Skye Camanachd 2 Newtonmore 4 | |
10 September 2023 The Skye Camanachd second team lost 4-2 to the Newtonmore second team in the HIS Sutherland Cup final at Blairbeg on Saturday 9 September 2023. A big crowd gathered in the sunshine for this 3pm throw up with the teams and officials led onto the field by a pipe band. The whole match was broadcast LIVE on Radio Skye’s “Camanachd LIVE” show. Newtonmore made the better start and Glen Mackintosh gave them a 13 minute lead, smashing home the ball on his left side when Skye couldn’t clear Charlie Ferguson’s cross from the right. Skye went close on a couple of occasions before Shockie MacLennan levelled on 32 minutes, sending the ball high into the net on the turn when James Robertson played on Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod’s hit-in from the right. Jamie Robinson’s introduction helped settle ‘More and they got their noses back in front a minute before the interval when Glen MacKintosh took down Charlie Ferguson’s high ball from the right and, with his back to goal, his low strike crept by Skye keeper Calum Nicolson’s feet. Skye came back again and Shockie MacLennan equalised for a second time on 49 minutes, getting into the D ahead of his marker to sweep home Archie MacDonald’s corner from the right. Newtonmore were not to be denied though and they took the lead for a third time on 55 minutes. Good closing down on the right from young ‘More substitutes Tommy Stewart and Kyle Clark prevented Skye clearing the ball out of defence and Glen MacKintosh played Clark’s low cross to Charlie Ferguson in space on the left. Ferguson had time to tee the ball up before beating the keeper low by his right post to make it 3-2. This time Newtonmore stayed in front and Glen MacKintosh completed his hat-trick with 11 minutes remaining. Tommy Stewart fed Jamie Robinson who twice exchanged passes with Glen MacKintosh to the right of the penalty spot before the former Scotland forward found enough space to blast the ball high into the net from the tightest of angles on the right. ‘More held the lead to claim the Sutherland for the third successive season. When match referee Craig Scott blew for time, all that remained was for the inaugural Sir William Sutherland man of the match trophy, donated by Dr Hugh Dan MacLennan and believed to be an earlier incarnation of the Sutherland Cup itself, to be presented to Glen MacKintosh and for Newtonmore captain Ritchie Irvine to step forward to receive the famous trophy from Garry MacKintosh, representing sponsors HIS who put on a magnificent occasion to mark the 100th final. At the reception afterwards, Newtonmore presented both Garry MacKintosh from sponsors HIS and Skye Camanachd manager Willie MacDonald with special framed Newtonmore tops to mark the centenary final. James Brannan handed over the gift to HIS with Mark Taylor making the presentation to Skye. As a post-note to Saturday’s HIS Sutherland Cup final, a collection in the hospitality tent raised over £1,300 for Shinty Memories Scotland. And it gets better, as Garry MacKintosh from sponsors Highland Industrial Supplies agreed to match the sum raised, a wonderful gesture appreciated by all at Shinty Memories. Skye Camanachd from: Calum Nicolson: David MacInnes (captain), Cameron MacKay, William James Sutherland, Raghnall Robertson: Alex MacDonald, Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod, Archie MacDonald: James Robertson, Archie Millar, Taylor Matheson, Shockie MacLennan: subs Ian MacPherson, Iain MacInnes, Nui Nicolson, Ali Stewart, Ally “Digg” MacDonald Newtonmore from: Jason Macdonald: Cameron McNiven, James Ross, Rasmus Cheyne, Ritchie Irvine (captain): Euan Dingwall, Daniel Craven, Tristain Ross: Charlie Ferguson, Brodie MacBean, Xander Ross, Glen MacKintosh: subs Tommy Stewart, Kyle Clark, Ross Haig, Jamie Robinson, Lewis MacKintosh Match Referee – Craig Scott |