North shinty Saturday June 8
cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final
Kingussie 3
Fort William 1
They had to come from behind, but Kingussie retained the cottages.com MacTavish Cup with a 3-1 win over a battling Fort William side at the Eilan.
Referee Graeme Irvine got this 4.05pm throw-up under way on what was a wet, cold and blustery afternoon.
Kingussie made a bright start, but it was Fort William who took the lead with their first attack on seven minutes.
Jack Fraser held off his marker to control Paul MacKay’s long goal hit and Lewis Clark lifted the ball forward into the ‘D’ where Graham Campbell and Victor Smith fought for possession. Campbell’s strike was saved but the Kingussie defence couldn’t clear and Victor Smith slotted the ball low into the net on his left side from inside the ‘D’.
Kingussie’s response was instant as Lee Bain, in his sixth MacTavish final, sprinted forward and found Savio Genini on the left. Genini’s ball to the edge of the ‘D’ broke for Liam Borthwick, who was trying to keep himself onside, and he swept it by the keeper to make it 1-1.
Fort William were forced into an early change when Sean Maclellan limped off to be replaced by Hamish Shaw.
A nice turn from Graham Campbell created a shooting chance but his effort went wide whilst, at the other end, Ruaridh Anderson went close as he spun away to get on the end of Thomas Borthwick’s hit-in, but he couldn’t find the target.
Fort William finished the first half strongly and Lachie Shaw was next to try his luck before, with five first half minutes remaining, Kingussie keeper Rory McGregor swept away a Lachie Shaw shot from Cam Stephen’s free-hit on the right with Victor Smith and Graham Campbell inches away from forcing the ball home.
Graham Campbell fired wide from Jack Fraser’s long free-hit and Bob McGregor saved with his feet from Victor Smith before the half-time whistle sounded.
Kingussie now had the wind in their favour and started the second half well and it took a remarkable Paul MacKay save when Liam Borthwick looked sure to score his second. Savio Genini’s ball broke for Borthwick and he went to his left but MacKay dived full length to somehow tip the low shot away for a corner.
Dylan Borthwick was proving a handful and Paul MacKay saved well with his feet and with his stick to deny Kingussie’s top scorer before thwarting Ruaridh Anderson.
A Kingussie goal arrived a couple of minutes after the hour. Savio Genini used his body to turn his marker and he finished on his left side from the front of the ‘D’ to make it 2-1.
Liam Borthwick went close from Savio Genini’s pass soon after. Fort William then had a penalty claim. Rory McGregor juggled the ball as he tried to clear but Sean Maclellan was quickly in and both players ended up on the ground.
After speaking to the goal judge, referee Graeme Irvine awarded Kingussie a free-hit inside their ‘D’.
Savio Genini scored for a second time on 69 minutes, this time turning defender Craig MacDonald on the Kingussie right and running on before beating the keeper to make it 3-1.
Kingussie were now in control and they used their experience to see out the closing stages, creating more chances in the process.
Paul MacKay denied Savio Genini a hat-trick, getting his body behind the ball before clearing for a corner.
The excellent Zander Michie made a lung-bursting run out of the Kingussie defence, running down the left and into the ‘D’, but he pushed the ball into the side netting.
The final whistle confirmed a third consecutive MacTavish success for Kingussie who claimed the first silverware of the season.
The Tom MacKenzie medal as man of the match deservedly went to Fort William’s Paul MacKay. All that remained was for Kingussie captain Calum Grant to step forward and raise the trophy and collect his silver-mounted caman.
Speaking after the final whistle, Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “We were all over the place at times in the first half and just couldn’t get going. At half-time, we told the boys they needed to do better and want it more whilst showing a bit of composure.
“We played a lot better in the second half when Zander Michie was excellent and Savio Genini did well to take his chances.
“Fort William made it tough, and they’ll soon be back in the Premiership if they keep that up.”
Kingussie skipper Calum Grant, who missed the game with a calf injury, raised the trophy with a symbolic otter in the cup as a poignant memory of teammate Calum Mackintosh, nicknamed “the otter”, who died at the end of last season.
Calum Grant said: “I was disappointed not to play but winning the trophy was the most important thing. The otter in the cup was to remember Calum Mackintosh. Calum will always be with us.”
Fort William co-manager Alan Knox said: “I thought we were excellent in the first half and matched Kingussie all over the park. We’re disappointed to lose a goal so quickly after going ahead.
“Kingussie put the pressure on us in the second half and showed why they are the best. That said, I thought we should have had a penalty at 2-1 down. These decisions are vital in big games. Kingussie then got a third which finished the game off.
“The players and management learned a lot from the experience and need to build on it.
“It’s back to league business on Saturday when we are off to Bute.”
Mowi Premiership
Lovat 4
Lochaber 2
Lovat reclaimed second spot in the Mowi Premiership after beating Lochaber 4-2 at Balgate.
Lochaber’s Max Campbell started a three-game suspension following his red card against Kingussie the previous week. Ryan Johnstone was free to play but will miss Lochaber’s next game as his booking against Kingussie triggered a one-game ban.
Lovat’s Martin Mainland was banned for the hosts. Lovat led through Lewis Tawse on 23 minutes, but Ben Delaney equalised six minutes later.
Lochaber went in front through Findlay MacDonald on 40 minutes, only for Lovat substitute Greg Matheson to make it 2-2 60 seconds later.
Greg Matheson completed his hat-trick with goals on 50 and 80 minutes to confirm a 4-2 win.
