Kyles Athletic Make It Three-in-a-Row With 2015 Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final Win | |
28 June 2015 Kyles Athletic lifted the Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup with a 4-2 win over Oban Camanachd in the final at the Taynuilt Sports Field on Saturday 27 June 2015. Oban Camanachd boss Iain Campbell - a six time winner in this competition - made a significant change to his line-up with Gavin Stobbart returning in goal in place of Robert Dunnings who missed out because of a family bereavement. Kyles Athletic boss Norman MacDonald had defender Cameron Keith back after he missed the Artemis Macaulay Cup defeat against Inveraray. This allowed Thomas Whyte to move into midfield so Innes MacDonald started on the bench. The Oban Camanachd players wore training tops ahead of the match which paid tribute to their team-mate Jamie Kerr who died following an accident at work earlier this year. The teams were piped out onto a superb looking Taynuilt pitch by piper James MacPherson for this 4.05pm throw up which was broadcast live on BBC ALBA. There was a minutes silence ahead of throw up to remember Jack Asher - who contributed so much to shinty over the years - who passed away earlier in the week. Kyles attacked from the throw up as Donald Irvine played a long ball to Dunkie Kerr on the right wing. Kerr showed good skills to get past his marker but was brought down. Gordon Whyte played a short free-hit to Grant Irvine and he sent a low shot on target which was saved with his feet by Gavin Stobbart. Roddy MacDonald reacted quickest and he bundled the ball over the line to give the Tighnabruaich side an opening minute lead. Oban Camanachd responded well and Andrew MacCuish shot on target from the left and although Kyles keeper John Whyte saved, he didn’t manage to clear his lines and Andrew MacCuish took down the loose ball but his effort from the edge of the D went wide. Kyles doubled their advantage following a move that started from the goal-hit. Grant Irvine gathered possession in midfield and he slipped the ball to Roddy MacDonald who found Dunkie Kerr and he played the ball into the D. Keeper Gavin Stobbart saved Gordon Whyte’s shot with his feet but he couldn’t clear the danger and Roddy MacDonald forced the ball into the net following the resultant goalmouth scramble to make it 2-0 with just over 4 minutes played. Oban Camanachd had a chance to reduce the deficit when Andrew MacCuish latched onto a deflected ball into the D but Callum Miller defended well and he knocked the ball out for a corner with 12 minutes played. Oban Camanachd were presented with another chance to reduce the deficit on 15 minutes when referee Billy Wotherspoon awarded them a penalty after consulting his goal judge, Robert Baxter. Scott MacMillan took the spot-hit but his low shot lacked power and John Whyte saved with his feet before clearing the danger. John Whyte palmed away an Andrew MacCuish shot through a ruck of players away for a corner on 24 minutes. At the other end, Gavin Stobbart flicked the ball away for a corner on 28 minutes after Roddy MacDonald had created just enough space to get a low shot on target. Kyles went 3-0 ahead on the half hour mark and the goal came following a passing move which involved all four forwards. Roddy MacDonald came deep to collect the ball. He passed to Grant Irvine who found Dunkie Kerr. Kerr played a one-two with Whyte before turning his marker and his low shot from the left bounced across keeper Stobbart into the back of the net. Dunkie Kerr became the first player to be booked for something he said to referee Billy Wotherspoon on 32 minutes. John Whyte foiled another Oban attempt when he saved a ball into the D with his feet a minute later. In an unusual development, a plane flew overhead carrying the message, “Jane – Will you marry Me – James” and it seemed from the reaction from the crowd that the proposal had a happy outcome. Lorne Dickie pulled a goal back on 40 minutes when he ran onto a deflected ball out the left and with three Kyles defenders around him, he some-how found enough space to thread the ball into the corner of the net to make it 3-1. Gavin Stobbart came off his line to deny Grant Irvine a couple of minutes later. David Lafferty replaced Scott McKillop who went off with a hand injury in the closing stages of the first half. John Whyte made a good save to turn away a low Andrew MacCuish effort following a free-hit a couple of minutes into the second half. Robbie MacLeod was booked for disputing a decision by referee Wotherspoon just seconds later. Oban Camanachd’s hopes for a comeback were dashed on 49 minutes when Thomas Whyte made it 4-1. A terrific Dunkie Kerr run from the right took him into the D, Stobbart came off his line to block the ball but it fell into the path of Thomas Whyte who sent a great strike high into the Oban net from just outside the D. Kyles made their first change on 54 minutes with Dunkie Kerr replaced by Roberto Zavaroni. Oban Camanachd made their second switch a minute later as Malcolm Clark came on for Conner Howe. Oban Camanachd continued to create chances and John Whyte saved from Andrew MacCuish and Malcolm Clark in quick succession with just under an hour played. David Zavaroni was next to be booked for something said to referee Wotherspoon on 62 minutes. James MacMillan replaced Aidan MacIntyre for Oban Camanachd a couple of minutes later. Oban Camanachd pulled another goal back on 68 minutes when Daniel Cameron chipped a ball forward and Andrew MacCuish ran out to the left and he hammered the ball home with a shot on his left side to make it 4-2. Andrew MacCuish was Oban’s main goal threat and he sent one spectacular effort wide before having another attempt blocked by Callum Miller. John Whyte, who was the busier of the two keepers, saved a low 22 yard Andrew MacCuish effort by his left post with his caman on 78 minutes. Aidan MacIntyre came back on in place of Scott MacMillan with 10 minutes remaining. The changes continued and Innes MacDonald came on for Robbie MacLeod with just under 4 minutes remaining. Kyles were awarded a penalty on 87 minutes when Roberto Zavaroni tumbled inside the D and Wotherspoon pointed to the spot after again consulting goal judge Robert Baxter. Gordon Whyte took the penalty but he hit the ball straight at keeper Stobbart who saved with his chest before clearing the ball. Kyles introduced Rupert Williamson for David Zavaroni for the closing couple of minutes of the final and Grant Irvine dropped back to the full centre position. The final whistle signalled a third consecutive Gregor Cameron Consultancy Glasgow Celtic Society Cup success for a dominate Kyles side over the period. They weren’t at their best at Taynuilt but the two early goals always had Oban Camanachd on the back foot. Kyles Athletic play-maker Grant Irvine was named man of the match and he received the inaugural Donald J MacNiven Memorial medal. Kyles Athletic captain Callum Miller was presented with Glasgow Celtic Society Cup by sponsor Gregor Cameron, himself a former Inveraray player. Oban Camanachd from: Gavin Stobbart: Scott MacKillop, Craig MacMillan, Gary McKerracher, Keith MacMillan: Scott MacMillan, Daniel Cameron, Garry Lord: Lorne Dickie, Aiden MacIntyre, Connor Howe, Andrew MacCuish (captain): subs David Lafferty, James MacMillan, Malcolm Clark, Robert Alexander Kyles Athletic from: John Whyte: Callum Millar (captain), Donald Irvine, Andrew King, Cameron Keith: Thomas Whyte, David Zavaroni, Robbie MacLeod: Dunkie Kerr, Grant Irvine. Roddy MacDonald, Gordon Whyte: subs Innes MacDonald, Rupert Williamson, Roberto Zavaroni Match Referee – Billy Wotherspoon Goal Judges – Robert Baxter & Lachie Wood Fourth Official – John MacGregor |