Skye and Lovat take plaudits in cup finals
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
In a thrilling Valerie Fraser Women’s Camanachd Cup final at The Dell, Skye emerged victorious by an 8-6 scoreline. Lorna MacRae and Abby MacLean each netted four goals for the islanders to lift the silverware.
Kirsty Deans bagged a hat trick for the holders, whose other scorers were Rhona MacIntyre with a double and Ruth Forbes. This was Skye’s second Women’s Camanachd Cup triumph having won the trophy for the first time in 2017.
Skye skipper Ilana Paterson was presented with the cup, while MacRae was given the player of the match award.
In the Mowi Challenge Cup final that preceded the main game, losing 2018 finalists Inverness suffered heartache again going down 7-1 to favourites Lovat.
Skipper Laura Gallacher was Lovat’s top scorer with a personal tally of four whilst Fiona Urquhart claimed a hat trick.
Aisling Healy found the net in the city side’s sole response.
Gallacher was the recipient of the player of the match award.
Lovat coach James Gallagher complimented the beaten Inverness side on a plucky performance with the reds fighting to the final whistle.
“It was a deserved win,” he said.
“Maybe the scoreline flattered us a wee bit.
“Our strikers took their chances while their forwards struggled to get the ball on target.
“I thought their goalkeeper Caitlin Mutch was outstanding, as was our keeper Carrie Rennie.
“Up front Laura and Fiona linked up very well and their finishing was first class.”
Lovat’s attention will now turn back to the league, where they are at the top of the North Division Two.
They are closing in on what would now become a league and cup double, having won 10 out of their 11 league matches so far this season.
In the annual Caol Cup challenge, North Under-21s retained the trophy with a 3-0 win over South Under-21s at Ballachulish after an unplayable pitch at Taynuilt forced the venue to be switched.
Kinlochshiel’s Duncan Matheson took North in to a 12th minute lead and the same player was again on target in the 25th minute to double their lead.
Just before the half-time interval Kingussie’s Roddy Young notched North’s third goal.
South fought well in the second half and put North defence under a fair amount of pressure, however stout defending prevented South from reducing the deficit.
At the close of play, North skipper Calum Grant of Kingussie stepped up to receive the Caol Cup.
