Skye Camanachd were crowned Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup winners following the shinty action on Saturday 2 September 2023

 

 

Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final

Skye Camanachd 3 Glasgow Mid Argyll 0  

It was a third Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup success for Skye Camanachd as they beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 3-0 in their 4.10pm throw up at the Eilan, Newtonmore on Saturday.

A good-sized crowd gathered in glorious sunshine ahead of a much-anticipated final which was also broadcast live on BBC ALBA.

Skye Head Coach Jenna Beaton fielded a fast forward line of Rhianna Kirk, Abby Maclean and Sarah Yoxon with Donna MacKenzie on the bench.

GMA Head Coach Graeme MacDiarmid started Alana Harrison at full back and captain Caitriona Stark in midfield with both players showing their commitment by cutting shot breaks abroad to play.

There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up to mark the recent passing of legendary shinty figure Donnie Grant from Kingussie.

Skye looked like they meant business from the throw up and they went in front within 3 minutes. Caitlin Maclean’s free-hit from wide on the left wasn’t dealt with by the GMA defence and Rhianna Kirk touched the ball to Sarah Yoxon who squared it to Abby Maclean and she scored on the half turn from the front of the D.

Abby Maclean almost added a second after a surging run forward from Sarah Yoxon as Skye looked dangerous with every attack.

GMA keeper Dan Oberholzer made a good double-save with her legs from both Rhianna Kirk and Sarah Yoxon with Abby Maclean then sending the ball just wide of the far post from wide on the left.

GMA seemed to weather the early Skye storm and they introduced Kirsty Rodger from the bench midway through the first half and although the Glasgow side came more into it, the Skye defence of Christina MacDonald, Katherine Dibble and Leah MacLeod were well-drilled.

GMA had a set-piece chance when Rachel McCafferty slipped a pass to the left to Lucy McNulty who caught the ball well enough, but her strike flew wide.

Skye doubled their lead on 35 minutes with a perfect display of counter-attacking shinty. Defender Katherine Dibble won possession outside her own D and Caitlin Maclean first-time ball found Teri MacLeod on the right of midfield. Sarah Yoxon let MacLeod’s ball down the right run to Abby Maclean and her immediate pass picked out Rhianna Kirk in a central position and through on goal. Kirk unselfishly played a return ball to Maclean to the right of the D, and she made no mistake.

The Glasgow side made a bright start to the second half but when Skye went on the attack, Dan Oberholzer saved with her feet from Abby Maclean with Sarah Yoxon looking to capitalise on any slip.

Abby Maclean played in Rhianna Kirk but she sent the ball the wrong side of the keeper’s left post and Dan Oberholzer saved again with her feet to keep out efforts from Sarah Corrigall, Rhianna Kirk and Corrigall again.

In-between times, Skye’s Catherine Robertson came on for an injured Ilana Paterson as the final approached the hour.

Skye sealed victory on 65 minutes. A ball out of the GMA defence came to Caitlin Maclean, who was just outside the centre circle, and her high ball into the D dropped by the keeper and into the net.  

With Caitlin Maclean dominating the midfield and Sarah Yoxon orchestrating the attack, Skye saw out the closing stages.

GMA did have late efforts at goal without overly troubling Sarah-Jane Ferguson and referee Deek Cameron’s final whistle started the Skye celebrations.

Skye skipper Rhianna Kirk stepped forward to receive the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup from Jayne MacKay, representing sponsors Mowi. 

Skye’s Caitlin Maclean was named player of the match and she was presented with the salver by Peter Gow. She said: “Our aim was to get an early goal and we relaxed after that and played our shinty. All our hard work has paid off today.”

 

 

Mowi Challenge Cup Final

Kinlochshiel 14 Inverness B 1

Favourites Kinlochshiel retained the Mowi Challenge Cup with a 14-1 win over Inverness B in the final at the Eilan.

Lorna MacRae six-goal haul in this 1.45pm throw up included some great shooting from distance whilst five-goal Lexie MacKenzie was ruthless around the D.

Isabelle MacKenzie, Alaina MacLennan and Katie MacRae got the others with Isla MacNeil countering for Inverness.

Captain Maree MacKenzie lifted the trophy in front of her delighted teammates and supporters.  

Willie MacDonald was the match referee.

