Mowi National Awards
Lochaber Shinty Club boss Ally Ferguson was named Coach of the Year at the Mowi National Awards at the Highland Cinema, Fort William, on Saturday November 18.
The former Scotland boss reinvigorated the side over a short period of time as they secured a return to shinty’s top-flight by winning the Mowi National Division and won the Ferguson Transport and Shipping Balliemore Cup.
Ally Ferguson said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of my fellow coaches, our players and everyone associated with the club. It’s been a remarkable season, topped off by this prestigious award.
“It is great recognition, in particular, for the players and my fellow coaches, who have turned the fortunes of our club around by hard graft and the ability to work as a team.
“We have all pulled together and that’s reflected in our results and the success the club has enjoyed this season. We have lots more to do, of course, and it’s up another level for next season in the Premiership.
“Many thanks to sponsors Mowi and the Camanachd Association. This award feels very special. It will take pride of place on a wall at home.”
Full list of winners:
Coach Awards
Mowi National Coach of the Year – Ally Ferguson, Lochaber
Mowi North Area Leagues Coach of the Year – Duncan MacIntyre, Lewis
Camanachd
Mowi South Area Leagues Coach of the Year – James Craig, Bute
Player Awards
Mowi National Player of the Year – Robert Mabon, Kingussie
Mowi North Area Leagues Player of the Year – Glen MacKintosh, Newtonmore
Mowi South Area Leagues Player of the Year – Ryan James Craig, Bute
Club Awards
Mowi Community Club of the Year – Kilmory/Dunadd
Women’s Camanachd Association Awards
Club Awards
Mowi National Division Club of the Year – Badenoch
Mowi Division 2 Club of the Year – Kinlochshiel
Mowi Club Development Award – Strathspey Camanachd
Coach Awards
Mowi National Division Coach of the Year – Scott Campbell and Iain Robinson, Badenoch
Mowi Division 2 Coach of the Year – Andrew MacKenzie, Kinlochshiel
Player Awards
Mowi National Division Player of the Year – Caitlin Maclean, Skye Camanachd
Mowi North Division 2 Player of the Year – Lorna MacRae, Kinlochshiel
Mowi South Division 2 Player of the Year – Eilidh Cameron, Dunadd
Service Awards
Mowi Service to Women’s Shinty Award – Scott Campbell, Badenoch, and Jim Barr, Glenurquhart
Youth Awards
Mowi Youth Coach of the Year – Sean McQuarrie, Newtonmore
Mowi Under 14 Player of the Year – Joe Coyle, Newtonmore
Mowi Under 17 Player of the Year – Matthew Sloss, Oban Camanachd
Donella Crawford Award for Youth and Schools – Graeme Mitchell
Gary Innes Award for Club of the Year (Youth Development) – Inveraray
Gary Innes Award for School of the Year (Youth Development) – Tomnacross
Referee Awards
Johnny “Ach” MacRae Quaich for Referee of the Year – Des McNulty
Emerging Referee of the Year – Jamie MacPherson
Volunteer Awards
William Paterson Salver for Volunteer of the Year – Douglas Luke, Glasgow Mid
Argyll
Mowi Award for Social Responsibility – Strathglass
Mowi Award for Innovation – Beauly
Fair play Awards
Fair Play Award – Ardnamurchan, Uddingston and Bute
Media Award
Norman Strachan
Camanachd Association Cup Final
Kyles Athletic 0 Kilmallie 9
Kilmallie primaries are Camanachd Association Cup winners after beating Kyles Athletic primaries 9-0 in the final at Yoker, Glasgow, on Saturday November 18.
Kilmallie have been in blistering form in this tournament, defeating Glengarry 11-0 in
the opening round before beating Caberfeidh 5-2 in round two.
A quarter final tie against Kinlochshiel was safely negotiated 12-4, whilst a close semi final against Kingussie finished 2-2 with Kilmallie winning the resultant sudden
death penalty shoot-out.
Kyles Athletic have also been no slouches, showing their worth by beating Bute 9-0 before Aberdour were despatched 8-1 in the quarter finals, then Oban Celtic
were beaten 10-2 in the semi finals.
Chase Watson has scored some important goals for Kilmallie this season and was on target again just six minutes into this 1pm throw-up.
Charley Kennedy added a second on 12 minutes with a second from Chase Watson
making it 3-0 on 16 minutes.
Charley Kennedy and Chase Watson continued to exchange goals. Kennedy got a
second on 29 minutes and Watson made it four goals with efforts on 40 and 45
minutes.
Then Charley Kennedy completed her hat-trick on 50 minutes so Kilmallie now led 7-0.
Michael Stewart on 70 minutes and Taylor Cameron five minutes later rounded off
the 9-0 victory.
Kyles battled right up to referee Graham Fisher’s final whistle. They have had a wonderful season of their own, winning the South Sixes Shinty World Cup, the
Dalmally Sixes and the Mod Cup.
