Lochaber Ladies 4 Skye Camanachd Ladies 2 | |
28 August 2016 Lochaber won the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup for the first time when they beat Skye Camanachd 4-2 before an enthusiastic crowd at An Aird on Saturday 27 August 2016. There were some concerns that the match wouldn’t go ahead following the heavy rainfall in Fort William during the previous 24 hours which led to the postponement of the Friday evening MacMaster Cup semi-final tie between the Oban Camanachd and Kingussie U14 teams. However these concerns were cast aside on Saturday morning and the pitch, which will host next month’s Camanachd Cup Final between Oban Camanachd and Newtonmore, was in excellent condition. The players were piped onto the field before being introduced to Steve Bracken from sponsors Marine Harvest and Women’s Camanachd Association president Lisa MacColl. The respective team news saw Skye boss Robbie Gordon without Catriona Kirk who was on holiday whilst Lochaber manager Michael Delaney was minus Kirsty MacDonald through injury. This 10-a-side match was played for 40 minutes each way and this 3pm throw up was broadcast LIVE on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. Lochaber made the better start and they attacked the Skye goal from the throw up. Lochaber took the lead on 7 minutes. They were awarded a free-hit on their left wing. Christy MacIntyre played the set-piece wide to Kirsty Delaney who sent a dangerous, ball bouncing into the D and, with the Lochaber forwards rushing in, the ball ended up in the net. Skye came more into the game and, after a period of pressure, it took a superb save from Lochaber goalie Aileen Campbell from Lorna MacRae to keep her side in front. MacRae hit a rasping shot from the left which Campbell did superbly well to save above her head with her caman. Skye went close again when Caitlin MacLean got into a good position following a flowing move but Regan Porter made a superb challenge and the Islanders had to settle for a corner. However Skye did level on 27 minutes and it was Lorna MacRae who collected an Ilana Paterson pass from the left and ran in on goal. Her initial shot from just outside the D was saved with her feet by Aileen Campbell but MacRae ran in to force the rebound over into the net from almost on the goal line. It only took Lochaber 3 minutes to get themselves back in front and it Kirsty Delaney, who had gone close a minute earlier, again on target. Amy Disher took the ball out of the air in midfield and played it forward to Delaney and she held off her marker before blasting the ball home to make it 2-1. Skye pinned Lochaber back from the start of the second half. However a combination of some great defending from Hannah Dougan, Regan Porter and former Ardnamurchan player Mairi Duncan, aided by the impressive Aileen Campbell in goal, and some near misses from the Skye forwards of Caitlin MacLean, Lorna MacRae and Jenna Beaton denied The Marine Harvest National Division 1 winners a second leveller. The nearest they came was a blistering drive from Caitlin MacLean which came back off the frame of the goal and Jenna Beaton sent the rebound just past the post. Skye substitute Abby MacLean made an immediate impact as she forced a magnificent save from Aileen Campbell, who turned the ball away with her caman just under the crossbar with almost an hour played. Skye had been pressing hard but they were hit by a sucker-punch when Lochaber worked the ball down the right side on 69 minutes and Kirsty Delaney was again on hand to complete her hat-trick to make it 3-1. Skye didn’t let their heads drop though and a lovely passing move saw Caitlin MacLean and Abby MacLean combine to set up Lorna MacRae who ran directly at the Lochaber defence and she beat Aileen Campbell with a low shot to the keeper’s left to make it 3-2 with 74 minutes played. Skye needed another goal in the remaining 6 minutes to force extra-time but, when the goal came, it came at the other end just a couple of minutes later. Skye were unable to fully clear a corner and Kirsty Delaney took advantage to send the ball high into the net. Skye keeper Sarah Jane Ferguson got her hand to the ball but she was unable to keep it out of the net. There was still time for Aileen Campbell to make a superb stoppage time save from a back-hand shot from Caitlin MacLean. Referee Evan MacRae’s final whistle sparked joyous scenes in the Lochaber camp whilst there was disappointment for Skye who played their part in an enthralling final. Lorna MacRae, Caitlin MacLean and Ilana Paterson were best for Skye. A four-goal haul would normally have secured Kirsty Delaney the player of the match award. However the number of fantastic saves made by Lochaber goalie Aileen Campbell meant that she was the deserved recipient of the coveted accolade. The red and white ribbons were tied on the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup and the trophy and a presentation caman were handed over to a delighted Lochaber captain Rebecca Masson by sponsor Peter Gow. Skye captain Jenna Beaton was then presented with their first ever Marine Harvest National Division 1 title which they secured with a 9-0 win over Aberdour a couple of weeks earlier. Lochaber Ladies from: Aileen Campbell; Mairi Duncan, Hanna Duggan, Regan Porter; Amy Disher, Kathleen Cameron, Christy MacIntyre; Stephanie Walsh, Rebecca Masson, Kirsty Delaney (captain); subs Natalie MacDonald, Sarah Davie, Claire Delaney, Kira MacDonald, Anna Berardelli, Chloe MacIntyre Skye Camanachd Ladies from: Sarah Jane Ferguson; Catriona Gibb, Christina MacDonald, Nicola MacSween; Emma Gordon, Rhianna Kirk, Ilana Paterson; Lorna MacRae, Caitlin MacLean, Jenna Beaton (captain); subs Kirsty Dibble, Abby MacLean, Anna MacDonald, Izzy Law, Katherine Dibble Scorers Lochaber Ladies Kirsty Delaney (7, 30, 69, 76) Skye Camanachd Ladies Lorna MacRae (27, 74) Match Referee – Evan MacRae Goal Judges – Deek Cameron, Richard Gall |