The MacTavish Cup Final 2019-and some other matters of little interest

The last couple of years have gone unrecorded here on the D. Doesn’t matter why – but one thing that should have been put down was an appearance in the MacTavish Cup final. Of course, we’ve been there before -indeed we have been in MacTavish Cup finals all the way back to 1904: OK just the one back then but then more recently 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015 and of course 2019. All that plus a Macaulay final in 2012 and Camanachd Cup finals in 1988 and 2014 makes the Wing Centre ask himself -why haven’t we won more of them?

It’s the wrong question to ask one supposes because the answer is always a little too stark. We didn’t have enough players who were good enough for most of the losses; we were massively unlucky in 2013 and should have won- and we were (honestly) lucky in 2015 while the Macaulay win was out of sight. The Glen have never played better nor have they since. The planets were aligned and to coin an understatement.things went well 

But that’s to ignore the MacTavish appearance of 2019. The draw was kind but we still had to win a game at home against Skye which we eventually managed to do. Then there was the Strathglass game which was a little tighter than expected. 

The final was different. It was an excellent day in many ways and though we were the underdogs- for most of the first half and a fair bit of the second, there was a real chance of doing something.

Yet the final result was 3-0 which really was not a true reflection on the game. However, one thing that didn’t help was that Evan Menzies, the Newtonmore captain had a game and a day to remember. He played as the papers were keen to say “a pivotal role in his side’s triumph” scoring two second half goals and generally causing the Glen defence problems throughout the ninety minutes.

But a fairytale ending for Menzies did not look to be on the cards during a first half in which the better opportunities fell to Glenurquhart.

Conor Golabek and Ewan Brady both created scoring opportunities for the Glen with Brady’s 25-yard drive in the 11th minute causing Newtonmore’s 48-year-old goalkeeper Kenny Ross some anxiety. Newtonmore looked to be rattled and with barely twenty minutes gone they lost midfielder Conor Jones to a nasty facial injury after an accidental clash with the caman of team mate Steven MacDonald.

Veteran Jamie Robinson replaced Jones and his presence seemed to settle the Badenoch side and under his influence ‘More created their own opportunities but their shooting –even that of Menzies was at this stage inaccurate.

The Glen however continued to look dangerous. Further efforts from Ewan Brady and Oliver Black failed to beat Ross but Glen’s luck began to run out when Connor Golabek had to come off with what appeared to be a hamstring problem. James MacPherson replaced him but with both sides deadlocked the first half came to a goalless ending.

The second half should have been better for the Glen but despite maintaining some forward momentum the real finishing precision was elsewhere.

‘More looked to have breached the Glenurquhart defence in the 57th minute but Menzies’ close range strike was given offside. Five minutes later however after a period of strong pressure they finally opened the scoring through Iain Robinson on 63 minutes. Michael Russell’s corner from the left was knocked down by Evan Menzies into the path of Robinson who knocked the ball high into the net to make it 1-0.

Glen fought hard for the equaliser but without the pace of Golabek up front the odds were against them. Eventually, Michael Russell and Glen MacKintosh combined before Iain Robinson put Evan Menzies through on goal and he slotted the ball low past Glen keeper Stuart MacKintosh from the edge of the D to make it 2-0 with 85 minutes gone.

Finally, in stoppage time, Robinson turned Michael Russell’s corner from the right to Glen MacKintosh. Mackintosh’s sharp shot was well saved with his feet by Stuart MacKintosh but he could not prevent the follow up from Evan Menzies who was quickly in to stroke the rebound home

A disappointing and undeservedly harsh final score line but if the truth is told- that was probably the best bit of the season. We were a fair side throughout the season but not good enough.

The defeat in the Balliemore semi to Fort William was a real disappointment.

This was game that we should have won by a country mile in the first half alone but in the end Fort William reached the Balliemore Final after coming from behind to win 4-1 at Spean Bridge.

Glenurquhart struck first when Ewan Brady gave us a 24-minute lead with what was to be the only goal of the first half. That sadly was the only conversion of what turned out to be a pile of good chances which were scorned.

In the end the Glen was left to rue several missed first half opportunities when Fort William equalised just 4 minutes into the second period. The ball was played across the D and a defensive mistake resulted in the ball being flicked up into the air and Lachie Shaw was first to react with a neat finish which saw it sneak into the bottom corner of the net.

Fort continued to grow in confidence throughout the rest of the half and a throat injury to Michael Fraser basically finished off the Glen’s chances of a rescue mission leaving Shaw to go on to complete his hat-trick with two more goals in 61 and 63 minutes.

Finally, Padraig McNeil rounded off the 4-1 win a minute from time after Victor Smith’s shot was well-saved by Glen keeper Stuart MacKintosh and McNeil was first to react to the loose ball, slotting it home from inside the D.

These were probably the two defining games of the season for the Wing Centre and although the 3-2 loss to Fort at home in the National League was another cruel blow, Glen really should have picked up both points on that occasion so it does not count as a downer.

Now we are where we are- with shinty on hold- and all that solid hard winter work on the training ground wasted not to mention the money invested in training and physio. There is nothing for it however but to pick it up again where we left off.

There is always something to look forward to however. The next blog may well be entitled “Visiting Cork in the company of Old Cork” -but the title might be the best thing about it. There will be some interesting pictures though .It might just be worth a read.

Thanks to Neil Paterson for his photos.

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