It was Kilmallie’s day though and they have proved themselves to be the best in the
country.
Captain Harry Stewart, who put his golf clubs to the side for the afternoon to be a huge influence at full centre, stepped forward to receive the Camanachd Association Cup from Past President Archie Robertson.
Former Kilmallie captain and Scotland international John Stewart is one of the Kilmallie coaches. Speaking after the final, he said: “It was a great day. We have a good age of players this year – all primary six and primary seven – whilst Kyles had
a much younger team. Their time will come.
“Our players come from three schools: Caol, Banavie and the Gaelic school and as a team, today is the best I’ve seen them play. They have improved as we’ve played each round, getting better every game. They have beaten some top teams to get to the final and it’s been a brilliant experience for them all.
“A couple of special mentions though as Fergus Stewart rolled his ankle at training on Thursday night after standing on the ball.
“An x-ray on Friday morning showed a chipped bone so unfortunately he missed the final but he has been excellent in defence throughout the competition. I think his absence gave his teammates an extra incentive to try and win for him.
“Also, we have four girls in the squad who all competed unbelievably well. Charley Kennedy grabbed a hat-trick, Maisie Ewing started at wing centre, whilst Taylor
Cameron and Ashleigh Irvine came off the bench to play their part in the win.”
Kilmallie squad from: Brodie Ross; Charley Kennedy; Chase Watson; Cian Mclean;
Fergus Stewart; Harry Stewart; Jordy Gordon; Josh Luxton; Leo Lopez; Maisie Ewing; Michael Stuart; Ollie Lamont and Taylor Cameron. Coaches: John Stewart; Donald Lamont; Ryan Stewart and Alan Ewing.
Double Iomain Cholmcille win for Alba
Both Alba teams returned home victorious following Iomain Cholmcille XIV, the shinty/hurling/camogie tournament for Gaelic and Irish speakers, which took place in Belfast.
In the women’s competition, Alba, managed by Kate Bradley, Ardnamurchan, and
Christina MacDonald, Skye, played two games.
They fell behind in the first game against Mná na hÉireann, an all-Ireland select, but
recovered to win courtesy of two-goal Claire Delaney, Lochaber, and a goal from
Karen MacKinnon, Oban Lorn.
In the second game, Skye’s Holly Maclean grabbed a hat trick and another goal from
Claire Delaney and a strike from Mairi Duncan, Lochaber, helped the Scots win (8-0)
24-13 (3-4) on aggregate.
Còrn Sgàthaich was presented by Marina Murray of Comunn na Gàidhlig to Alba
captain, Caitlin Maclean, Skye.
This capped quite a season for Caitlin who was winning Skye skipper in the Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup final, winning West Select captain against the East
Select and victorious Scotland national team captain in the double-header against
Irish opposition in Cork before being crowned WCA Mowi national player of the year.
The men opened against Fir Uladh and had goalie Eòghan Stewart, Strathglass, to
thank for a clean-sheet, meaning a double from Finlay MacLennan, Beauly,
contributed to a (2-2) 8-4 (0-4) triumph.
Finlay MacLennan was also on target in the second game as his hat-trick helped
Alba beat Dublin’s Na Gaeil Óga (3-2) 11-7 (1-4) in a close encounter.
Although they had lost a tight game with Fir Uladh, 2022 champions Micheál
Breathnach of Connemara were still strong and knew a big win against Alba would
allow them to retain the title. In a game that went every which way but loose, na
Breathnaich led (3-2) 11-7 (2-1) at the interval but with captain Ewen Campbell,
Inverness and Uist, to the fore, Alba hauled themselves back in the second half with four points from open play and a goal from Ross Gordon, Skye.
The Albannaich had no room for error and Cailean MacInnes, Glasgow Mid Argyll, hit a fine strike to ensure Alba once again received Còrn Cholmcille, presented by Maolcholaim Scott of Foras na Gaeilge.
The Sabhal Mòr Ostaig player of the tournament accolade went to Alba full back
Ross MacKinnon, Skye.
Iomain Cholmcille receives funding from the Colmcille fund which is run as a
partnership between Scotland’s Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Ireland’s Foras na Gaeilge and
plans are already in motion for Iomain Cholmcille XV in Scotland in 2024.
Plockton win Donella Crawford tournament
Plockton High School won the Donella Crawford tournament at Ardnamurchan on
Wednesday November 15.
Sixteen teams from across the country took part in this popular annual event and put
on a great display.
Camanachd Association AGM
A good turnout is expected at the Camanachd Association annual general meeting at the Highland Cinema, Fort William, on Friday November 24 at 7.30pm.
Photograph: The winning Kilmallie Juniors side and their coaches. NO_F47_Shinty_23_CACup_KilmallieSCJuniors