Sweet spot for Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh as they win MacKay Cup

Saturday 14th June 2025 saw the Mackay Cup Final take place at the newly renovated Bught Park as the curtain raiser and the first of three Shinty Finals which were taking place over the course of the day.  The final was contested between Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh (BSGP) and Rockfield Primary School.

Both schools had come through the group stages of this competition having played, and beaten, schools from up and down the country and it was fantastic to be able to welcome all the players, coaches and 100+ crowd of supporters the newly opened Bught Park for the occasion. Prior to the start of the game teams were piped onto the pitch and introduced to Burton Morrison, Camanachd Association President.

The game, officiated by James Munro, started frantically with Rockfield on the attack, some nice tackling by BSGP and a monster clearance put the ball up the other end of the park and within the second minute of the game BSGP had a powerful shot on target by Calum Graham saved by the Rockfield full back – however, it was the BSGP captain, Ceitidh MacNab that was quickest to the rebound, sweeping the ball into the back of the net and putting her team 1-0 up.

The play ebbed and flowed with both teams enjoying some spells of possession. Rockfield would’ve been forgiven for feeling hard done by, with their forwards having some excellent passages of play (the link up between Archie Macintyre and Ollie Duffy being particularly impressive) however, some fantastic goalkeeping by the cool and calm Seonaidh Nicolson kept his team ahead. It was 14 minutes before the next goal came, a penalty to BSGP for a foul in the box which Alasdair Tindall smashed into the roof of the net leaving the Rockfield keeper with no chance, putting the Skye side 2-0 up.

The third goal came just minutes before half time, some BSGP pressure handled well by the Rockfield defence, however the clearance, which was drilled down the middle of the pitch, was picked up by the skilful Alasdair Tindall who once again hit a ferocious long-range strike past everyone and right into the roof of the net. This meant the score going into half time was BSGP 3 Rockfield 0.

The second half saw some positional changes for Rockfield with the powerful Arthur Handley going into full centre. Rockfield had the better of the possession for the first 5 minutes, creating some good chances and moving the ball around the forward line well, with Duffy once again looking sharp. It was on 42 minutes that their goal came, a long clearance from MacIntrye reached Handley in midfield who played the ball up to Duffy, the ball was then cut across to Jack Cassells who played it back to Ollie Duffy, an impressive first touch took the ball round Nicolson in the goals allowing Duffy to slip the ball into the back of the net claiming a goal back for Rockfield.

The game was on a knife edge going into the final stretch, Rockfield having perhaps more chances but some more outstanding saves from Seonaidh Nicolson keeping them out meanwhile BSGP looked deadly on the break with Tindall, MacNab and Calum Graham all linking up well. Both teams were denied by the post in the second half, leaving coaches’ nerves frayed. The final whistle came on 60 minutes with BSGP victorious after a fantastic display from both sets of players.

Burton Morrison was on hand to conduct the presentations to both sets of players and coaches and was able to hand over the MacKay Cup to BSGP Captain Ceitidh MacNab who celebrated intensely with her teammates.

We were also delighted to have Irene Cameron there to select and present the Anne Cameron Player of the Match Quaich in memory of her mother which deservedly went to Rockfield’s Ollie Duffy for 2025.

Thanks went to both sets of players, coaches and parents for their support before during and after the event. To referee James Munro for officiating the game along with his goal judges Jamie MacPherson and Bart Bukowski. Thanks also went to the grounds staff at the Bught, Myles MacRae for piping, Neil Paterson and Iain Cochrane for taking the days photos and to Mark for capturing the game in film.