The 2015 SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between Kyles Athletic and Lovat takes place at Mossfield on Saturday 19 September 2015.
Lovat joined the completion in the second round. As a Marine Harvest Premiership side, the Balgate club weren’t included in the preliminary and first rounds of shinty’s top tournament.
Saturday 30 May 2015
SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Second Round
Lovat 5 Caberfeidh 0
Marine Harvest Premiership side Lovat beat Caberfeidh from the Marine Harvest National Division 5-0 in their tie at Balgate. Drew Howie returned from injury for Lovat and he took up his usual full back position. Lorne MacKay shook off injury to start at full forward whilst Fraser Gallacher was on the bench along-side Euan Ferguson and Danny Kelly. Cabers boss Lee Nicol continued in their side at full forward whilst Blair Morrison was given a man-marking job on his cousin Kevin Bartlett. This was Lovat’s first home match in almost two months; since they were 6-1 league winners over Kingussie on their own turf. Lovat boss John MacRitchie had to make an early reshuffle when Craig Mainland had to leave the field with a face injury on 10 minutes. Fraser Gallacher replaced him and went to full back with Drew Howie switching to left back and Daniel Grieve to buckshee back. Lovat’s Greg Matheson had a shot saved by Cabers’ keeper Ewan Pilcher on 15 minutes and as the ball spun into the air, Kevin Bartlett did as he often does and ran in and guided the ball in the air into the net to make it 1-1. Lovat doubled their lead on 31 minutes when Ryan Ferguson took a shy from the right and the ball came to Kevin Bartlett who returned the ball to Ferguson and he drilled a fierce shot into the net from 30 yards, wide on the right. It was 3-0 just a minute later. The Caberfeidh defence afforded too much space to Lovat’s Lorne MacKay on the left and as he collected the ball, Ewan Pilcher rushed out of goal but MacKay calmly guided the ball past him into an empty net with Lewis Tawse rushing in to make sure ball crossed the goal line. Cabers made a change at the start of the second half with Jamie MacKintosh a direct replacement for Ruaridh MacLennan at wing centre. Lorne MacKay again found space on the left on 67 minutes and he gathered the ball with his back to goals, turned quickly, and his snap-shot from 18 yards flew across goalie Pilcher into the bottom corner of the net to make it 4-0. Euan Ferguson and Danny Kelly came on in place of Lorne MacKay and Lewis Tawse on 69 minutes, giving youngster Kelly his first shinty appearance this season. Lovat rounded off the 5-0 win just 3 minutes from time. Euan Ferguson took a free-hit on the edge of the D and Greg Matheson was allowed to run forward unchallenged and he scored from inside the box. This was an entertaining game and Caberfeidh gave a good account of themselves in the first half. The main difference between the sides was that Caberfeidh could not keep the ball in their forward line whereas Lovat held the ball up front more often, creating a lot of chances. Cabers youngsters Ewan Pilcher and Blair Morrison worked very hard to keep the score down but Lovat go through to the next round.
Saturday 11 July 2015
SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Quarter Finals
Lovat 2 Fort William 2
Lovat and Fort William will have to do it all over again following an entertaining 2-2 draw at Balgate. Lovat manager John MacRitchie welcomed back Callum Cruden who had served a one-game ban for a bookings points accumulation in the Artemis Macaulay Cup win over Kingussie a fortnight earlier and he started at wing centre. Kevin Bartlett was also back and he took up his usual position up front as did Ryan Ferguson who returned from holiday. Defender Michael MacKenzie was also back from holiday but he started on the bench with Danny Kelly retaining his place in the side. Lorne Mackay was again at full centre with Greg Matheson at full forward. Fort William co-managers Victor Smith and Adam Robertson welcomed Gordie MacKinnon back after he missed the previous week’s defeat against Kinlochshiel. Calum Shepherd returned from injury but work commitments and injury deprived them of Bryan Simpson and Arran MacPhee, who faces a long spell on the sidelines with a knee injury. Alexander MacMillan was also unavailable. Lovat took the lead under fortunate circumstances on 16 minutes. Kevin Bartlett miss-hit a shot and a Fort defender shouted at keeper Paul MacKay to leave the ball. The keeper stepped aside but the ball sneaked inside the post to give Lovat a 1-0 lead. Referee John Angus Gillies brought a halt to proceedings a couple of minutes later when it was noticed that Fort William’s Duncan Rodger and Steven Stewart were both wearing a number 12 shirt. Steven Stewart swapped shirts with substitute Seamus