Kingussie retain Mowi Premiership title.

Kingussie secured their 3rd consecutive title with a 4-0 win against Skye at the Dell on the penultimate day of the season. (Images courtesy of Neil G Paterson)

Kingussie received the Mowi Premiership trophy from President Steven MacKenzie after a final day 3-1 victory over Badenoch rivals Newtonmore – having secured the title the previous week against Skye.
To say Kings went into the season as favourites would have been an understatement, fresh off the back of their Grand Slam winning season in 2022, there were few people who would’ve wagered against the red and blue hoops collecting their third Mowi Premiership title. However, after an opening day victory against Lovat at The Dell, Caberfeidh would shock the champions by beating them 3-0 on the same pitch a week later. Any kind of panic was quickly allayed by the champions though who would beat the likes of Kinlochshiel, Oban Camanachd, GMA and Kyles before coming head to head with early season title challengers, Newtonmore in June. That game would be a test of Kingussie nerve and patience as the holders found themselves 2-0 down with 8 minutes to go, the inevitable Ruairidh Anderson would half the deficit though, before a Zander Michie strike levelled terms 1 minute from time, securing an important point at The Eilan.

From that date in early June, Kingussie would only drop 1 more point (away against a stubborn Kinlochshiel, thanks to an 89th minute equaliser from Archie MacRae) until their next title showdown, this time against a resurgent Kyles Athletic. One week before the huge Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final in Inverness and Kings could have been forgiven for taking their eye off the ball, however, a late double – this time from 2019 top scorer Savio Genini meant that the champions would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Following that win, that the title was within touching distance for the Badenoch side, however, they were defeated at Castle Leod (Cabers completing a famous double over Kingussie – the only side to beat them in the league in 2023) 1-0.

That left Kingussie needing 6 points from their last 4 games, two of which were against newly promoted sides, one of which was against already relegated GMA and the other against Badenoch rivals Newtonmore. In the end though, the calibre of opposition didn’t matter as Kingussie vanquished all 4 teams scoring 17 goals and conceding just 2 on their way to lifting yet another Mowi Premiership title. Ruairidh Anderson was their top goal scorer in the league notching up 12 goals, with strike partner James Falconer just behind on 11. However, to focus purely on their scoring output would do a disservice to the quality of their defence. Kings conceded 10 less than the next best defences in the division (Kyles Athletic & Newtonmore) and Full-Back Robert Mabon received much of the plaudits throughout what was an outstanding campaign for him on a personal level – capped by a Scotland International call up in October along with teammates Anderson and Falconer.

Captain, James Falconer said: “It’s been an honour to lead the team out this season on what has been a very successful year, I’d like to thank not only my team mates for the work rate this year but my manager and assistants who took over after previous years of success, supporters who are there week in week out to support us and to everyone else associated with the club who go unnoticed throughout the season because without them there would be no Kingussie Camanachd, I wish the next captain of Kingussie all the best and hope there’s many more years of trophy’s to come.”