Lovat win MacMaster Cup

The 2025 MacMaster Cup final took place as a precursor to the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final on 20th September. The crowds that travelled to Bught Park saw Lovat U14s face Skye u14s. The weather stayed dry on the most part and made for a perfect game of shinty. A large crowd formed to watch these two talented youth teams battle it out for the ultimate prize of u14 shinty. 

The two teams were led out by their captains and lined up for the cup final formalities, where they were greeted by Graeme MacDiarmid (CA Youth Director), David MacMaster and John MacKenzie (CA Chieftain). 

Willie MacDonald blew the whistle and got the game underway, and the game was off to a flying start with some thrilling end to end shinty taking place with both teams looking threatening. The game began to settle, and skilful individual battles formed all over the park. Both teams managed to cancel each other out though with neither team managing to break the deadlock in the first half. 

In the 43rd minute Lovat would strike through captain Archie Bell who lost his marker and delivered powerful effort from distance straight into the back of the net. This goal seemed to give the game a more competitive edge, with tackles flying in all over the pitch and both teams in search of the vital second goal. It was in the 53rd minute Dougal Strang put himself on the scoresheet, picking the ball up and turning his man, driving forward with it, skipping past another Skye defender and slotting it neatly in the bottom corner for one of the all-time great MacMaster Cup goals.  

Skye aimed to fight their way back into the game and were looking dangerous but were shut out by a strong Lovat defence who put it all on the line to maintain their clean sheet. The game was a contest the whole way through with both teams looking dangerous right up until the end, but the game drew to a close at 2-0 leading to the Lovat team bursting into jubilant celebrations. 

David MacMaster along with Graeme MacDiarmid (CA Youth Director) conducted the presentations, presenting Lovat’s Dougal Strang with the 2025 Player of the Match Award and handing over the MacMaster Cup to Lovat captain Archie Bell.  

Congratulations to Lovat from everyone at the Camanachd Association and commiserations to a spirited Skye team who fought hard and did their club proud. 

The game is available to watch in full here: https://youtu.be/GRVPiW2WwpA?si=cnOVjkSEeIlWRK_h