Gall and continued playing now wearing the number 8 top. Fort William levelled on 29 minutes when Gordie MacKinnon pounced on a loose ball and he struck a great shot from 25 yards which flew high, left of Lovat goalie Stuart MacDonald. The home side regained the lead a couple of minutes before half-time. A perfectly weighted pass from Kevin Bartlett left Lewis Tawse on edge of the D with only the keeper to beat and as Paul MacKay rushed out to block, Tawse guided the ball past him to make it 2-1. Duncan Rodger had not really got into the game at wing forward in first half. However he came more into the match after being switched to full forward and the Fort looked the likelier side to score. Fort William equalised with a well-worked goal just 5 minutes after the restart. Gordie MacKinnon won possession in midfield following a Paul MacKay goal-hit. MacKinnon found Daniel Stewart on the Fort right and he played in Duncan Rodger who held off marker Drew Howie before running in on goal and lofting the ball over keeper Stuart MacDonald’s shoulder into the net from close range. Both sides made changes just after the hour mark. Ewen Campbell came on in place of Graham Campbell for Fort William whilst Michael MacKenzie replaced Danny Kelly for Lovat. Lovat replaced Ryan Ferguson with Fraser Gallacher with 15 minutes remaining and Euan Ferguson came on for Lewis Tawse with just 10 minutes remaining. However neither side was able to find a winner and a bereavement from the Lovat club means the teams will not replay at An Aird until on Saturday 1 August 2015 in a tie which will be played to the finish. Lovat’s Lorne MacKay will miss that tie as he is on holiday.
Saturday 1 August 2015
SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Quarter Finals (Replay)
Fort William 0 Lovat 2
Lovat are through to the SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi-finals after they scored a goal in each half to beat Fort William 2-0 in their last eight replay tie at An Aird. Brothers Niall MacPhee and Arran MacPhee were missing for Fort William. The former was working abroad whilst the latter remains on the injury list. Ewan Campbell started a four match suspension following his red card in the league win over Kingussie last weekend and a disciplinary points accumulation. However Gordie MacKinnon and Bryan Simpson both returned and Steven Stewart was back in the starting line-up after being on the substitute’s bench against Kingussie because of injury. Lovat, with James Gallacher and Fraser Gallacher still in charge as John MacRitchie was still on holiday, suffered a blow ahead of the tie with the news that Greg Matheson was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Euan Ferguson started in his place. Lewis Tawse was back after missing last weekend’s Artemis MacAulay Cup semi-final defeat to Newtonmore but he started on the bench. The tie beat the weather thanks to a number of volunteers who brushed most of the surface water off the pitch to allow the match to go ahead. It still left a heavy playing surface for the players to contend with. The Fort won the toss and they went with the wind in the first half. Duncan Rodger almost scored within the first 5 minutes but Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald pulled off a good save. Lovat went ahead on 14 minutes when a Lorne MacKay shot was saved by Paul MacKay but the rebound fell to Calum Cruden who rounded the keeper before slotting the ball into the empty net to make it 1-0. Fort William defender Steven Stewart was booked for dissent by referee John Angus Gillies on 23 minutes and a significant moment in the tie came on 27 minutes when Steven Stewart was sent off following a wild swing in a challenge with Ryan Ferguson. Now a man short, Fort William struggled to press the Lovat defence in an attempt to get an equaliser before the end of the first half. There were chances for both sides from the start of the second half with both Paul MacKay and Stuart MacDonald making good saves. Lovat went 2-0 ahead with 20 minutes remaining. Martin Maitland hit a shot into the heart of the Fort defence and James Tangey stretched out his leg and inadvertently deflected the ball into the Fort William net. Both team served up a good match despite the heavy conditions but over the 90 minutes, Lovat kept their shape and discipline and deserve to be going into the first SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd semi-final against Inveraray, also at An Aird, this coming Saturday. Billy Wotherspoon will be the match referee.
Saturday 8 August 2015
SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Semi Final
Inveraray 1 Lovat 3
Lovat are through to the 2015 SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final after they beat Inveraray 3-1 in their 4.05pm throw up at An Aird on Saturday 8 August 2015.
