Kyles win dramatic Camanachd Cup final
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KYLES Athletic won a thrilling Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup final on Saturday, beating Inveraray 6-5 in one of the most memorable finals of the modern era.
It is the third-highest aggregate score recorded in the 105 finals of the event and the victory elevates Kyles to equal second with Kingussie on the all-time winner’s list with 21 triumphs.
Shinty enthusiasts acclaimed the 2011 final between Kingussie and Newtonmore, which went to extra-time before Newtonmore claimed the win after a seven-goal thriller as a classic, yet Saturday’s possibly exceeded that for outright excitement and drama.
There were heroes aplenty on both sides, but Kyles striker Roddy MacDonald claimed the Albert Smith medal for man of the match having scored four of his side’s goals.
The attacking intentions of both sides was evident from the start and in the third minute Kyles midfield dynamo Robbie MacLeod burst forward to fire a powerful shot just wide of Graham MacPherson’s post.
In the seventh minute, Inveraray took the lead when striker Russell MacKinlay showed quick reactions to fire the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.
Five minutes later and the match was all-square with MacPherson making a hash of a clearance and Roddy MacDonald pouncing for the first of his goals.
The same player was again on target in the 19th minute when he evaded despairing tackles from Douglas Dando and Scott Robertson to beat MacPherson from close range.
Inveraray struck back almost immediately and after a neat interchange of passes, Garry MacPherson slammed home a low 20-yarder to beat MacDonald at his left-hand post.
Another MacPherson — David — was causing all sorts of trouble for the Kyles defence with his long accurate shies and in the 22nd minute Chris Crawford picked up a loose ball from a MacPherson shy and finished in style from the edge of the box.
In the 28th minute, MacKinlay ghosted through a hesitant Kyles defence to apply a neat finish as the breathless pace of the game continued unabated.
Inveraray easily held onto the lead until half-time and were later to rue not converting a number of chances which came their way.
With the strengthening wind at their back, Kyles started the second half in determined fashion and in the 51st minute goalkeeper Kenny MacDonald launched a huge wind assisted goal-hit to the heart of the Inveraray defence. Duncan Kerr was onto it in a flash and as he drove into the Inveraray penalty area he was upended by a clumsy tackle by the goalkeeper.
Referee Cameron pointed to the spot and although MacLeod’s effort was weak, it some somehow eluded MacPherson to trickle over the line.
Inveraray’s response was almost immediate and in a sweeping attack Crawford found Garry MacPherson in space and he rifled home form 25 yards.
With little over 30 minutes left, Kyles needed three goals for victory, but the scale of the task was reduced by Fraser MacDonald who blasted an unstoppable drive beyond MacPherson from 30 yards.
Roddy MacDonald then sent the Kyles supporters delirious as he equalised before striking what proved to be the winner from 20 yards with barely 10 minutes remaining.
In the latter stages, Crawford almost forced this epic contest into extra-time, but was denied an equaliser by a superb save from Kyles goalkeeper Kenny MacDonald.
