Beauly end long wait for Lovat Cup success
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BEAULY ended a five-year losing streak in the Lovat Cup when beating rivals Lovat 2-1 in a fiery encounter at Braeview.
The home side made light of their lower league status in North Division One and matched the Premier Division side in just about every aspect, pulling off a deserved victory to bring the cup back to Braeview for the first time since 2007.
The cancellation of the Ross County versus Caley Thistle match helped swell the crowd to one of the largest seen at a Lovat Cup clash in recent years and they were treated to 90 minutes of non-stop action with the result in doubt until the final whistle. Lovat, requiring just a draw to retain the trophy, camped in the Beauly half for the final 10 minutes, but were denied by a combination of wasteful finishing and the heroics of the Beauly back four, as well as goalkeeper MacKay Murray.
The pitch, flooded after days of heavy rain, was reduced to a mud bath by the end, although both sets of players, perhaps fuelled by adrenaline in the final quarter, showed few signs of weakening.
"I thought that was a magnificent advert for our sport," said Beauly’s joint manager Steve MacLean.
"For both sets of players to play at that tempo in those conditions for 90 minutes is astonishing and it shows the commitment shinty players have towards their fitness."
Maclean refused to get carried away by his side’s victory, however, and although savouring the moment, he was looking ahead to the forthcoming season.
"For the players and supporters it was fantastic and I expect we will be celebrating long into the night," he said.
"The cup means so much to both clubs, but I will not be losing sight of our main ambition which is to take the club to the Premier Division".
The match opened slowly with both sets of players looking nervy and taking their time to adjust to the conditions.
Lovat were first to show their hand with a move conceived in the midfield, which ended with a fine strike by Owen Ferguson confidently beaten away by Murray in the Beauly goal. Ferguson then tested Murray again just minutes later, but again the custodian was up to the task.
Beauly were not entirely out of it and the towering Martin Davidson was proving quite a handful for the diminutive Lovat rearguard.
In the 22nd minute, Davidson caused mayhem in the Lovat penalty area and teenage striker Jack MacDonald snapped up a half chance to give Beauly a shock lead.
Inspired by the large support, Beauly were now the dominant force with Conor Cormack and David MacLean looking strong in midfield. Sean Stewart was proving a handful for the Lovat defence, although Michael MacKenzie at wing back for the visitors showed he was up to the task of containing the wily Stewart.
Lovat, however, did manage to summon a response with 33 minutes gone, Greg Matheson restoring parity after being set up by Duncan Davidson.
Minutes later, Lorne MacKay punted a speculative lob into the Beauly penalty area and as the home fans held their breath, Murray pushed it over the bar for a corner.
Two minutes from half-time came one of the game’s most dramatic moments when Lovat conceded a penalty after Drew Howie impeded Davidson.
Before the penalty could be taken, however, referee Deek Cameron had to relocate the spot, which had disappeared into the mud.
Under immense pressure, Beauly captain Barrie MacDonald then stepped up to take responsibility and he calmly hammered an unstoppable conversion high into the Lovat net to give his side the perfect end to what had been an absorbing 45 minutes.
The second half continued in the same vein, but in the 56th minute Beauly suffered a blow when Davidson was red carded after a clash with Lovat captain Calum Cruden.
Far from being the end of Beauly as viable force in the game, the incident appeared to have the opposite effect as Lovat looked uncertain how to deploy their extra man and Beauly simply upped their effort to an even higher level.
The MacDonald’s — Barrie and Jack — came close to extending their lea, but were denied on both occasions by their namesake Stuart in the Lovat goal.
Eventually, the extra man began to tell, however, as Lovat began to dominate possession.
Substitutes Graeme MacMillan and Calum MacAulay both came close to grabbing the equaliser, but lacked the composure to make the telling strike.
Referee Cameron’s final whistle brought huge elation from the Beauly players and supporters and when the celebrations subsided, Barrie MacDonald was able to lift the famous trophy.
