MacKay Cup Final: Newtonmore PS v Kingussie PS

Sponsored by Virgin Money

Friday 18^th June 2021 saw the Virgin Money Mackay Cup Final take place at The Eilan, Newtonmore between Kingussie Primary School and Newtonmore Primary School.

Both schools had  come through the group stages of this competition having played, and beaten schools from up and down the country. A coin was tossed to determine the finals venue with Newtonmore securing home advantage.

The game, officiated by Andy Maclean, started quickly with Newtonmore fast out the blocks and Josh Stewart finding the back of the net on 4 minutes, quickly followed by a superb strike by James Coyle on 5 minutes. Kingussie Primary school were struggling to get a hold of the game but some superb defending by Hayden Tayler-Ramsey meant the score stayed like this until the 12^th minute.

Newtonmore were relentless in their pressure and Joe Coyle in the centre was making everything happen for his team with his quick pace and ability to find space he then scored in the 12th and the 14^th minutes of the game, giving Newtonmore a 4-0 advantage.

Kingussie regrouped and never let their heads go down, some fantastic defending by their back line ensured the score remained like this until  their hard work paid off and Kyle Mutch struck for the away team in the 23^rd minute, taking the score to 4-1. Kingussie then had their best spell of pressure yet with Toby Thain in the centre playing some fantastic passes to his teammates in the forward line.

Kingussie always looked dangerous on the break and their reward came in the 30^th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a kick in the box by Finlay Chisholm in the Newtonmore goal. Josh Paterson stepped up and slotted the ball home making it Newtonmore 4, Kingussie 2.

Newtonmore then rallied once again with pressure from the resulting throw-up Joe Coyle took possession of the ball, jinked his way through a number of opposition players and slotted the ball home on 32 minutes to complete his hat trick and make the score 5-2 in Newtonmore’s favour going into the break.

The second half started with some superb goalkeeping from Dylan Justice in the Kingussie goal, making some spectacular saves to keep the score line as was. There was just no stopping Joe Coyle though, as he scored his 4^th of the day in the 40^th minute. Josh Stewart followed up with his second of the day on 42 minutes after finding himself a yard of space and looking for the goal, making the score Newtonmore 7, Kingussie 2.

Kingussie always looked dangerous on the break and some stoic defending once again by Hayden Taylor-Ramsey meant the score line stayed intact for the next 10 minutes with Kingussie nearly scoring from a long range effort from Josh Paterson which would have found the back of the net if it wasn’t for a spectacular save from Newtonmore’s Finlay Chisholm in goals.

On the 51^st minute Josh Stewart bagged his hattrick with a fantastic goal, capitalising on a moment when Kingussie weren’t fully concentrating. The 66^th minute saw James Coyle get his second of the day rounding up the score to 9-2 in favour of the hosts.

The final whistle came shortly after to draw a close to a brilliant display of shinty from both school teams. Joe Coyle, Newtonmore’s Captain deservedly collected the Anne Cameron player of the match quaich for his determined and skilful performance as well as lifting the Virgin Money Mackay cup as Newtonmore Primary Captain for 2021.

Thanks went to both sets of players, coaches and parents for their support before during and after the event. To referee Andy Maclean for officiating the game, to Newtonmore Camanachd for hosting the event and to the sponsors Virgin Money.