Inveraray were without John Kennedy who has a fractured finger. Chris Crawford was still out with a shoulder injury whilst David MacPherson, who has been suffering with a hamstring problem, was named on the substitutes’ bench but was unable to take part. Grant Griffin was also a miss. A serious road accident on the A82 at Loch Lomond disrupted Inveraray boss Joe Fyffe’s plans further with Douglas Dando held up so Ally Munro was a late replacement in defence.
Lovat boss John MacRitchie returned to the dug-out after missing the Balgate sides’ last two matches when he was on holiday. He had to do without the services of injured ace marksman Greg Matheson although he was named as substitute goal keeper. Defender Daniel Grieve served a one game ban for a disciplinary points accumulation and Fraser Gallacher was recovering after an operation.
The attendance was smaller than usual for a Scottish semi-final. However this would have been influenced by a number of Lovat supporters attending the Belladrum Music Festival. The Inveraray support was reduced given the road accident which blocked the A82. Another factor, especially for neutral supporters, was that the match was televised live by BBC ALBA.
Lovat, with wind advantage, didn’t allow the rejigged Inveraray defence time to settle and they took the lead with less than 2 minutes played. Callum Cruden played a terrific shy from the right onto the Inveraray goal and although keeper Graham MacPherson palmed the ball away, Lewis Tawse ran in and took the dropping ball first time, volleying it into the net for a glorious opener which made it 1-0.
Garry MacPherson went close to conjuring up an immediate leveller from the restart as his shot from a tight angle on the left crashed off the crossbar and went out for a shy on the far side of the park.
The game was very open and Graham MacPherson saved a Kevin Bartlett shot from the left with his foot on 14 minutes.
MacPherson saved again with his feet on 18 minutes from Lorne MacKay following a set-piece on the right.
Lovat’s Lorne MacKay went down in a tangle with Inveraray’s David Robertson on the half hour mark. Robertson fell on MacKay’s leg which twisted and the Lovat player was left in some distress and he was replaced by Jamie Matheson.
And Matheson almost made an immediate impact with his first touch of the match. Kevin Bartlett took a touch to beat his marker and broke down the Lovat left and picked Matheson out in space in front of goal.
However Matheson missed his first hit but recovered to shoot goalwards but Graham MacPherson turned his shot away.
Lovat defender Michael MacKenzie was booked by referee Billy Wotherspoon for throwing his caman at the ball as Inveraray attacked on 40 minutes.
Lewis MacNicol found Garry MacPherson from the free hit and MacPherson’s low shot from wide on the right went across Lovat goalie Stuart MacDonald and he flicked the ball away for a corner on the left.
Inveraray continued to press and when a Euan McMurdo shot was deflected for a corner by Drew Howie, the Winterton side made the set-piece count. Ruairidh Graham played in the corner from the left and when the ball fell for top scorer Euan McMurdo, he took it under control before rifling in a terrific 20 yard drive which beat Stuart MacDonald just inside his left post to make it 1-1.
Graham MacPherson saved a swerving Danny Kelly ball from distance, which dropped into the D from wide on the left of the Lovat midfield, and the keeper raced off his line to clear the danger with 57 minutes played.
Lovat responded and Kevin Bartlett played in Euan Ferguson on 66 minutes and he turned his man and ran into the D but his shot hit the side-netting.
Inveraray’s Ally MacDonald was booked a couple of minutes later for a trip on Lewis Tawse as the Lovat scorer broke down the Lovat left.
Lovat’s Danny Kelly was next into the book a minute later for speaking out of turn. Stuart MacDonald had to look lively as he turned away a Garry MacPherson shot following a free-hit on 77 minutes.
At the other end, Graham MacPherson saved a low Kevin Bartlett shot from distance.
After a period where Lovat had the better of the possession, Inveraray came more into the game in the closing stages of the second half.
Inveraray made a change as Lewis Montgomery replacing Fraser Watt as the tie moved into injury time.
With no further scoring, referee Billy Wotherspoon took the keenly contested affair into an extra-time period.
Lovat had the wind advantage once more and Allan MacDonald played a long ball into the Lovat goal-area from the restart and Inveraray’s Garry MacPherson turned and slotted the ball home however he was harshly penalised by referee Billy Wotherspoon for a shove on Drew Howie.
