Shinty: Lovat retain Lovat Cup after third successive 1-1 draw in New Year fixture

For the third successive year, the Lovat Cup clash between Lovat and Beauly ended in a 1-1 draw so Lovat retained the trophy as holders.

When it was deemed that the snow on the Balgate pitch could not be cleared so was rolled instead to leave a compact surface, it was clear this clash was going to be something out of the ordinary.

The wintery weather didn’t deter the large crowd who surrounded the touchline to cheer their favourites.

Conor Ross gave Beauly a deserved lead 20 minutes into the second half and although they created a couple more chances after that, it was Lovat who finished strongly.

Just when it looked as if Beauly might survive, and with practically the last action of the game, a Beauly goal-hit cannoned off Lovat’s Graeme Macmillan and he rolled the rebound into the net to make it 1-1.

This derby means so much to both communities and tempers flared during a tousy end to the game before referee Jamie MacPherson restored order.

Lovat manager Iain Nicolson said: “It was difficult conditions and Beauly were the better side for an hour or so. We then had lots of pressure but just could not score until Graeme tapped the ball in at the death.

“It’s always good to retain the trophy and it’s a bonus to have our injured players back but there’s still a lot for us to work on during the rest of the pre-season.”

Glenwyvis Distillery man of the match Graeme Macmillan said: “It was actually pretty fun playing on the snow although I’m not sure I’d be keen for it to be like that every year.

“It was a brilliant effort by all concerned to get the pitch into some sort of a playable condition.”

On his crucial goal, Macmillan added: “Marc MacLachlan came close to getting a touch to a couple of earlier goal-hits and I came in next to him to try to help. The ball just hit my leg and dropped perfectly for a first-time shot.

“If this game is postponed any time in the years ahead when we’ve all finished playing, I think both sets of players will say, ‘they would have played it in our day!’”

It was a first game in charge for Beauly’s new management team of Jamie MacLennan and Steven MacKenzie and whilst frustrated by the late sucker-punch, they took plenty of positives.

Steven MacKenzie said: “Lovat may have had the better chances, but I thought we were the better team overall. We just fell back a bit after we scored, and Lovat pressured us more and more towards the end.

“It feels like a loss, not a draw, as we had the game in our control. Hats off to Lovat though for soaking up the pressure and keeping going until the end.

“All the players competed well, and Thomas MacKinnon, Charlie MacRae and Ryan MacKay were all excellent in our defence.

“Credit too should go to referee Jamie MacPherson and his goal judges Robert ‘Bobo’ Morrison and Billy MacLeod who all officiated sensibly in the conditions.”

Lochaber and Kilmallie brought in the New Year as they contested the Billy MacLachlan Memorial Trophy at Spean Bridge.

Calum MacDougall scored twice and Lewis Birrell the other for Kilmallie who led 2-0 at one point, but Iain Fyfe, Stuart Callison, 15-year-old Rocco Berardelli, who impressed, and Gregor Cameron’s 25-yard strike gave Lochaber a 4-3 victory.

Lochaber manager Ally Ferguson said: “Being a local derby, it was very meaningful to both sides and a fitting tribute to Billy’s memory.

“We made a slow start and at 2-2, there wasn’t a lot in it for a large spell before we pulled away. We were disappointed in the goals we lost and the manner in which we lost them whilst at the other end, Kilmallie keeper Alexander MacNiven made some good saves.”

[Source: Press and Journal]