Bute Lift 2013 Balliemore Cup | |
21 July 2013 Bute won the Balliemore Cup for the fifth time with a 4-2 extra time victory over Bute at sweltering hot Jubilee Park on Saturday 20 July 2013. Bute were the first winners of the Balliemore Cup when they beat Glengarry in 1985. They had also won shinty’s intermediate trophy on three other previous occasions in 2004, 2006 and more recently in 2011 when they beat Caberfeidh 2-1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Beauly had yet to win the Balliemore Cup. They had played in the final twice before; losing to Bute in Beauly in 2006 and they were defeated by Lochaber last year. Both finalists sat in second place in their respective regional leagues and are well placed to qualify for shinty’s new national second tier which comes into effect in 2014. The final was originally set for Saturday 13 July 2013 but Beauly sportingly agreed for the game to be put back a week as it clashed with Bute forward Robert Walker’s wedding. Bute manager Graham Fisher is in his first season at the helm for the Islanders and going into the final, his forward Robert Walker was the competition’s top scorer with seven goals to his name. Beauly co-managers Stephen MacLean and Calum Morrison’s main injury concern was former Scotland U17 full back Scott MacLeod who had been missing in recent weeks because of an ankle injury and, unfortunately for Beauly, the final came too soon for him. Beauly could hardly have wished for a better start as they took the lead within the opening minute when Marc MacLachlan got on the end of a free hit to steer the ball into the net. Both sides had goals disallowed by referee Daniel MacRae before Bute equalised on 36 minutes when Gordon MacMillan nipped onto the end of a John MacCallum cross to score. Beauly went back in front on 52 minutes. A James Cameron shot cannoned off the frame of the Islanders goal and Sean Stewart reacted first to tuck the ball past Kevin Queen to make it 2-1. Beauly had their tails up but they were unable to get what would have been a killer third goal. They were punished when Bute again drew level 12 minutes from time when Robert Walker scored his eighth goal of the tournament to take the final into extra time. Bute went in front for the first time in the final on 94 minutes. Referee Daniel MacRae spotted a foul on James Craig inside the D and pointed to the penalty spot. Scotland international and Bute captain Iain MacDonald stepped up and made no mistake from the spot. Bute extended their lead on 111 minutes when a David Whitelaw shot from distance deceived Beauly keeper MacKay Murray and ended up in the net to make it 4-2. Beauly’s David Groat was sent off for a second yellow card in the closing stages and the Islanders stayed in front to win to take the Balliemore Cup back home. Camanachd Association President Archie Robertson presented the Balliemore Cup to a delighted Bute captain, Iain MacDonald. |