Lovat manager Jamie Matheson said: “It wasn’t a great performance from us but we’re happy to get the points. We were lucky to be level at half-time as Lochaber played really well and we were poor, but the boys did well after the restart.
“Greg started on the bench again. We planned to give him some minutes near the end for match sharpness, but we needed him to play longer and he looked like he hadn’t missed the last five weeks. We’ll keep an eye on him and only use him when needed as we have big games coming up.”
Mowi North Division 1
The Kinlochshiel colts won 3-1 against Glengarry at Craigard.
Zander MacRae gave Kinlochshiel a 2-0 lead with goals on three and 34 minutes. Raymond Robertson halved the deficit three minutes before the break. Kinlochshiel pair Rhuairaidh MacDonald and Seamus Martin were sent off by referee Ewen Maclean on 81 and 85 minutes before Zander MacRae got his second to make it 3-1 with just a couple of minutes remaining.
Mowi North Division 2
The Kilmallie colts beat the Inverness colts 5-2 in their noon throw-up at the Bught Park outside pitch.
Kilmallie led through Iain Robertson on five minutes, but Finlay Calder equalised five minutes later. Liam
Cameron put Kilmallie back in front on 20 minutes but a second from Finlay Calder made it 2-2 on the stroke of half-time.
Kilmallie regained the lead on 55 minutes when veteran Liam Cameron got his second and David Robertson made it 4-2 a couple of minutes later.
Thomas Henderson rounded off the scoring when he made it 5-2 10 minutes from time.
The match marked Keith MacKenzie from Skye’s first game as a referee.
Women’s Camanachd Association
Mowi National Division
Glenurquhart 0
Badenoch 4
Mowi National Division leaders Badenoch beat Glenurquhart 4-0 in their 11am throw-up at Blairbeg.
Zoe Reid scored twice whilst Jeanette McGregor and Megan Ralph got the others.
Inverness 1
Skye Camanachd 2
Skye Camanachd stay second in the division after edging out Inverness 2-1 in their 1pm throw-up at the Bught Park outside pitch.
Kamryn Hughes scored for Inverness, but two-goal Caitlin Maclean made the difference for Skye.
Lochaber 1
Kinlochshiel 1
Lochaber and Kinlochshiel shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Spean Bridge.
Missey Campbell scored for Lochaber with Lexie MacKenzie on target for Kinlochshiel.
Youth shinty
cottages.com MacTavish Juvenile Cup Final
Newtonmore under-17 2
Skye Camanachd under-17 1
Newtonmore’s under 17s beat Skye Camanachd’s under 17s 2-1 in the cottages.com MacTavish Juvenile Cup final at the Eilan.
Joe Coyle gave Newtonmore the lead on 11 minutes before adding a second on 51 minutes. Ali Stewart pulled a goal back on 59 minutes, but Newtonmore held their advantage.
Newtonmore skipper Archie MacKenzie was presented with the trophy by Camanachd Association Chieftain John MacKenzie whilst Mina MacKay presented two-goal Joe Coyle with the Sandy MacKay Memorial Medal as player of the match.
Corrie Construction MacKay Cup Final
Caol Primary 3
Strathpeffer Primary 0
It has been a remarkable season so far for the talented young Caol Primary School team who, having already been involved in winning the Shinty World Cup, the Camanachd Association Cup, the National First Shinty Indoor Finals and the University of the Highlands & Islands Cup, beat Strathpeffer primary school 3-0 at the Eilan to lift the prestigious Corrie Construction MacKay Cup on Friday June 7.
This was an excellent final with the players putting on a great show for the large crowd.
After a closely contested, but goal-less first half, with Harry MacDonald in the Strathpeffer goal on top form, Caol captain Harry Stewart, playing at full centre, made the breakthrough with a bouncing shot on 46 minutes. A five-minute goal blitz continued as Josh Luxton, who played the first half in goals before swapping positions with wing forward Cian MacLean at half-time, scored two more on 48 and 51 minutes with two well-taken finishes on his left side to leave Caol deserved champions of Scotland.
Strathpeffer captain Xander MacDonald, who was excellent at full back, was named player of the match by a panel of David ‘Tarzan’ Ritchie and Camanachd Association Chieftain John MacKenzie and received the Anne Cameron memorial quaich.
Caol are coached by Kilmallie trio John Stewart, Donald Lamont and Ryan Stewart.
Former Scottish international John Stewart reflected on the game: “It was a brilliant final on Friday night. The youngsters are having a great season and we still have the Kilmallie Sixes this weekend, the Tulloch Cup Finals and the Fraser MacPhee tournament to go.
“It was a close first half and both defences were strong. We couldn’t make the breakthrough and the longer it goes on you start to wonder. Then, when Harry Stewart hit the bar in the middle of the second half and Chase Watson put the rebound just over, you do sometimes think it’s not going to be your day. The players were great though and stuck at it.
“Fair play to Strathpeffer, their full back Xander MacDonald was outstanding and deserved his man of the match award. We just couldn’t get past him.
“Thank you all the parents for their help and support for what’s already been a memorable year for the team.”
Latest News
JOBS
Childcare and Education Worker - ARB15733 - Argyll and Bute Council
Sign up to our daily Newsletter
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
You may also like
Shinty round-up - 27.2.25
Latest News
JOBS
Childcare and Education Worker - ARB15733 - Argyll and Bute Council
Sign up to our daily Newsletters
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
© 2025 Wyvex Media Limited.