Kyles Athletic crowned MKM Building Supplies Bullough Cup Champions
Glasgow Mid Argyll and Kyles Athletic met in the 2023 MKM Building Supplies Bullough Cup final in Strachurmore, on Saturday the 26th of August. The venue avoided the weather which had plagued the rest of the country as a large crowd gathered in Strachur to watch the showpiece. GMA had swept aside Kilmory 5-0 in the semi-finals, while Kyles beat the English Shinty Association 6-1 to set up the final. The teams were piped out onto the field led by officials David Mitchell, Lachie Wood and Les Kinvig before the game got underway.
Kyles Athletic started the match strongly giving the holders no time on the ball and battling hard for everything and marshalled well at the back by captain Luke Thornton who was given the difficult job of keeping Glasgow dangerman Ross Brown quiet. Kyles strong start paid off when in the 13th minute Roan MacVicar received a pass and from 25 yards sent a blistering strike into the roof of the net giving Kyles a deserved lead.
It didn’t take much longer for Kyles to double their lead as on 16th minute Roan MacVicar managed to sweep home after a scramble on the edge of the GMA D to the huge delight of the Tighnabruich teams support.
Kyles Athletic continued to dominate the game thanks to the influential George Thompson in the centre of the park and Ross Donald sweeping up anything that got passed his colleague in the Kyles defence limiting the service to the GMA forward line.
On 32 minutes David Martin made it 3-0 with a backhand finish from around 15 yards low into the bottom left hand corner to complete the perfect opening to the game for the Kyles team. GMA then put Garry Luke into full centre to try get Glasgow up the field. The half finished with few chances falling each way which were comfortably dealt with by the keepers.
The half time whistle went and whatever Glasgow Mid Argyll manager Angus MacInnes said in the dressing room certainly had an effect on his players as his team came out a different animal. Only 2 minutes after the restart Glasgow got a goal back through Angus MacInnes who beat his marker before slipping it past the Kyles Kieran Chrystal in goals to give Glasgow a lifeline.
Straight from the restart, MacInnes beat his man again before a loose ball fell to Ross Brown who put it into the net from just inside the D to take Mid Argyll back into the game just 3 minutes after the restart.
GMA continued to be the stronger side in the 2nd half pressing for the equaliser. However, against the run of play midway through the 2nd half it was Kyles who were awarded a penalty for a kick inside the D. David Martin was the man who stepped up to try give Kyles their cushion in the game back. His strike low to the keepers left was kept out by Neil Robertson who did well to turn the ball away after making the save as well.
GMA then continued their push for an equaliser and that chance fell to Ross Brown who managed to hold off 2 challenges before touching it round Chrystal in the Kyles goal but couldn’t put the ball into the net as he was off balance from his strong run. Despite their late pressure Kyles Athletic managed to hold on until David Mitchell’s whistle marked full time to complete what was very much a game of 2 halves.
Kyles Athletic captain Luke Thornton was then presented with the MKM Building Suppliers Bullough Cup by Roddy McCuish much to the delight of the Kyles supporters.
The Camanachd Association would like to place on record their thanks to Strachur for hosting the final and providing food for both sets of players after the game. Both Glasgow Mid Argyll and Kyles Athletic for putting on a very entertaining game of shinty and to the officials on the day. Finally, to MKM Building Suppliers for their continued support of the competition.
