Our reasons to be cheerful are numerous.

When you write a headline like this on the blog, some folk in the shinty world will shake their head and think that you are whistling in the dark. But no - and that can be said despite the fact that the first team lost heart somewhere in the later part of the season. The loss to Oban Camanachd was disappointing in its magnitude but in the end, it was only two points. Much more worthy of comment was the fact that the Glen second team picked up two invaluable points against Newtonmore in a 5-2 victory. Again, though that was worth nothing more than two points, in this instance, the two points meant more to the club than the lost points against Oban. It edged us towards league safety. Hardly had that happened when a 7-1 victory over Kinlochshiel finally ensured that after a tricky spell we remained in Mowi North Division 1. 

But here is the thing- the key players in those last two games were our Under 17s and that paved the way for the best that was yet to come because September and October turned out to provide an uplifting end to the season.

Matters at team level started with the Women’s team because the seconds secured the Mowi North Division 2 Title after a convincing season. Their 4-0 triumph over Glengarry in the final home game was the one that actually delivered the title, marking an excellent campaign from a side who have who have proved themselves the top team in the division.

Key to the side’s success has been the form of Rowan Brockie, who has been in exceptional goal-scoring form, netting a total of 37 goals in her debut season. Her impact has been undeniable, offering Glenurquhart a sharp cutting edge in attack.

Glenurquhart’s march to the title included memorable victories such as a 9-0 win against Skye and a 9-6 win over Lovat. Despite suffering a few setbacks, including losses to Strathglass and Strathspey, both of whom looked like they might win the title at different stages, the Glen showed resilience, bouncing back each time to maintain their grip on the league.

The final match, a 4-0 win against Glengarry, was well deserved and showed the determination of the side. With their defensive line standing firm, a hat-trick from Brockie and a single from Amanda Maclennan was enough to take the title.

The next item of note was the fact that Glen’s Development team- which contained a number of the Women’s Development side- went on to pick up the W.J. Cameron Trophy on Sunday the 27^th of October at Mossfield Park in Oban. This trophy is the pinnacle for under-17 Development squads and such were the numbers in Glenurquhart this season that we had scope to play two under 17 squads - the main side and the second squad.

Glenurquhart, Lovat and Kyles Athletic all participated in the finals: games were 17 minutes each way in a round robin format with the team which accumulated the most points taking home the trophy.

The first game saw Kyles Athletic taking on Glen Urquhart. The game was end to end with both teams creating chances. Eventually it was Glen Urquhart who opened the scoring midway through the first half when a lovely take down allowed Glenn Macdonald to turn his marker and take the ball into space just outside the D where he slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner giving the keeper no chance.

The second half continued in the same fashion and 5 minutes after the restart Daniel Van Loon found space around 25 yards from goal where he sent a blistering drive from the right-hand side into the top left-hand corner of the net.

A couple of minutes later Van Loon again found space from around 15 yards out and his low strike found the bottom corner to give Glen Urquhart a 3-0 lead with around ten minutes to play.

However, Glenurquhart did not have it all their own way and with 6 minutes remaining in the game Ethan Kerr found the net after a nice turn to bring the score back to 3-1.

Two minutes later Kyles reduced the deficit to a single goal when Roan McVicar slammed home into the roof of the net from the edge of the D giving the keeper no chance.

Kyles completed the comeback with 2 minutes to go when another neat finish from Kerr from 15 yards completed the remarkable come back and ending the game 3-3.

A Lovat victory over Kyles in the second match meant that Glenurquhart would require a win going into the last game to lift the trophy. If the Kiltarlity side secured a draw that would be enough for them to win the trophy.

The first half of the final game final game saw Lovat ahead 1-0 at the break thanks to a strike from Brodie Campbell-West.

Early in the 2^nd half Glen Urquhart’s danger man Glenn Macdonald found himself some space to levelled the scores with nine minutes left to play.

However, Craig Dingwall soon restored Lovat’s lead with a strike from around 10 yards finding the roof of the net from an angle. Minutes after they had gone behind Glenurquhart’s Macdonald again equalised bringing the game back to 2-2 with less than five minutes to play.

Lovat pushed for a late goal and looked the more likely of the teams to get the winner but a swift move from Glenurquhart resulted in Macdonald once again managing to turn his marker and slip the ball past the keeper to find the back of the net for the winning goal.  

