South Shinty was back on top after last year’s defeat to the North, emulating 2022’s victory by coming out deserved 3-1 winners in this year’s Caol Cup.

Under 21 representatives from the North and South of shinty gathered at Balgate on Saturday 7^th September, in an annual representative match which historically acts as a pathway for future Scotland internationalists.

The North team enjoyed success last time out, with managers Gregor MacCormick & Neil MacLennan looking to add to it. The South were eager to win the cup back from their counterparts with Andy Watt and Garry MacPherson at the helm.

The game started as expected, both teams quick out the gates with the hope of an early goal. The South began to show their intent in the game – controlling the midfield and creating chances at will.

South’s Herbie Patterson (Ardnamurchan) was causing the North defence all sort of problems and would have felt he should have scored after coming close on a few occasions in the first 10 minutes.

However, his frustrations would quickly turn to joy on the 16th minute, as he received the ball on the penalty sport before swivelling and smashing home South’s first goal of the day leaving North keeper Lennox Stewart (Beauly) no chance.

The North responded well following this, with the whole team upping the tempo. They were unlucky not to be level after some good combination play by Forwards Iain Fraser (Kingussie) and Archie MacRae (Kinlochshiel) both missing chances before the half came to a close.

Somewhat against the run of play, it was the South who doubled their lead with the last chance of the half. That man again Herbie Patterson proving too hot to handle as he fired home a low rocket past Stewart in goal on the 44th, after good work on the flanks by Mathew Sloss and Cailean Macleod (GMA).

Half time – South 2 North 0. Both teams retreated from the blistering sun, giving the managers 10 minutes to get some tactics across and giving both players a well needed rest.

The whistle blew and the second half was underway, and it was evident that the North team took on the half time instructions.

The midfield of Cameron Bremner (Kingussie) Sean Maclellan (Fort William) & Ian Hunter (Beauly) began to win their individual battles and playing the ball into dangerous spaces for the forwards to exploit as they tried to mount a comeback.

The North forwards were working the ball well but being kept at bay by an extraordinary performance by the South defence. Calum McMillian (Bute) & South Captain Louie Macfarlane (Oban Camanachd) being two standout performers on the day.

The game became stagnant, with the South looking comfortable in their winning position, and the North beginning to tire. That is until a “lucky” Archie MacRae goal put the North right back into the mix. A mix up at the back for the South with GK Gordan Currie (Bute) sending a clearance directly off the face guard of MacRae resulting with the ball in the South net on the 71st minute. South 2 North 1. Game on.

Not surprisingly the game sprung into life, with the rest of the match being played out as a basketball game. Spectators were gripped at both teams blew continuous blows to each other. This resulted in countless chances for the North as the looked to tie the game. South GK Currie pulling off all sorts of saves as he kept his team in the lead.

The South were looking dangerous on the break though as they tried to put the game to bed, and substitute Sam Bulloch (Col Glen) definitely did that. With the ball pin-balling around the North defence, it was Bulloch who reacted quickest to fire a great strike past Stewart and to all but confirm a South victory.

Referee Donjee MacLeod’s whistle confirmed this and put an end to a greatly contested contest between the two sides.

Louie Macfarlane received the Coal cup from Competitions Director Kevin Thain crowning the South Caol Cup winners 2024. Warm congratulations to the South of Scotland on their well earned victory in the 2024 Caol Cup.