The Strathy's Shinty Review of the Year – Part II
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July 2023
Kingussie secured narrow Mowi Premiership wins at either end of the month, beating Lovat 1-0 and Oban Camanachd 2-1.
However, they were docked two points when their game against Skye was postponed after they failed to contact the referee ahead of the fixture.
In-between times, they won 3-1 at Caberfeidh to reach the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semis and defeated Kinlochshiel 2-1 to reach the Artemis MacAulay Cup final.
Meantime it was a mixed month for Newtonmore as two successive trips west ended in a 2-1 defeat to Skye and a 2-1 win over Kinlochshiel with Martin Hall netting twice.
The Blue & Whites then suffered a 4-1 reverse at Kyles Athletic.
Newtonmore colts turned in one of their best performances of the season to defeat Kinlochshiel 6-0 in Mowi North Division 1 at Rèaraig.
Manager Peter Ross said: “I thought we were very good all over the park. We moved the ball well and all six goals were tremendous. If we continue to play good, passing shinty like that, we’ll be
alright this season.”
However, roles were reversed as ‘Shiel won 3-1 in the Strathdearn semi-finals the week after.
‘More finished the month with league wins over Lovat (2-0) and Inverness (5-1).
In the same league, the Kingussie reserves beat Kinlochshiel 2-0 in the middle of losses to Inverness (1-0), Skye (7-1), Glengarry (7-0) and Fort William (4-2) leaving them deep in relegation trouble.
Strathspey Camanachd withdrew from North Division 2 with immediate effect, having insufficient players to complete the season.
Badenoch beat Skye 9-3, making them hot National Division favourites but were stunned seven days later when the Islanders defeated them 4-2 in the Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup semi-finals.
Newtonmore youngster Euan Dingwall was part of the Scotland under-17 squad which beat Kildare but lost to Kilkenny in this year’s RI Cruden Ireland shinty / hurling tour.
August 2023
Kingussie beat Kinlochshiel 2-1 in the Camanachd Cup semi-finals before drawing 1-1 with ‘Shiel in the Premiership.
Kings then lost their Macaulay Cup crown when they were beaten 2-1 by Oban Camanachd in the final before winning 1-0 on Skye in the league with Ruaridh Anderson scoring early in the game.
Manager Iain Borthwick said: “We looked dangerous every time we broke forward but didn’t do it enough. The boys have to battle sometimes, and they did that in the second half. The win was important given the Kyles game in a fortnight and we still have Newtonmore to play.”
Newtonmore played two Premiership matches, drawing 2-2 with Caberfeidh at the Eilan before winning 4-0 at Beauly.
The Newtonmore and Kinlochshiel second teams met again, this time in the HIS Sutherland Cup semi-finals. Glen MacKintosh and Xander Ross both grabbed hat-tricks in a 6-0 mauling. North Division 1 wins against Beauly (4-0) and Kingussie (5-1) following, confirming ‘More as champions again.
The Kingussie seconds drew 3-3 with Glenurquhart and ended the season bottom of the division.
Badenoch had big National Division wins against Ardnamurchan (11-0) and Inverness (6-0) with the latter win sealing another title.
September 2023
Badenoch were presented with National Division trophy after beating Glenurquhart 9-0 at the Dell. Kirsty Deans scored seven times and Newtonmore stalwart John MacKenzie handed the trophy to Badenoch skipper Megan Ralph afterwards.
Badenoch B finish a credible second in WCA North Division following a rousing 12-0 victory over Inverness B.
Kingussie defeated Oban Camanachd 1-0 at the Bught Park to retain the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup, their 25 th success. Match-winner Ruaridh Anderson scored the only goal of the game with a sweet strike two minutes from time.
He said: “Oban Camanachd are a good side, and they were unlucky as they had chances. I can’t describe how this feels though. It’s unbelievable and it doesn’t feel real.”
Kingussie captain James Falconer lifted the trophy to start the celebrations.
Savio Genini’s injury time double took Kingussie to the top of the Premiership following their 2-1 win over Kyles Athletic at the start of the month. The Kings then lost 1-0 at Caberfeidh after the Scottish final before coming from behind to beat Beauly 2-1.
The Newtonmore first team’s only league match this month was a 3-1 win at Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Newtonmore won the Sutherland Cup for the third successive season, beating Skye 4-2 in the final at Blairbeg. Man of the match Glen MacKintosh grabbed a hat-trick with Charlie Ferguson also netting.
