Kings crowned Artemis Macaulay Cup Champions

Oban Camanachd and Kingussie met in the 2022 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final at Mossfield Park, Oban on 21^st August.

The game came just one week after the two sides met in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Semi-Final, Kingussie prevailing on that occasion by 4 goals to 1. Ahead of throw up there were some whispers about a Kingussie Grand Slam, the Badenoch side would have to put thoughts of that to the side though as they geared up to face a determined Oban Camanachd desperate to have their name inscribed upon the Macaulay Cup for the first time since 1995.

Five minutes into the game, the first chance came to Oban Camanachd, a lofted free hit sailed over its intended target and goalkeeper Bob McGregor was content to see it either go in or wide, it hit the post however, and trickled across the goal line with Daniel MacVicar unfortunate not to get a stick on it and turn it in at the back post.

A minute later and it was more than a scare for Kings as Camanachd went 1-0 up. A shot from distance deflected off the Kingussie defender and landed right in the path of MacVicar who flicked the ball up and knocked it over the onrushing McGregor.

The lead didn’t last long however, as Kingussie won a free-hit at the byline. It was rolled back by Savio Genini into the path of James Hutchison (a makeshift Wing-Forward for the day) who swept the ball in expertly on his backhand.

10 minutes later and Oban Camanachd were in the lead again. All 4 forwards worked the ball delicately between them but the shot was well prevented by the Kings backline, however, the ball broke free to McGregor who tried to clear the ball up the park but Daniel Madej had other ideas and dashed in to get a block in and make it 2-1 to Camanachd.

On the 25 minute mark, a mix up in defence nearly allowed Savio Genini a tap in but the ball was swept wide by Cammy Sutherland and just ten minutes later, the same man had the ball in the back of the net after following in on a well struck Roddy Young shot, however, the goal was ruled out for a kick in the area. That was the final notable action of the first half as Oban Camanachd went in with a slender 2-1 lead.

Oban Camanachd started the second half more brightly but despite some pressure they were unable to find anything to trouble McGregor in goal – Kings defending the D well and suffocating the attacks. The holders then broke away on the counter with Lee Bain finding Roddy Young on the right wing; shinty’s top scorer faced up his man, found half a yard, and drilled the ball across Sutherland into the bottom corner – that goal taking him to 30 for the season. Young ran to the crowd to celebrate with father Dallas who, of course, won this competition many times in the 1990s.

In the 64^th minute Kingussie took the lead for the first time in the game, this time it was Ruaraidh Anderson who cracked a shot in at the back post following a corner from Kingussie making it 3-2 for Kings with just under a third of the game left to play.

The next 15 minutes were full of Kingussie pressure with Young, Anderson and Genini starting to work their magic – Cammy Sutherland kept Camanachd in touching distance in the 78^th minute with a  wonderful diving save before getting back to his feet to deal with the rebound.

Oban weren’t without threat in the closing period – Daniel Cameron moved into the forward line and was unlucky to drag a shot wide of McGregor’s right hand post.

Even as Oban Camanachd searched for an equaliser, Young was still working his magic in the Kingussie forward line, cutting inside from the right hand side and forcing Sutherland into another good save – this time with his feet.

The holders kept pressure on the Oban goal, which was as much of a defensive tactic as it was with the real desire to double their lead. Half-Swing Podcast Man of the Match Roddy Young ran the defence ragged and won a few vital fouls in the final 10 minutes which relieved any pressure on the King’s backline. After 93 minutes of breathless action, Des McNulty brought the game to a close and Kingussie were crowned Artemis Macaulay Cup Champions once again. Cammy Sutherland was awarded the Artemis Man of the Match award for his stellar performance in net.