Kyles Athletic won the 2013 AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup with a penalty shoot-out win over Inveraray In their 4pm throw up at the Strachurmore Sports Centre, Strachur on Saturday 29 June 2013.
Inveraray co-managers Graeme MacPherson and Garry MacPherson were pleased to have Alan MacDonald free of suspension after he served the second game of a two match ban for a points accumulation in the 0-0 draw with Lovat the previous weekend. However the game came too soon for David Robertson who is still recovering from a torn hamstring. Midfielder David MacPherson had been out for the last six weeks with a broken thumb. However he had been training through the week with a protective glove and he won a place on the bench.
Kyles Athletic bosses Norman MacDonald and James Perlich were without the suspended Robbie MacLeod as his two match ban from his semi final red card against Oban Camanachd meant he paid a heavy price by missing the final. However, apart from having to replace their captain MacLeod, MacDonald and Perlich named a squad along usual lines.
The sides served up an epic Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final last year with Kyles winning by the odd goal in eleven. However this match was the polar opposite with both defences very much on top.
The final was a cagy affair between two teams who know eachother very well.
When either defence was breached, keepers Kenny MacDonald for Kyles and Graham MacPherson for Inveraray were on top form.
Inveraray had a great chance to go ahead when referee Colin MacDonald awarded them a penalty for a foul inside the D during the second half of extra time. However Roberto Zavaroni put the penalty over the bar.
With no further scoring, referee MacDonald took the tie to a penalty shoot-out.
Donald Irvine and Dunkie Kerr had Kyles 2-0 ahead on penalties with Euan McMurdo and Russell MacKinlay missing for Inveraray. David Zavaroni and Roberto Zavaroni both missed for Kyles with Graham MacPherson making an outstanding save above his head from the latter’s spot hit. Peter McIntyre and Lewis MacNicol converted their penalties to make it 2-2. Kenny MacDonald saved Garry MacPherson’s penalty which gave Roddy MacDonald the chance to win it for Kyles but he failed to convert. The penalties now went to sudden death and when Euan McMurdo missed, Donald Irvine stepped forward to score for the second time and take the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup to Tighnabruaich.
Kyles’ Donald Irvine and Inveraray’s Andrew McMurdo were the pick of the players on show.