Caithness lifted the third Kenny “Nostie” MacLeod Memorial Cup with a 4-3 victory over Sutherland at Viewfirth Park, Thurso on Saturday 4 October 2014.
Kenny “Nostie” MacLeod, as he was affectionately known, played shinty for Kinlochshiel, Lochcarron and Aberdeen University. He established Thurso Junior Shinty Club in 2006 and he was a co-founder of Navar Athletic Shinty Club a couple of years later. This move brought senior shinty to Caithness for the first time since the Dounreay team of the 1960s. Kenny was minister at Thurso Free Church and he passed away in April 2012, aged just 52.
Caithness and Sutherland had one win each going into this 2pm throw up.
The Sutherland team consisted of past and present players from the two shinty teams in the county - Kinlochbervie Camanachd and Farr High School (Bettyhill) - and they were coached by Kinlochbervie’s Duncan Clark. Lochbroom’s Paddy Wilson was also included in their ranks.
Caithness, coached by Alan MacDonald, fielded a starting line-up consisting of players who were resident in Caithness and who trained there also. They also had a strong family connection with Kenny’s daughter and son, Isobel and Alexander, in the starting line-up whilst niece Katy Booth from Aberdour was on the substitutes’ bench.
Caithness started well, repelling any Sutherland attacks and creating chances of their own.
However the game took a dramatic turn early on when Scotland Ladies international Katy Booth was on the end of a hard challenge and she had to be carried off the field with a knee injury. The good news is that she is expected to make a full recovery in time for the Shinty / Camogie international between Scotland and Co. Down in Newry at the end of this month.
The game swung from end-to-end before Caithness were given the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot when Ewen Scott was upended inside the D. Andrew Thorburn took responsibility and duly dispatched the ball into the back of the net to give Caithness a 1-0 lead.
And that’s the way the score stayed for the remainder of the first half despite some good build-up play from Paddy Wilson in the Sutherland midfield.
The second half got off to an exciting start with Kinlochbervie veteran and Sutherland player / manager Duncan Clark producing the equalising goal to make it 1-1.
Goals from Chris Sinclair and another from Angus Thorburn twice put Caithness back in front but James Flett responded quickly each time with an equalising goal.
So with the score at 3-3, the game was set up for an thrilling finish.
Darren Douglas, a student at Thurso High School, was the Caithness hero when he made it 4-3 from an almost impossible position with what proved to be the winning goal.
Two-goal Angus Thorburn from Caithness received the man of the match award.
Caithness captain Alan MacDonald was presented with the Kenny “Nostie” MacLeod Memorial Cup by Kenny MacLeod’s wife, Marianna.
All funds raised at the match will go to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Care Centre
Caithness Shinty Club train on Tuesday nights from 7.30pm~9pm at Naver All-weather pitch, Thurso - All welcome, especially beginners.
(Picture of Kenny "Nostie" MacLeod and his good friend John Farquhar Munro)