PICTURES: Newtonmore boss Peter Ross admits he barely slept for days in lead up to Camanachd Cup final
Newtonmore manager Peter Ross has dedicated the 3-2 win over Kingussie to the club’s supporters after masterminding the record 35th Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup success.
The Blue and Whites upset the odds on Saturday at Inverness’ Bught Park with their first win over the Kings since since a 3-2 triumph in 2018.
Their goal heroes were Iain Robinson with a brace and starlet Joe Coyle with the Eilan side seeing off a late comeback from Kingussie who scored twice late on through Ryan Borthwick.
Ross said: “Everyone’s worked so hard this season including the players, those behind the scenes on the coaching side and everyone on our committee but the lift the supporters gave us when they cheered the players’ names as they were announced at the start of the final was massive.
“I loved hearing that and the players fed off it. The players won it on the park and our supporters out-sung Kingussie off the park.”
Ross was rightly credited with tactical switches which made the difference as full centre Craig Ritchie and wing back Tristan Ross swapped roles whilst Joe Coyle was mainly utilised at full forward with Iain Robinson as wing forward.
Struan Ross was preferred in attack to Arron MacBean who dropped onto the bench.
Ross said: “We had some positional changes in mind ahead of our last meeting with Kingussie, but we didn’t want to show our hand as the Camanachd Cup is the one we really wanted.
“We had a plan, and the players carried it out brilliantly and they got everything right.
“I could praise all the players individually but I thought young Joe Coyle was immense.
“In fact, our three teens, Joe, Matthew Sloss and Tristan Ross bossed the game and that can only be good for Newtonmore’s future.
“If you add them to the other boys playing in the under-17s and the second team, then Newtonmore has a tonne of talent.”
If Saturday’s final is to be Joe Coyle’s final contribution to the club, he signed off in the best possible way by scoring the third and decisive goal.
Ross said: “I hope Joe goes on to have a good football career.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for him, and it has been an honour to coach him since he played shinty at primary 2.
“Maybe we’ll see him back in a Newtonmore shirt one day when his football days are over.”
It’s a first Camanachd Cup win for Newtonmore since 2019 and Ross said: “People ask what’s changed but we had six players missing for large spells last season whilst I’ve been luckier with injuries this year.
“Another factor is brothers Daniel and Matthew Sloss joining the club. If the Sloss boys didn’t sign then Newtonmore don’t win that cup, it’s as simple as that.”
Ross confessed: “I thought long and hard about taking the manager’s job on. The club means so much to me that I wondered if it would be too much but everyone’s been so supportive.
“I hardly slept in the week leading up to the final, thinking of all the scenarios and worrying about leaving boys out but when I woke up on Sunday morning, I felt amazing.”
He added: “This means everything to our village and the reception we received when we got back to Newtonmore was outstanding.
“This cup belongs in Newtonmore.”
Both sides return to Mowi Premiership action on Saturday, and both are on the road.
Kingussie will need to pick themselves up from the disappointment of their loss and should maintain their top spot at already relegated Lovat.
Second placed Newtonmore will have to dust their heads down following a deserved week of celebrations andwill look to capitalise on any potential Kingussie slip-up as they journey south to Kyles Athletic in what is their penultimate game of the season.