Three Celtics on the trot for Oban Camanachd
Oban Camanachd beat Kyles Athletic 6-1 to win their 23rd Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final.
Peterson Park, Yoker once again played host to the south area senior final, the sport’s most historic trophy, the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup. The supporters were treated to a very warm afternoon, though with highs of 24 degrees, the players would perhaps be less thankful. Both sides had narrow semi-final wins against lower league opposition with the holders squeezing past Glasgow Mid Argyll 2-1 and Kyles beating Inveraray 3-2 after extra-time.
Des McNulty threw the ball into the sunny skies to get the game underway, and the opening ten minutes saw the teams feeling each other out, Kyles getting a few shots on target but, nothing to truly challenge the stopper. It would be Oban who took the lead though, Daniel MacVicar taking in a long ball and playing a smart give and go with Malcolm Clark before receiving the ball again on the right wing and firing a wicked shot across Iain MacFarlane into the bottom corner.
On the 30th minute Oban would double their lead, a well hit Lorne Dickie shy dipping at the front post for Clark to run onto and guide beyond the keeper expertly. Oban Camanchd would continue their territorial dominance throughout the rest of the half and though Kyles did look dangerous on a couple of occasions, they weren’t able to get many shots away despite some delightful link-up play in the final third.
As the players lined up for the second half, it was clear that the next goal would be of vital importance, if the holders were to take a 3-0 lead it would be difficult to see how Kyles could come back, equally a shot of belief for the all-time record holders could propel them back into the match. James Pringle made sure it was the latter as the former Skye man battled for the ball between the lines, dribbling towards the left flank before unleashing a powerful shot beyond Cammy Sutherland into the far corner.
Game on! Or at least it would have been had Oban not restored their two-goal lead just three minutes later, MacVicar playing a good ball in towards Clark who did enough in the air to allow the ball to come through to Ross MacMillan he in turn ran onto it and pushed a half-swing beyond the Kyles keeper.
Dickie came close to adding a fourth on the 65th minute, the wing centre dancing inside two defenders before cracking a low shot from distance, MacFarlane proving its equal though. However, on the 72nd minute it would become 4-1. Clark’s initial shot well saved with a palm then volleyed away with the stick by MacFarlane, the forward recycled possession smartly though with a clipped ball towards the far post, Daniel MacCuish using his first touch to flick it round one side of the defender before moving the other side and lifting the ball high over the onrushing MacFarlane, the ball sinking into the net and sinking any chances of a Kyles Athletic comeback.
Fifteen from the end and it was five for Camanachd, a free hit from the left flank was taken short and quickly with Ross Campbell in enough space to get a strong clean hit into the roof of the net meaning Oban had five goals from five different scorers. Seven minutes later Campbell would spoil that statistic by adding his second and Oban’s sixth, again it was from a free hit, this one well within Oban’s half though as 5 played a long diagonal ball from centre right to the top left flank, the ball again dropping to Campbell who fired an equally impressive drive into the roof of the net.
A minute later, the ball was beyond MacFarlane again, Garry Lord taking a cross-field ball wonderfully on his chest then flicking it past the keeper, MacFarlane though scrabbled back and slapped the ball behind for a corner in a great display of quick thinking.
That was the last true action of the game which saw the pre-match favourites live up to the billing with an assertive victory over their old rivals. Lorne Dickie was awarded the Donald MacNiven Memorial Medal for a man of the match performance before Captain Daniel MacVicar lifted the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup high into the air to the delight of the Peterson Park crowd.