Inveraray veteran Ruairidh Graham was booked for a late challenge on Callum Cruden 97 minutes.
Inveraray boss Joe Fyfe made another change with Scott Robertson coming on for Ally MacDonald.
A Jamie Matheson shot was saved with feet by Graham MacPherson at expense corner.
Craig Mainland was booked for a late challenge on Garry MacPherson. Inveraray made a third change as Fraser MacNicol came on for an injured Ally Munro.
The second half of extra-time was barely a minute old when Euan Ferguson made just enough space to turn and shoot but the ball came back off the inside of the post and the ball was cleared for a corner.
Lovat grabbed the decisive second goal from the resultant corner. And it was substitute Jamie Matheson who got onto a Euan Ferguson corner from the left and he struck the ball low into net, under Graham MacPherson’s feet, to make it 2-1 with 106 minutes played.
Lovat had their tails up and Graham MacPherson got his caman to a Jamie Matheson shot from distance with the ball deflecting to safety off the post.
Jamie Matheson’s eventful afternoon continued as he was yellow-carded for delaying a Euan McMurdo free-hit from midfield on 111 minutes.
Lovat sealed their place in the final with just 5 minutes remaining. Euan Ferguson won possession and flicked the ball into the path of Kevin Bartlett who ran across the goal before shooting home from the left, across keeper MacPherson, into the far corner of the net to make it 3-1.
Callum Cruden became the fourth Lovat player to be booked as he was judged to have been wasting time whilst taking a shy with just 3 minutes remaining.
There were emotional scenes in the Lovat camp as the final whistle sounded and they will now watch on as Newtonmore and Kyles Athletic play the second SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi-final this coming weekend at the Taynuilt Sports Field.
This will be Lovat’s first appearance in a Scottish Final since their all-conquering team lifted the trophy in 1953.
Inveraray defender Nicholas Crawford was named man of match by BBC ALBA match analyst Ally Ferguson. The Winterton side will look back at points in the match where the outcome could have turned their way. However they still have much to play for including an Artemis MacAulay Cup Final appearance against Newtonmore whilst they will also look to pick up more league points to haul themselves out of the Marine Harvest National Divison relegation zone.
Inveraray from: Graham MacPherson; Allan MacDonald, Andrew McMurdo, Nicholas Crawford, Ally Munro; Ally MacDonald, David Robertson, Ruairidh Graham; Lewis MacNicol (captain), Garry MacPherson, Fraser Watt, Euan McMurdo; subs Lewis Montgomery, Fraser MacNicol, Scott Robertson, David MacPherson, Scott MacLachlan
Lovat from: Stuart MacDonald; Drew Howie (captain), Martin Mainland, Michael MacKenzie, Craig Mainland; Ryan Ferguson, Lorne MacKay, Lewis Tawse; Callum Cruden, Kevin Bartlett, Danny Kelly, Euan Ferguson; subs Jamie Matheson, Martin Bell, Greg Matheson
Match Referee – Billy Wotherspoon
Event Details
The 2015 SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between Kyles Athletic and Lovat takes place at Mossfield. Throw up is at 2.15pm. Deek Cameron will be the match referee and he will be assisted by goal judges Robert Baxter and John MacGregor. Lachie Wood is the fourth official and reserve referee. The four linesmen are Jon Gallagher, Willie MacDonald, Alex MacVicar and John Wood. The whole match will be broadcast LIVE on BBC 2 Scotland.
Earlier in the day, Skye Camanachd U14 and Fort William U14 will contest the MacMaster Cup Final on the Mossfield pitch. Throw up is at 11.15am. Alex MacVicar is the match referee and he will be assisted by goal judges John MacGregor and Alan Harrison.
The 2015 Scottish Hydro Development Trophy Final between Glasgow Kelvin and Aberdour takes place on the Rugby Ground (directly behind Mossfield Park). Throw up is at 11.30am and referee John Wood will be assisted by goal judges Willie MacDonald and Dunkie Kerr.
Gates open at 10.30am and admission £10 / £5 concessions and under 12s go free if accompanied by a paying adult.
The Shinty Memories Quiz, ‘A Question of Shinty’, which was to be held at the Argyllshire Gathering Halls, Oban on Friday 18 September 2015, has unfortunately had to be cancelled.