This result meant that Glenurquhart won on the day with 3 points, Lovat finished as runners up with 2 points and Kyles were third finishing with 1 point on what proved to be a very competitive day of shinty.

 

The final piece of the Glen’s happiness jigsaw fell into place on the 2^nd November at Blairbeg. That was the venue for the final of the 2024 Mowi London Shield. Why so?

Well, as a result of a fortuitous toss of the coin the Glen won the right to host the final. Newtonmore were the visitors but any thought that they might be favourites had been undermined by the recent second team contest between the teams. Both sides contained numerous under-17s in which the Glen were comfortable winners.

Certainly it didn’t take long for the final to spring into life with Glenurquhart opening the scoring inside 60 seconds, when a drilled pass from Glenn MacDonald allowed Daniel MacLean to use his body well to turn his man before firing the ball hard into the roof of the net from close range. Fears that the Glen would run away with the game having taken such an early lead were unfounded though and it wasn’t too long before Newtonmore levelled the score through James Coyle who fired a great drive in at the near post.

The game continued at a frantic pace with the action being end-to-end, and it seemed inevitable that another goal was coming and that it did. Glen’s under 17 cap Alfie MacLeod started the move from 25 yards inside his own half receiving the ball and beating three men before laying the ball off.  The ball then broke to Daniel Van Loon whose sweeping pass found MacLean on the left wing, and he was able to make sufficient space for himself to fire his shot in off the inside of the post. 

The final 18 minutes of the half saw Glenurquhart continue to have the majority of the territory, but Newtonmore always looked dangerous on the break.

Twelve minutes in the second half, the scores were level once again, this time through Joe Coyle who worked hard to drive into the centre of the park and drill a shot into the bottom left corner.

 Perhaps understandably given the closeness of the game, the match began to become more tense and chances went untaken for the next 20 minutes or so. Finally, the Glen broke the deadlock ten minutes from time when the tireless Daniel MacLean came short to pick up a pass in the half-forward position. Thereupon, he forced his way past two ‘More defenders before spinning in behind and slotting the ball home to complete his hat-trick.  The Scotland U17 cap then went on to complete the scoring two minutes from time, meeting a Van Loon pass a split second before Newtonmore keeper Cammie Mitchell could make his clearance finishing his afternoon by pushing it into an empty net.      

With that the game was won and Glenurquhart were crowned Mowi London Shield winners after what was a competitive and skilful exhibition of shinty from both sides. Though it is probably little consolation to him, Newtonmore’s Jacob Bain was awarded the Douglas MacKintosh Memorial Medal as Man of the Match for a fine defensive display.

With these opportunities came chances too for representative honours and the result was that Glen youngsters all levels were rewarded with district or international honours. It was no surprise that both Alfie Macleod and Daniel Maclean were worthy caps for the international trip to Ireland in July.

Both lads plus Doug Brockie were selected for the North Under 17 squad which faced the South at An Aird while Glenn Macdonald and Finn Cooper were picked for the under 14 north side after the trials. Euan Cooper and Caleb Power were unlucky to miss out but their time will come.  

The girls were equally successful in being selected for Under 16 District honours with Jessica Crichton, Sophie Power, Rowan Brockie and Emily Van Loon being selected after the trials. The first two girls played for the West/Reds while the second two played for the East/Blues. (in the middle of the pic with the trophy is coach and player Lindsay Fleming)

The senior women too were equally successful in the trials with Hazel Hunter, Kirsty Smith, Ishbel Barr and Ruby Fraser making it through to play for the East of Scotland select to play the West at Mossfield. The Club’s top scorer Zoe Smith would have made a fine addition to one of these pools as would Becca Van Loon.

It was a disappointment that no trials for the Under-21s were held: Fergus Robertson was certainly one player who played a full premier season and at least merited the chance of a trial. There were others but it seems to me the system needs a tweak. We also had no-one in the full international squad but then I am not sure if trials were held for that. Although to be fair I guess opportunities should be made for clubs to put names forward.

Anyway, that is the season over for another year- but in reality, we are back in prep once again- first the AGM on the 22^nd November then the Dinner Dance. Not be long after that for the Swinndle perhaps.

 

 

Thanks To Neil G Paterson for his pictures of the London Shield - and to Glen Facebook for the rest