Badenoch Ladies II lead the way in historic Cup Finals Day

The day had finally arrived for when four teams would battle it out to become victorious to lift their prospective cups. Up for grabs, the Mowi WCA Valerie Fraser Cup, and the Mowi WCA Challenge Cup. With all the final preparations in place from all the hard work of the WCA, and The Eilan in great condition thanks to Newtonmore Shinty Club, it was now down to the teams. The 2025 edition of the Mowi Cup Finals Days was a re-run of last years’ final: Badenoch II vs Inverness II, and Badenoch vs Lochaber.

First order of the day at 1pm, was the Mowi WCA Challenge Cup. With Inverness II defeating Aberdour 10-4 in the semi-final, and Badenoch II defeating Dunadd 9-1 in the other semi-final, both teams were looking evenly matched. A gentle wind blew in from the south, and consistent cloud cover, the conditions couldn’t have been better for the final.

After a minute’s silence held for Kingussie Camanachd’s Chieftain, Joe Taylor and three young men who tragically passed away earlier that week, referee Keith MacKenzie got the game underway. With Inverness playing with the wind at their backs, it wasn’t long before the Badenoch ‘keeper was put under pressure by forward duo of Isla MacNeil and Kamryn Hughes. However, Abbie MacLeod performed some amazing saves to keep the duo at bay. This seemed to settle the young Badenoch teams’ nerves as they then formed an attack of their own. With Nyah Campbell scrambling to clear her lines, Orla Olds was quick to pick up a loose ball and sink it into the back of the net after 6 minutes played.

Inverness soon rallied however, and with the Inverness ‘keeper delivering goal hits with pinpoint accuracy to both Kamryn Hughes and Isla MacNeil, in under 20 minutes played, Inverness were 2-1 up. But with the WCA National League winners scoring 84 goals in the league alone this year, the youngsters soon went on the attack again, and two minutes later, Lexi Farquhar levelled the score at 2-2. In the next 10 minutes, both teams drew their sabres; 3-2 Badenoch, 3-3, 4-3 to Badenoch, and then in the final minute of the first half, 4-4 through Isla MacNeil. The crowd that had gathered to watch this incredible cup final needed a break to draw breath just as much as both teams needed it for their efforts in this nail-biting clash.

Badenoch came out onto the pitch first after the break, ready to take the game by the scruff of the neck and it wasn’t long before their captain Catrin Macleod sent a screamer to the top corner of the Inverness goal. 5-4 Badenoch. Both teams made some changes, Badenoch dropped Orla Olds back into the centre line and brought on full forward Kate McAdam. This change in play soon opened up the Inverness defence, and with the young Badenoch side’s fitness kicking in, Badenoch were up 7-4 through further goals from the dangerous duo, Lexi Farquhar, and Orla Olds. In the dying minutes of the game, Inverness scored a late consolation goal to end the game at 7-5 Badenoch.

Keith MacKenzie blew his whistle and drew this epic cup final to a close and to begin the Badenoch celebrations. It was double delight for the young Badenoch side as Orla Olds was awarded the PeterGow.co.uk Player of the Match. Any number of Badenoch’s players could have been given the accolade in truth, from ‘keeper Abbie MacLeod, to captain Catrin MacLeod. But with four goals scored at critical times in the match, she orchestrated the attacks upon the Inverness defence and worked tirelessly (as the whole team did) to ensure that the Mowi WCA Challenge Cup was going home to Badenoch, and that it was not a full repeat of last year’s final!