On Saturday the 14th of September Glasgow Mid Argyll’s Peterson Park was host to Lochside Rovers and Bute Shinty Club to compete for the Bullough Cup Final.
Bute progressed to the final after beating Tayforth 5-0 in the first round. They followed this on with an 8-0 triumph over Uddingston, before finally overcoming Dunoon/Strachur on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Lochside Rovers started their journey to the final by defeating the English Shinty Association 8-1. In the quarter finals they defeated Inveraray 7-1. Lastly, they overcame Kyles Athletic 4-1 to secure their place in this year’s final.

Both teams were piped out to the field of play at a windswept but dry Yoker setting, and referee Ross Brown got the game underway. The game started off evenly matched with both teams trying to push for territory. It wasn’t until 13 minutes in when the game had its first real chance when Innes MacMillan’s shot from the edge of the D was well saved by Bute keeper Stewart Stirling.
On 16 minutes Stirling would be called into action again when Jordan Kerr hit a shot from 25 yards which was saved with his feet and put for a corner. From the corner a nice Lochside move created space for Craig Easton whose shot looked destined for the goal only to be denied by a tremendous save with Stirling’s left hand above his shoulder.
The rest of the half never really created many chances as both defences were on top with the only other notable chance being when Alexander Macdonald floated a ball in from 40 yards, but the Bute defence dealt with it well.

The battle between Alexander Macdonald and Bute’s David Whitelaw in the centre of the park set the tone all over the field for both teams as neither team was giving ground.
The half time whistle went and although Bute were unable to test the Lochside keeper they will have been happy with the way the prevented Lochside from creating many clear-cut chances.
The 2nd half got underway, and the first real chance of the half resulted in a goal when Jordan Kerr did well to create some space for himself and struck from 20 yards mid height to the keepers left hand post on 52 minutes.

The rest of the 2nd half was played in much the same fashion as the first with Bute defending with everything, they had with Dean Robertson and Duncan Martin particularly impressive for the island side.
Bute continued to limit Lochside to rushed chances with Lewis Buchanan firing wide from 20 yards on 65 minutes and somehow Craig Easton putting the ball over the bar from less than 10 yards albeit on the angle.
The game was secured for Lochside on 78 minutes when Jordan Kerr again created a half yard of space for himself and fired low past the keeper from 15 yards.

Bute competed well against higher league opposition but failed to create many chances, however they will have taken many positives from their display against an impressive Lochside side for whom Logan Black and Alexander MacDonald were particularly impressive throughout.

Ross Brown drew an end to proceedings and the Bullough Cup was presented to Lochside Captain Calum MacMillan by Graeme MacDiarmid from the Camanachd Association to the delight of the travelling Lochside support.

The Camanachd Association would like to thank BSC who supplied food after the game for both teams. Innes Begg who piped the teams out for the final. To GMA who provided goal judges and lineman for the final and in particular Dougie Luke who had the playing surface in immaculate condition. Finally to all the travelling support there was a tremendous turn out for this years final!

Images courtesy of Paul Paterson.