Second-half comeback wins day for Caithness
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
CAITHNESS 6 - 5 SUTHERLAND
CAITHNESS clashed with Sutherland for the second time on Saturday.
The match was held at Viewfirth in Thurso in memory of shinty enthusiast the Rev Kenny "Nostie" Macleod, of Thurso Free Church, who died in April. The game got off to an exciting start when, after five minutes, Kenny’s niece Katie Booth, who plays for Aberdour Camanachd, pounced on a Sutherland goalkeeping error and put the home side into the lead.Sutherland responded quickly when, a minute later, Donald "Dodie" Mackay sent a 20-yard shot into the Caithness net.
Minutes later, Jamie Macleod ran in to score from close range and give the visitors the advantage.
The Sutherland lead was consolidated eight minutes later when Oliver Taveras sent a low 30-yard shot past Caithness keeper Ruaraidh Stewart.
Sutherland struck again two minutes later – Stewart didn’t manage to clear his lines and Kyle Clark took the initiative and increased the lead to 4-1.
Caithness dug in and on 37 minutes a deflected 25-yard shot from Lovat player Duncan Davidson got past Sutherland goalie Mark Macdonald.
Four minutes later Seb Sandedeki found himself wide of the Sutherland defence with an open goal and made no mistake in guiding the ball across the line.
Sutherland had the last say of the first half when Luke Bruce’s 30-yard shot from the right wing soared into the Caithness goal.
If the first half belonged to Sutherland, the second half belonged to Caithness.
However, Sutherland should have increased their lead after the 57th minute when they were awarded a penalty.
The biggest hitter on the pitch, defender Iain Allison, was beckoned forward to do the honours but he hit wide of the Caithness goal.
Caithness started piling on the pressure. A former Kinlochshiel colleague of Kenny’s, Stewart Macrae, showed his class in stifling Sutherland forays and getting the ball forward to his attack line.
The home side’s pressure finally paid off in the 72nd minute when Duncan Davidson brought his tally for the afternoon to two with a 15-yard shot from the right-hand side.
Caithness then played their trump card and brought on another Kinlochshiel veteran, another friend of Kenny’s, Donald "Doe" Macrae.
With lightness of feet, Doe created a merry dance in the Sutherland goal area and in the space of three minutes scored two goals and put his old friend’s side into the lead for the first time.
Unfortunately, he had to leave the field due to injury when he took the full force of a flying ball in the face.
In the final 10 minutes Sutherland retook the initiative in an attempt to bring the game to extra time but Caithness held out to clinch the inaugural Kenny "Nostie" Cup.
? Before the match, a vote of thanks to all parties which had helped to make the event possible was given and this was followed by a speech from a close shinty colleague of Kenny, Paul Stewart of Halkirk.
Paul praised Kenny for his passion not only for shinty but for all the things that mattered to him in life. Paul then proceeded to lead the gathering crowd in a round of applause for Kenny.