MacKintosh said: “It was hard going, especially in the heat and fair play to Skye who kept going until the end. It was a tough, physical game but I thought referee Craig Scott handled it very well and we are delighted to get another cup.”
Skipper Ritchie Irvine was presented with the trophy by Garry MacKintosh from sponsors HIS.
Next, Glen MacKintosh scored five and Kyle Clark twice as ‘More won 7-2 at Glenurquhart and then, with 12 juveniles in the squad and an average age of just 16.3 years, the Blue & Whites fielded one of their youngest sides ever as they lost 4-3 to the Inverness first team.
Newtonmore’s Duncan MacPherson captained the North under-21s to a 3-1 win over the South under-21s at Mossfield to win the Caol Cup. Teammates Struan Ross and Arron MacBean were also selected as was Kingussie’s George Taylor-Ramsay.
Newtonmore under-14 were too strong for Skye Camanachd under-14, winning 13-1 to win the MacMaster Cup for the first time. Skipper Joe Coyle scored seven times.
With 220 primary pupils taking part overall, Kingussie’s primary 4-5 side won the Dicksons of Inverness North Shinty World Cup at the Bught Park.
The North won both the under-14 (8-1) and under-17 (4-1) representative matches against their South counterparts.
October 2023
James Falconer scored four as Kingussie romped to an 8-0 win at relegated Glasgow Mid Argyll before beating Skye 4-0 at the Dell at the end of the month to win their third successive Premiership title.
The Newtonmore first team didn’t play during the month. With six Badenoch players in the squad, Scotland put up a good fight before eventually going down 22-14 to Ireland in the shinty / hurling international at Páirc Esler, Newry. Kingussie’s Robert Mabon, Ruaridh Anderson and James Falconer were all included as were Newtonmore’s Steven Macdonald Iain Robinson and Craig
Ritchie.
Newtonmore raised the North Division 1 trophy after beating Glenurquhart 3-1 at Dr Johnnie Cattanach pitch. Tristan Ross, Euan Dingwall and Glen MacKintosh’s penalty made the difference. Assistant manager Mark Taylor said: “We are especially pleased again with how the young boys did. Lewis MacKintosh looked good at wing back and Arran Ford came off the bench early on and did all that was asked of him.”
November 2023
Kingussie captain James Falconer raised another prize, accepting the Mowi Premiership trophy from Mowi’s Jayne MacKay following a 3-1 derby win over Newtonmore in the Kings final match of the season. Thomas Borthwick rounded out a solid season following his return from injury with Ruaridh Anderson getting the other.
Steven Macdonald countered from the penalty spot. Manager Iain Borthwick said: “That’s three out for four trophies so I can’t complain too much about that."
Badenoch players Megan Ralph, Zoe Reid, Mairi Stewart and Rhona McIntyre all played their part as the Scotland squad returned from their shinty / camogie international double-header with two wins over Irish opposition.
It’s the end of an era at Kingussie as James Hutchison and Fraser Munro, confirmed that they will take a step back from playing senior shinty next season.
Kingussie and Scotland full back Robert Mabon capped an outstanding season when he was named Mowi national player of the year at shinty’s annual awards.
Newtonmore’s Glen MacKintosh was given North area leagues player of the year prize.
Badenoch took the WCA national division club of the year accolade whilst Scott Campbell and Iain Robinson were coaches of the year once more. Scott Campbell also received the service to women’s shinty award and said: “This is a massive honour and one that will always be very special to me.”
Strathspey Camanachd took the club development award.
Newtonmore under-14 coaches Sean McQuarrie and Norman Campbell were recognised as youth coaches of the year whilst the talented Joe Coyle was under-14 player of the year.
The wearing of shinty helmets with faceguards will be mandatory for all players in the under-25 age group from the start of the 2024 shinty season following a vote at the Camanachd Association AGM. However, a separate vote to introduce helmets for all players fell short despite safety pleas.
The year ended on a desperately sad note as the shinty world was stunned and saddened to learn of the passing of young Kingussie player Calum MacKintosh from a suspected cardiac arrest. Clubs from across the country sent their condolences.
December 2023
The Kings paid their tribute to Calum MacKintosh with a Guard of Honour at the Dell ahead of his funeral service at Inverallan Church in Grantown on Friday 8 December.
Kingussie icon Ronald Ross’ outstanding shinty career was recognised when he became only the second shinty player to enter the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame.
Ross said: “It was a huge surprise when the email came through and it certainly wasn’t something I expected...
“Shinty is a team sport and my dad always told me that I was lucky to play at a time when Kingussie had so many great players throughout the team."