 

 

Caol Cup – U21 Representative Match

South U21 1 North U21 3

The North won back the Coal Cup with a 3-1 victory over the South at Mossfield.

The South squad were led by Stephen Campbell and Alec MacVicar whilst North Kenny MacLeod and Iain Nicolson took charge of the North. 

The North started on the front foot and Ross Gordon’s shot in the opening minute was saved by the excellent Gordon Currie who also tipped a Struan Ross strike onto the post a minute later.

Then Max Campbell sent a strike over the bar from Ross Gordon’s ball across goal before the South threatened with a Campbell Watt strike on 21 minutes.

The North went back on the attack and Ross MacKinnon’s 20-yard shot was saved with his feet by keeper Currie who then made a great stop to deny Max Campbell following a scramble in the D on 28 minutes.

North full forward Euan Maccormick opened the scoring on 35 minutes, surging forward to first-time a ball across the D by the keeper to make it 1-0.

They came close to doubling their lead when Gordon Currie saved again, this time with his feet from Ross Gordon and Ross MacKinnon sent the rebound wide.

The South created the final chance of the half on 42 minutes with Campbell Watt shooting by the left-hand post.

The South made a storming start to the second half, and Murphy Henderson in the North goal had to be at his best to keep them at bay, saving from Scott MacVicar on 52 minutes.

The South levelled on the hour when Scott MacVicar slammed a rebound into the roof of the net from inside the D.

Campbell Watt fired over from 25 yards following a good run on 64 minutes.

The North worked their way back into the game though and, on 67 minutes, Gordon Currie kept out an effort from Ross MacKinnon.

The North regained the lead on 78 minutes. Ross MacKinnon’s great strike was saved, but Ross Gordon was on hand to tap home the rebound.

Archie MacRae sealed success just 3 minutes later with the goal of the game, striking the ball across the keeper from wide on the left.

When match referee Lachie Wood blew for time, all that was left was for North captain Duncan MacPherson from Newtonmore to collect the trophy.

Whilst it doesn’t look as if there will be a shinty / hurling under-21 international this year, all the players on show all made the most of this representative appearance.

 

 

Mowi North Division 2

Lewis Camanachd 9 Strathglass 0

League leaders Lewis Camanachd completed their season with a 9-0 demolition of the Strathglass second team at Shawbost.

This was the twelfth successive time Lewis Camanachd had collected maximum points and they took the lead through Donnie MacRae in the opening minute.

Paddy Wilson on 9 minutes and Donald Lamont on 16 minutes made it 3-0 at the break.

Paul Duke on 53 minutes, a second from Donnie MacRae on 58 minutes and a second from Donald Lamont a couple of minutes later made it 6-0 by the hour.

Donnie MacRae took his tally to four goals with efforts on 65 and 73 minutes, either side of Paul Duke’s second goal of the game which came with 20 minutes remaining.

Lewis have now won all their home games for the first time ever.

Second placed Lochcarron must now take five points from their three remaining games to take the title. Should Lochcarron take four points, there will be a play-off at a neutral venue.

 

 

(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report states differently)

 

 

 

Oban Camanachd Youths Are League Champions

Oban Camanachd were crowned Mowi Under-14 South League champions after beating Kyles Athletic 6-2 at Mossfield on Sunday 3 September 2023.

The Oban youngsters, coached by David MacMillan, beat their Glasgow Mid Argyll counterparts 5-4 in a close semi-final with Scott Campbell scoring four times and the excellent Fraser MacMillan getting the other to seal victory.  

In the final, against a strong, young Kyles side, Innes MacKay and Scott Campbell both grabbed hat-tricks in a 6-2 victory.

 

 

 

Skye & Wester Ross Come Out On Top

Skye & Wester Ross came out on top in the Ferguson Transport & Shipping North under-17 inter-area competition at Spean Bridge.

A dominate Skye and Wester Ross came away with three victories and three clean sheets with Lochaber the day’s runners up.

Skye & Wester Ross defeated Lochaber 2-0 with Archie Millar scoring both and Millar was again the difference with the only goal of the game against Badenoch.

The west coast side defeated Inverness District 3-0 thanks to Archie Millar’s double and Seonaidh-Alex Macleod’s penalty.

James Munro and Ian Kennedy were the match referees.