Dunadd win inaugural WCA Single Team Cup Final

An Aird, Fort William was the venue for the first ever WCA Single Team Cup Final on 16^th August as Mowi Premier League side Glenurquhart faced off against Dunadd from the National. The south side defeated Beauly, Tayforth and Glengarry, all by at least ten goals on route to the final so it is fair to say they were in red hot form, Glenurquhart overcame Uddingston and the English Shinty Association before beating local rivals Lovat 7-3 in their semi-final. While a league separated the two sides, most were anticipating a very even contest ahead of the game, given Dunadd’s impressive form in the league below.

It would be the Premier League side who took the lead though as Rowan Brockie latched onto a ball on the right wing and fired past the Dunadd Goalkeeper after some fierce play by Sam Moon in the centre of the park. Glen’s lead would last just five minutes however, a Dunadd free-hit from Grace Drummond was played into the feet of Eilidh Cameron who, despite facing very close marking, rifled a shot high into the top of the net leaving Amanda MacLennan absolutely no chance. If Glenurquhart were disappointed in conceding so quickly, they’d have been ecstatic about their response time, almost directly from throw up, Moon put in a solid block on the right flanks before pushing the ball into the space beyond her for Hazel Hunter to run onto, her flick inside found Brockie who was clinical as ever to put the Blairbeg outfit back into the lead.

Following that goal, Glenurquhart enjoyed a flurry of chances, however, Ashley Gorrie proved equal to them, the best of her stops coming from a floated strike from Brockie which looked to be dropping into the top corner, however, Gorrie was able to bring it down and clear before any of the onrushing Glen forwards could take advantage. On the 10^th minute they wouldn’t be so fortunate though, Jessica Chrichton’s shy fell short but was well picked up by Hunter, her cross-field pass found Brockie who once again made no mistake in doubling the Glen’s lead. The end-to-end nature of the game would continue though as Dunadd reduced their deficit just two minutes later, a good hit out from Gorrie fell to the feet of the left winger, she played a smart ball back to her wing centre who hit a looping ball into the middle of the pitch for Drummond to run onto and fire a shot that was too high for the Glen keeper. The two sides would continue to exchange chances for the remainder of the half, but the defences and goalkeepers would come out on top meaning the half-time score was Glenurquhart 3-2 Dunadd.

The second half started with the same intensity, commitment and vigour as the first and so it was no surprise that we were treated to a goal within the first ten minutes of the restart. Proceedings got even more charged when Dunadd equalised 10 minutes into the half, a free hit plucked out of the sky by Eilidh Cameron who, with her back to goal, faked right before turning left and putting a reverse hit into the bottom right corner. The rest of the half passed with each team looking dangerous but unable to get that all decisive winner, and so, the game went to extra-time.

Penalties loomed over the match as we approach half-time in extra-time and it was indeed a spot hit that would separate the sides, however, not from a shootout, Dunadd’s Cameron firing into the right-hand side of the goal to give the south side the lead for the first time in the game with just ten minutes left to play. They would go on to get a safety net five minutes from time with another strike from Cameron who captialised on a short hit out and placed a shot wonderfully into the bottom corner.

That concluded the first ever WCA Single Team Cup Final and what an incredible game with both sets of players giving their all in an eight-goal thriller. Dunadd Captain Eilidh Cameron was presented with the trophy by Women’s Camanachd Association President Karen Cameron after the game.