Lovat Lift 2013 Strathdearn Cup – Lovat 5 Kinlochshiel 2 | |
01 September 2013 Lovat lifted the Strathdearn Cup with a 5-2 win over Kinlochshiel at Craigard on Saturday 31 August 2013. There was a minutes silence ahead of the throw up in memory of Mrs Lynn Fraser, mother of Lovat player John Paul Fraser, and a keen supporter of Lovat Shinty Club. Lovat manager Graeme MacMillan was dealt a blow ahead of the game when full centre Euan Ferguson was ruled out through illness. Sam Ferguson had also been a doubt but he started. Kinlochshiel manager Colin Fraser had a full squad to pick from and Calum MacLean lined up in defence. Kinlochshiel played with the wind at their backs in the first half on a bright day at Invergarry when the rain threatened but stayed away. Lovat’s Chris MacCallum was the busier of the two keepers in the early stages and he had to palm the ball away for a corner following a Scott MacLean drive on 11 minutes. The west coast side went close again a few minutes later following a sweeping move. Alasdair Nixon won possession in midfield and played the ball to Scott MacLean on the ‘Shiel left. MacLean drifted the ball in on the goal area and a lovely first time shot from Duncan “DA” MacRae went just wide of target. A Fraser Gallacher shot rose just over the bar on 15 minutes as Lovat showed their threat in front of goal. Duncan “DA” MacRae played a nice one-two with Scott MacLean before shooting over on 15 minutes. Duncan “DA” MacRae collected a Scott MacLean pass on 19 minutes and fired on target but Chris MacCallum saved with his legs before putting the ball out for a corner. MacCallum saved from Scott MacLean from the resultant corner. Lovat made an early change on 24 minutes with former Skye Camanachd player Ian Nicolson replacing Jamie Matheson and Nicolson set up Danny Kelly to score the opening goal of the game just a minute later, with the youngster’s snap-shot giving keeper Iain Cameron little chance. The goal was against the run of play but Kinlochshiel regrouped and they had a set-piece opportunity on 32 minutes when Alasdair Nixon collected a Duncan “DA” MacRae free-hit. Nixon crossed and Aedan MacRae’s shot was saved by Chris MacCallum and Duncan “DA” MacRae tried to scramble the ball over the line but he was penalised by goal judge Russell Ross. Duncan “DA” MacRae had another shot saved as Kinlochshiel set siege on the Lovat goal. Lovat introduced Rory Campbell into their attack on 35 minutes. Duncan “DA” MacRae darted in to get on the end of a Jordan Fraser pass on 37 minutes but he pulled his shot wide of target. Scott MacLean was picking up a lot of possession on the ‘Shiel left and he sent a shot past the post on 41 minutes. Kinlochshiel got the leveller their play deserved on 42 minutes when Aedan MacRae played on a Conall Fraser corner on the right and Scott MacLean found space at the back post to make it 1-1. Fraser Gallacher fired a shot over the bar moments later as Lovat tried to get their noses back in front. Aedan MacRae shot wide as Kinlochshiel finished the first half on the attack. Lovat re-introduced Jamie Matheson at the start of the second half in place of Sam Ferguson with Ian Nicolson dropping back into midfield. Iain Cameron flicked away a low Jamie Matheson shot with his caman as Lovat made a determined start to the second half. ‘Shiel responded and Jordan Fraser got on the end of a Conall Fraser cross on 53 minutes but his effort went wide. Lovat went back in front on 54 minutes when Tom Collings turned defence into attack and Jamie Matheson came deep to collect his ball forward. Fraser Gallacher took Matheson’s pass and with Calum MacLean challenging, the ball broke to Seven Cameron in space on the left. Iain Cameron came off his line to narrow the angle but Steven Cameron kept his cool and rolled the ball low into the net to make it 2-1. A Jamie Matheson snap-shot went over the junction between post and bar moments later. Lovat extended their lead on 57 minutes when Iain Cameron saved a Danny Kelly shot and with Graham MacRae trying to clear the danger; Fraser Gallacher muscled in to knock the ball over the line to make it 3-1. Lovat made it 4-1 a couple of minutes later. Alan MacPherson and Danny Kelly battled to win possession in the middle of the park and MacPherson’s long ball forward was expertly controlled by Fraser Gallacher and he found Jamie Matheson who beat Iain Cameron from a tight angle. Fraser Gallacher was in the thick of the action again on the hour mark when an Ian Nicolson shy was flicked into his path but his shot rose over the bar. Steven Cameron became the first player to find his way into referee Neil Ferguson’s book when his swing caught Calum MacLean on 63 minutes. Chris MacCallum came off his line to deny Scott MacLean on 69 minutes after the ‘Shiel full forward had got past Jimmy MacKenzie. Seamus Lane came on as a direct replacement for Ross MacMillan at the back for Kinlochshiel a couple of minutes later. A flare-up between Colin MacDiarmid and Fraser Gallacher ended up with referee Neil Ferguson booking the Kinlochshiel man. Lovat sealed victory on 77 minutes when the Kinlochshiel defence were unable to clear their lines and Jamie Matheson sent a glorious drive into the back of the net to make it 5-1. James White replaced Thomas Fraser for Lovat a minute later. Ian Cameron came off his line to save from Steven Cameron and Ian Nicolson put the rebound past the post. Kinlochshiel introduced Steven Fraser for Alasdair Nixon for the closing stages. At no point did Kinlochshiel let their heads drop and they pulled a goal back on 83 minutes when Scott MacLean latched onto a loose ball on the right and his shot crept into the net by the post to make it 5-2. Ian Cameron saved a Danny Kelly shot after the Lovat youngster had taken an Ian Nicolson pass and Calum MacLean cleared the danger. Both teams kept at it until the end and referee Neil Ferguson’s final whistle sparked celebrations from the Lovat support. This was an entertaining final and whilst Kinlochshiel will rue missed first half opportunities, Lovat were deserved winners as they controlled the centre line in the second half when their forwards were clinical in front of goal. Lovat captain Ton Collings was presented with the Strathdearn Cup by Camanachd Association President Archie Robertson. Lovat from: Chris MacCallum, Jimmy MacKenzie, Thomas Fraser, Andrew Wallace, Tom Collings (captain), Conall MacIllechiar, Alan MacPherson, Sam Ferguson, Jamie Matheson, Danny Kelly, Fraser Gallacher, Steven Cameron, subs Ian Nicolson, Rory Campbell, James White, Callum Farquharson, Martin Bell Kinlochshiel from: Iain Cameron, Graham MacRae, Ewan Falconer (captain), Ross MacMillan, Calum MacLean, Conall Fraser, Colin MacDiarmid, Alasdair Nixon, Duncan “DA” MacRae, Aedan MacRae, Jordan Fraser, Scott MacLean, subs Seamus Lane, Rowan Taylor, Steven Fraser, Nathan Whear, Douglas Campbell Match Referee – Neil Ferguson Goal Judges – Billy MacLeod, Russell Ross Linesmen – Robert Morrison, Calum Girvan |