than one occasion but his final shots were wide of goal. Although Lovat did well to come back into the game after being three goals down, the ‘More defence stood firm and it was a deserved win for Newtonmore. This was a good, fast encounter with a lot going on. If you blinked you would miss something with many positional and tactical changes and a few niggles off the ball added into the bargain.
The 2015 Artemis MacAulay Cup Final between Inveraray and Newtonmore throws up is at 3.15pm and the whole match will be broadcast LIVE on BBC2 Scotland. Match commentary will come from Hugh Dan MacLennan.
Lachie Wood is the match referee.