Sutherland Win 2013 Kenny “Nostie” MacLeod Memorial Cup - UPDATED! | |
03 October 2013 Sutherland won the second Kenny “Nostie” MacLeod Memorial shinty match with a penalty shoot-out victory over Caithness in their 3pm throw up at Viewfirth Park, Thurso on Saturday 28 September 2013. This is the second time the sides have met to contest the Kenny “Nostie” MacLeod Memorial Cup with Caithness running out 6-5 winners in 2012, aided by a brace from Donald ‘Doe’ MacRae. A good sized crowd, boosted by friends and relatives of Kenny from Wester Ross, were treated to what turned out to be a truly nail-biting spectacle. Both sides started well with the full centres - Sutherland’s Mark Dorrian and Andrew Hunt from Caithness - proving highly influential for their respective sides. As the first half went on, the Sutherland forward line began to show more threat and they took the lead on 28 minutes when a pass from full forward Andrew Henderson, was collected by Kyle Clark and he drove it home from close range to make it 1-0 to the visitors. There were chances at both ends during the remainder of the first half but Sutherland took their single goal lead into the break. Caithness had the upper hand for the first 15 minutes of the second half with Alan MacDonald, Katy Booth and Richard Hunt all having attempts on goal whilst a long range effort from man of the match Andrew Hunt went just wide of the Sutherland goal. Sutherland worked their way back into the game and they had a great chance to double their advantage on 62 minutes when referee John Matheson awarded them a penalty. However Andrew Henderson sent the spot-hit over the bar. Caithness made a tactical switch which was to work to their advantage when former Kinlochshiel player Stuart MacRae moved to a forward position and he immediately caused problems for the Sutherland defence. And it was MacRae who got Caithness on level terms on 82 minutes when he weaved through the Sutherland defence before slotting the ball into the back of the net to tie the match at 1-1. Referee John Matheson’s final whistle signalled 10 minutes of extra time and, once again, it was MacRae who was the most dangerous man on the park. With just 4 minutes remaining, Stuart MacRae scored what looked to be the winning goal but the Caithness cheers faded when the goal was disallowed by referee Matheson for an earlier infringement. Tension was high amongst the spectators as both sets of players made a last gasp attempt to clinch victory in the dying minutes of the game but there was no further scoring and referee Matheson’s whistle once again brought proceedings to a halt. The players gathered for what was to prove to be a nerve-jangling penalty shoot-out. Players from both sides either missed the target or failed to hit the ball with enough conviction and the final outcome was decided in Sutherland’s favour by two pieces of skill. First, Sutherland keeper Raymond Gillies made an outstanding save with his stick. Then Sutherland team-mate Mark Dorrian sent a fierce penalty rocketing over Caithness keeper Paul Stewart into the net to bring an exciting afternoon of shinty to an end.
Kenny “Nostie” Macleod, as he was affectionately known was minister at Thurso Free Church and also took midweek sessions at Helmsdale. He passed away in April 2012, aged just 52. It is fitting that Kenny is remembered in this way as shinty was a great passion of his and he played 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. This memorial shinty match is a re-run of the 2010 Mod Cup clash between Caithness and Sutherland when Kenny captained Caithness to victory over Sutherland at Bignold Park, Wick. Kenny was presented with the famous trophy by his good friend, then MSP, John Farquhar Munro. Admission to this year’s game was free but donations were gathered to aid the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Care Centre. |