ONE FOR THE RECORDS: Kingussie notch up seventh Grand Slam
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The current Kingussie squad wrote their names in the club’s illustrious history when they beat Oban Camanachd 2-0 at Mossfield to claim the Mowi Premiership title and a record seventh Grand Slam.
The Mowi Premiership now joins the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup, the Artemis Macaulay Cup and the cottages.com MacTavish Cup in the Red and Blues’ trophy cabinet.
Boss John Gibson, a player when the club last won the Grand Slam in 2003, was a happy man after the Kings won with a brace from forward Roddy Young.
He said: “It’s fantastic. What a culmination to a lot of hard work. It’s all a bit emotional to be honest.
“The effort these guys have put in this season has been spectacular and that was epitomised by Lee Bain and James Hutchison against Oban, two of the oldest guys involved.
“I think they were the best two players on the pitch and on a wet day, when it’s not the nicest day for great shinty, they showed just what you need to do to win. They were exceptional.
“Bob (Rory MacGregor) made four or five important saves and we could have been behind before we scored whilst Rory MacKeachan was again outstanding.
“He has been remarkably consistent this season. Roddy Young took his goals well.
“We started pre-season training back in January and here we are 10 months down the line with all four senior trophies. It could hardly have gone better, especially given our injuries.
“We used 25 players this season and most played a good number of games. We have also shown a very good level of respect and discipline so at least didn’t have suspensions to contend with.
“It is a young squad and there is a lot more to come from the players, but that’s for another day and we’ll just enjoy this for now.”
Winning captain Savio Genini could not hide his pride at what had been achieved this season.
Speaking straight after the final whistle, he said: “It’s 20 years since a Grand Slam has been done.
“It was done by Kingussie last time and it’s been done by Kingussie again.
“It is something that is absolutely massive for the community, massive for everyone involved at the club, especially considering we were in a relegation play-off just seven years ago and now we’ve just won shinty’s Grand Slam.
“Everyone at the club, the coaches, the committee members, all deserve massive credit for what has been achieved and although I’ve played it down this year, we’ve done what no one has done for 20 years.
“I don’t care what anyone else says, I’m saying we are the best team in shinty this year.
“It might not be the same next year, but we have just won every trophy there is to win.
“I’ve played it down a lot but I’m not going to play it down any more.”
Speaking after Saturday’s match, Oban Camanachd assistant manager Iain MacMillan paid tribute to the all-conquering Kings.
He said: “We played pretty well but Kingussie are a good side.
“They capitalised on our mistakes and Roddy (Young) took both the chances that came his way.
“That’s two consecutive games where the opposing goalie has been our opponent’s best player; it was the same with Kenny Ross against Newtonmore last week and now Rory MacGregor this week.
“Congratulations to Kingussie though.
“That is some achievement to take all four senior shinty trophies.”
Kingussie’s final match of the season is against Lovat at Balgate on Saturday 12 November where they will be presented with the Mowi Premiership trophy to crown one of the most memorable seasons in the club’s long history.
