Eain Mackintosh Cup final will be Dunnet Bay derby
This year’s Eain Mackintosh Cup final will be a Dunnet Bay derby between Pentland United and Castletown.
High Ormlie Hotspur lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2024 but the Stabbies ended their hopes of three in a row with a comfortable 5-1 win in Friday’s semi-final at Ham Park.
Andy Mackay scored twice for United, including a penalty, with their other goals coming from Sam Mackay, Andy Brims and James Murray. Stuart Campbell replied for High Ormlie.
Stannergill Cup runners-up Castletown reached their second final of the season with a 2-1 victory over Halkirk at Recreation Park. Owen Bain and Michael Smith scored for Castletown, with Shaun Macdonald on target for the home side.
The Eain Mackintosh Cup final is at Halkirk’s ground on Saturday, July 5.
Castletown’s league match against Wick Groats at Back Park, originally scheduled for Wednesday, has been brought forward to Tuesday.
In Friday night’s other game, Wick Thistle extended their 100 per cent record in Caithness AFA Division Two with a 5-1 victory in their rearranged fixture against Acks at Dammies.
It was the Jags’ second game in three days – and a repeat of the result from their midweek victory at Watten.
This time, all the scoring came in the first half. Craig Gunn got a hat-trick and Morgan Kennedy and Colin Henstridge chipped in with the other goals for Thistle, with Kyle Innes scoring for Acks.
Results – Friday – Eain Mackintosh Cup semi-finals: Halkirk 1, Castletown 2; Pentland United 5, High Ormlie Hotspur 1. Division Two: Acks 1, Wick Thistle 5.
Saturday – Friendly: Orkney 1, Wick Academy 2.
Sunday – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Clachnacuddin 1, Caithness 6.
Fixtures – Monday, June 30 – Division Two: Halkirk v Swifts; Thurso Pentland v Watten; Wick Thistle v Top Joe’s (all 7.30pm).
Tuesday, July 1 – Division One: Castletown v Wick Groats; High Ormlie Hotspur v Keiss; Staxigoe United v Pentland United (all 7.30pm).
Wednesday, July 2 – Division One: Lybster v John O’Groats (7.30pm).
Thursday, July 3 – Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Halkirk; Wick Thistle v Swifts (both 7.30pm).
Friday, July 4 – Division Two: Acks v Watten (7.30pm).
Saturday, July 5 – Eain Mackintosh Cup final: Castletown v Pentland United (Recreation Park, Halkirk, 3pm).
CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 9, points 25); 2 Wick Groats (9, 19); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (9, 19); 4 Staxigoe United (9, 14); 5 Lybster (9, 12); 6 John O’Groats (9, 8); 7 Castletown (9, 4); 8 Keiss (9, 3).
Division Two: 1 Wick Thistle (played 8, points 24); 2 Thurso Pentland (8, 16); 3 Acks (8, 15); 4 Watten (8, 8); 5 Swifts (7, 6); 6 Halkirk (7, 2); 7 Top Joe’s (8, 0). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.
SWF Highlands and Islands League standings: 1 Buckie (played 6, points 18); 2 Caithness (6, 12); 3 Clachnacuddin (6, 12); 4 Orkney (6, 9); 5 Sutherland (7, 6); 6 Nairn St Ninian (7, 0).