UHI Cup Finals Day 2024

This is the forth time the UHI Cup Event has been played since 2019 and was set up as a result of a partnership which has been formed between the CA and the University of the Highlands and Islands Sports Department. Since 2019 it has grown in popularity with a record 20 teams (200 primary aged players) involved in each event this year.

All current HNC sports students have been taken through their foundation coaching course, delivered to them by their local CA Development Officer and to follow in from this and allow the students to gain more knowledge about the game of shinty and see the game in action they then attended UHI Cup events over two days.

20 teams of primary school aged players from across the North of Scotland have now come together twice, once for a provisional round robin which decided which squads would go on to compete for the UHI Cup on finals day and which would play for the UHI Salver. Each team was allocated a newly qualified UHI coach, their role was to get to know the players, take the group for warm ups and cool downs and importantly work with and be mentored by the existing club/school coach or teacher.

All 20 teams came together last week at Blairbeg Park, Drumnadrochit,  for the finals day, and what a fantastic day of shinty it was. The cold from the first round was nowhere to be seen and although it was slightly windy the weather was nearly ideal for shinty (although less ideal for the inflatable goals). The teams were split into two groups, one of 9 and one of 11. The group of 9 all played each other once with the top 4 teams heading through to the semi finals of the salver. The group of 11 was split into a 5 and a 6, each playing a round robin with the top 2 teams from each progressing to the semi finals of the cup.

In the Cup competition things were very close and competitive with BSGI going undefeated in their group and progressing to the semifinal, they were joined by GlenUrquhart who were a close second in group A. In group B of the cup competition the impressive Caol side topped their group followed by Kingussie who pipped Lovat by 1 point to take the second semi final spot.

In the Salver competition games were all won and lost on very close margins, Crown Primary topped the group only losing one game in their group stages with Strathspey and Lochaber taking 2nd and 3^rd spots respectively. The final semi-final spot came down to goal difference with last years winners Glengarry making up the last 4.

In the Salver semifinals, after initially going down 1-0 it was two second half goals, one with the last strike of the ball that led Strathspey to the final. Joining them after only scraping into the semi finals on goal difference was a Glengarry team that had improved game on game throughout the day and secured a 2-0 victory over the impressive Crown side in the second semifinal.

The Salver Final saw Glengarry just continue to improve, playing some fantastic shinty over the course of the game, with nice passing and link play from back to front they ran out 3-0 winners over a Strathspey team who never gave up. This meant that Glengarry retained the UHI Salver for the second year in a row.

In the Cup semi finals it was the two group toppers that made their way through to the final with Caol getting the better of a talented GlenUrquhart side 2-0 and BSGI also continuing their unbeaten run overcoming a Kingussie  side who never gave up by one goal to nil.

The Final was a fantastic game of shinty with both sides showing some skilful play coupled with passing and movement that was well beyond their years. There didn’t seem to be anything between the sides and with some stellar defending taking place the final whistle went at 1-1 sending the game into extra time. It was Caol that came out of the blocks the sharper team with a goal in the first half of extra time, BSGI battled back but couldn’t find the back of the net. The second half brought another goal from the classy Caol side who were in their stride now, this goal was enough to seal them victory and meant they picked up the UHI Cup for 2024 which adds to their Shinty World Cup victory back in September.

It was great to have the UHI students who had been involved in the days activities conducting the presentations for 2024.

A huge thank you goes to Graham MacGregor Joinery who kindly agreed to sponsor this event each year,  his support and sponsorship is massively appreciated.

Additionally our thanks go to GlenUrquhart Shinty Club (especially Billy, Jim and Helen) for the use of their pitch and their work to set up the pitches over the course of the 2 days, to GlenUrquhart High School for allowing us to use their astroturf facility for both events, to the UHI Students and Sports Department (Jenna Gray), Iain Cochrane for taking photos,  to Jim, Graham, Tina, George, Dario, Daniel, Rowan, Sophie, Ruby, Andrew, Struan, Alfie, Iain and Ruaridh for officiating the games over the course of the two days. To Archie, Dougal and Aaron being the score runners. To Maria and Helen for running the GUSG tea hut.  And lastly to all the players, clubs and teachers for entering the event and making both days ones to remember.