Kingussie book place in Camanachd Cup final with hard-fought win over Fort in monsoon
The monsoon weather conditions did not dampen Kingussie’s determination as the holders beat Fort William 3-2 in their Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi-final Spean Bridge.
Fort William’s Craig MacDonald continued to be ruled out with a hamstring injury whilst Lewis Morrison was a Saturday morning call-off.
The Fort went with a different midfield to the one that lost out to the Kings in the cottages.com MacTavish Cup final nearlier in the season with Lewis Clark and Calum Shepherd flanking full centre Sean Maclellan.
Thomas Borthwick was Kingussie’s main concern, but he was able to a place on the bench as the Kings fielded the same starting 12 that drew with Newtonmore in the league the previous week.
Despite the rain, and as far as Camanachd Cup semi-finals go, you would be hard pressed to top the opening 10 minutes of this encounter on Saturday for drama.
Kingussie opted to start against the wind and, just as they did in the MacTavish Cup final, Fort William took the lead.
Calum Shepherd, in a central position, played Sean Maclellan’s hit-in from the right to Victor Smith on the Fort left.
Smith turned and fired a blistering strike just under the crossbar to put his side ahead with almost four minutes played.
James Falconer and Dylan Borthwick had efforts before Kingussie’s sixth minute equaliser.
Dylan Borthwick got on the end of Ruaridh Anderson’s corner from the left and, from a central position, Borthwick produced a measured finish, steering the ball by the keeper’s outstretched right foot and just inside the post to make it 1-1.
The Kings took the lead a minute later.
Ruaridh Anderson was again involved as his free-hit found Savio Genini on the right.
Genini did not catch his shot as cleanly as usual, but the ball looped over keeper Paul MacKay and into the net to make it 2-1.
It was breathless and with just over eight minutes on the clock, Fort William were level.
Calum Shepherd’s ball following a short corner from the left picked out Lachie Shaw on the far side and he turned by Calum Grant and ran into the D before finishing with a half swing to make it 2-2.
Fort William’s Cam Stephen hit the keeper’s right post before Kingussie regained the lead on 20 minutes.
Again, the goal came from a set-piece, this time taken by Savio Genini to the left of the penalty spot.
Genini found Dylan Borthwick who lost his marker to and whipped the ball to the keeper’s left to make it 3-2.
At this stage, it seemed hugely unlikely that this would be the end of the scoring, but it was.
The players tried of course, and Paul MacKay saved twice from James Falconer before the Fort lost skipper Victor Smith with what looked like the recurrence of a hamstring injury.
Graham Campbell took over.
Fort substitute Jack Fraser was left with blood running down his face after a tussle for the ball with Zander Michie left him with a cut nose.
The Kingussie buckshee back was booked by referee Ross Brown, meaning he will now miss the Mowi Premiership match at Kinlochshiel on Saturday 24 August for a disciplinary points accumulation.
The rain had eased by the time the second half got underway and Kingussie, now with the wind in their favour, started to take control.
Ruaridh Anderson turned Arran Stephen on the right but had to settle for a corner after Paul MacKay saved with his feet.
Johnny Forster and James Falconer were both yellow carded following a shoving match after Falconer had been brought down by the Fort defender on his way through on goal.
MacKay saved from Falconer following the resultant free-hit.
James Falconer was running the Fort defence ragged, and he shot just wide soon after the hour.
Paul MacKay then saved well with his foot from Ruaridh Anderson as Kingussie searched for the fourth goal that would kill off their opponents.
Kingussie had the chance to put the tie to bed on 66 minutes when Fort defender Hamish Shaw inadvertently kicked the ball out of play and referee Ross Brown pointed to the penalty spot.
The normally deadly Dylan Borthwick took the spot-hit, but Paul MacKay saved the shoulder-high strike with his stick.
The pattern of play was now mainly towards the Fort goal but the yellow and blacks defended resolutely, and Paul MacKay made another good stop from Dylan Borthwick.
Fort William attacks were by now a rare occurrence, but Calum Grant did well to block Cam Stephen’s effort when an opportunity did present itself.
Kingussie were awarded their second spot-hit in stoppage time when James Falconer was wiped out by Paul MacKay as he tried to get on the end of a rebound.
The keeper was booked for the challenge, but Dylan Borthwick sent the spot-hit by the goalie’s right-hand post this time.
There was just enough time to restart the tie before Ross Brown’s final whistle confirmed Kingussie’s place in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup final against Lovat at An Aird on Saturday 21 September 2024.
The BBC ALBA man of the match accolade, selected by Inveraray manager and match summariser Andy Watt, went to Fort William keeper Paul MacKay for his heroics, especially in the second half.