Three Badenoch players in shinty fans' team of the 2021 season
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A trio of players from the two Badenoch giants have been selected in shinty's team of the season.
Wing centre Steven MacDonald, of Newtonmore, joined the Kings' half forward Ruairidh Anderson and James Falconer – who had an exceptional goalscoring year – in the 2021 starting line.
All senior captains, as representatives of their club, were asked to nominate someone from another club in the MOWI National and Premiershipto determine a shortlist for the MOWI team of the season.
Captains could not name anyone from their own side in the team of the year and the final team was chosen by the fans via Twitter poll.
The poll, which ran over the festive period and received more than 3,500 votes, culminated earlier today with the choice of manager.
A Camanachd Association spokesman said: "Perhaps unsurprisingly, the team is dominated by Kinlochshiel players after their heroics in winning the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup and Cottages.com MacTavish Cup for the first time in their history.
"Kyles and Kingussie’s 2021 silverware success was also acknowledged by the fans as both were represented twice in the 12 man squad.
"Despite their teams not lifting senior trophies in 2021, Steven MacDonald and Daniel Sloss were still popular picks and made the side representing Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd respectively."
The only non-Premiership inclusion comes at manager as Beauly’s Gregor MacCormick and Niall MacLennan were rewarded by fans for reaching the Balliemore Cup Final and holding their
own in a strong league.
Aarron Duncan-MacLeod, marketing and communications officer for the Camanachd Association, said: “It’s great to see so many deserving winners in the MOWI Team of the Season.
"These types of polls are often close run and always contentious and I hope that this will give shinty fans the world over something to talk about ahead of what is set to be an exciting 2022 campaign.”
Team in full: Goalkeeper: Josh Grant (Kinlochshiel); full back: Finlay MacRae (Kinlochshiel); wing back: Andy King (Kyles Athletic); wing back: Daniel Sloss (Oban Camanachd); half back: Conor Cormack (Kinlochshiel); wing centre: Donald Nixon (Kinlochshiel); full centre: Ross MacRae (Kyles Athletic); wing centre: Steven MacDonald (Newtonmore); half forward: Ruairidh Anderson (Kingussie); wing forward: James Falconer (Kingussie); wing forward: Jordan Fraser (Kinlochshiel); full forward: Keith MacRae (Kinlochshiel). Manager(s): Gregor MacCormick & Niall MacLennan (Beauly)
