Kingussie claim shinty’s first silverware of the season
Kingussie made it three-in-a-row as they lifted the cottages.com MacTavish Cup again before dedicating the win in memory of young teammate Calum Mackintosh.
They had to work hard to do so though, coming from behind to beat a spirited Fort William side 3-1 in the final at the Eilan on Saturday.
A calf injury meant Kingussie captain and defender Calum Grant had to sit this one out, but he was named as one of the substitutes. Cameron Bremner continued in defence, so the returning Rory MacKeachan slotted in in place of Grant.
Thomas Borthwick was also back and started at wing centre whilst Dylan Borthwick recovered from a knee knock to take his usual role in attack.
Fort William were without Graham Campbell, Sean Maclellan, Jack Fraser and Cam Stephen for the previous week’s defeat to Beauly, but they all returned to the starting line-up.
The teams were led onto the field by the Badenoch & Strathspey Pipe Band and once the formalities were over, referee Graeme Irvine got this 4.05pm throw up, broadcast live on BBC ALBA underway. It was wet, cold and blustery, but the pitch was in excellent condition.
Kingussie made a bright start and Ruaridh Anderson came deep to take a ball from Cameron Bremner before out-smarting his marker and surging forward but his shot went wide.
The Fort defence were double-marking Kingussie dangerman Dylan Borthwick at times as they weathered the early storm.
When the opening goal arrived, it was at the other end as Fort William scored from their first attack on 7 minutes. Full centre Jack Fraser held off his marker to control Paul MacKay’s long goal hit and Lewis Clark lifted the ball forward into the D where Graham Campbell and Victor Smith fought for possession.
The Kingussie defence missed chances to clear and although Campbell’s initial strike was saved by Rory McGregor, Victor Smith was on hand to tuck the ball low into the net on his left side from inside the D.
Just when Kingussie needed a bit of experience, it came from full centre Lee Bain who, in his sixth MacTavish final, sprinted forward from the restart before finding Savio Genini in space on the left. Genini’s ball to the edge of the D broke for Liam Borthwick who tried to keep himself onside before sweeping the ball by the keeper and the Kings were level just 28 seconds after falling behind.
A Dylan Borthwick run ended with a shot which went wide whilst a smart turn from Graham Campbell created a shooting chance, but his effort also went wide.
Ruaridh Anderson went close again as he spun away to get on the end of Thomas Borthwick’s hit-in, but he couldn’t find the target.
Fort William finished the first half strongly and Lachie Shaw was next to try his luck before, with just 5 first half minutes remaining, Kingussie keeper Rory McGregor just managed to turn and sweep away Lachie Shaw’s shot from Cam Stephen’s free-hit on the right with Victor Smith and Graham Campbell inches away from forcing the ball home.
Graham Campbell fired wide from Jack Fraser’s long free-hit and Bob McGregor saved with his feet from Victor Smith before the half-time whistle sounded.
Kingussie took the chance to regroup at the break and they returned to the field with the wind now in their favour and their manager’s half-time team-talk still ringing in their ears.
Liam Borthwick must have thought he’d put his side in front when Savio Genini’s ball broke for him at the left of the D but Fort keeper Paul MacKay, who was at the other side of his goal, dived full length to somehow tip Borthwick’s low shot away for a corner to the striker’s disbelief.
Cameron Bremner became the first player to be booked by referee Graeme Irvine for a series of fouls.
Dylan Borthwick was proving a handful and Paul MacKay saved well with his feet on 55 minutes to deny Kingussie’s top scorer before thwarting Ruaridh Anderson.
You sensed a Kingussie goal was coming, and it duly arrived a couple of minutes after the hour. Savio Genini used his body to turn his marker Craig MacDonald, and he finished low into the net on his left side from the front of the D to make it 2-1.
Liam Borthwick went close from Savio Genini’s pass soon after whilst Fort William then had a penalty claim. Rory McGregor juggled the ball as he tried to clear but Sean Maclellan was quickly in and both players ended up on the ground. After speaking to the goal judge, referee Graeme Irvine awarded Kingussie a free-hit inside their D.
This eight-minute period was where the final was won and lost and Savio Genini scored for a second time on 69 minutes, turning defender Craig MacDonald on the Kingussie right as he gathered Zander Michie’s long free-hit, and Genini ran on before producing an emphatic finish to make it 3-1.
Kingussie, who introduced James Falconer, were now in control, and they used their experience to see out the closing stages, creating more chances in the process.
James Falconer ran onto Ruaridh Anderson’s free-hit, after a Savio Genini run made space on the right, but he sent the ball just the wrong side of the post.
Paul MacKay denied Savio Genini a hat-trick, getting his body behind the ball before clearing for a corner.
With the clock ticking, Zander Michie made a lung-bursting run out of the Kingussie defence, galloping down the left and into the D but he pushed the ball into the side netting.
The final whistle confirmed Kingussie’s success as attention now turned to the presentations at this well organised event.
The Tom MacKenzie medal as man of the match went to Fort William’s Paul MacKay for his heroics and after the medals were handed out, all that remained was for Kingussie captain Calum Grant to claim the trophy and silver-mounted caman.
Grant placed a symbolic otter in the cup as a poignant recall to teammate Calum Mackintosh, nicknamed “the otter”, who passed away at the end of last season. The Kingussie skipper spoke afterwards: “I was disappointed not to play but winning the trophy was the most important thing. The otter in the cup was to remember Calum Mackintosh. Calum will always be with us.”
After the final whistle, Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “The first half could have gone either way and Fort William certainly had chances. We were all over the place at times and just couldn’t get going. At half-time, we told the boys they needed to do better and want it more and we played a lot better in second half.
“We knew we needed to show more composure and be patient and the second goal was crucial. It was then all about staying in front for the next 5 minutes and we scored a third goal at just the right time. I though be bossed the game after that, and our defence took control with Zander (Michie) winning a lot of balls and feeding the forwards.
“I know what these players are capable of, and they didn’t show it in the first half but after a few hugs and kisses at half-time, they were much better after that. Savio did well, taking his chances and we got some of the younger boys on at the end too.”
Savio Genini scored two crucial goals and he said: “It’s an absolute privilege to win trophies for Kingussie and you never get tired of it. Every win is as good as the first one. Unfortunately, Calum (Grant) never got on today but he’s a grafter and he deserves this more that anyone. You’ll not get a harder player in the game.
“Zander (Michie) at half back controlled the game in the second half and he does that week in, week out. We all just quietly do our jobs.
“Full credit to Fort William though who were outstanding in the first half and with an average age of 23, they’ll be back.”
Zander Michie said: “We didn’t start the game as well as we’d wanted. Fort William were really up for it and we knew what they could do following their performance in the semi-finals. We bounced back well after they scored the first goal but still needed ‘Bob’ (Rory McGregor) to keep us in it during that first half.
“We regrouped at half-time when “Corky” (Ian Borthwick) pointed out where we’d been going wrong.”
Fort William co-manager Alan Knox added: “I thought we were excellent in the first half and matched Kingussie all over the park. We’re disappointed to lose a goal so quickly after going ahead and it also looked offside.
“Kingussie put the pressure on us in the second half and showed why they are the best. That said, I thought we should have had a penalty at 2-1 down. These decisions are vital in big games. Kingussie then got a third which finished the game off.
“Overall, our players and management learned a lot from the experience and need to build on it going forward.”
Kingussie aren’t in action this coming weekend as they have their designated “free Saturday”. Their next match is against Glenurquhart, the Mowi Premiership’s bottom side, at the Dell on Saturday, June 22.