Thirteen clubs sent U17 teams to compete in The Strathdearn Six’s North of Scotland Championship at Bught Park on the evening of Wednesday 27^th June.

Lovat, Skye, Caberfeidh, Inverness, Kingussie, Kilmallie, Lochaber, Kinlochshiel, Beauly, Strathglass, Newtonmore, Fort William and last year’s winners Glenurquhart were split in to two round robin leagues playing 8 minute games.

The action was fast and furious and the teams were very evenly matched.  Many of the players on show regular starters in their clubs second teams and indeed there were some Orion Group Premiership players.

Kinlochshiel and Lochaber finished first and second respectively in their league and Kingussie and Caberfeidh came out on top in the other and these teams faced off in the 5 minute each way semi – finals.

The Kingussie Lochaber semi – final was a very close affair with the teams cancelling each other out until the last hit of the game when Kingussie broke the deadlock. Cabers and Shiel could not be separated at full time and a further 3 minutes extra time did not produce a goal so it took a dreaded penalty shoot – out to eventually see Shiel in to the final. Cabers had only lost one goal and one game all evening.

The final proved to be every bit as tense as the semis and it should have been no surprise as neither Kingussie nor Kinlochshiel had conceded a goal all evening! In the final minute of regulation time Kingussie went ahead but almost immediately Shiel hit back to send the game in to an extra 3 minutes ‘Golden Goal’ period. As penalties loomed Oliver Macrae capitalised on the break of the ball to coolly slot home the winner and win the trophy for Kinlochshiel. Oliver was also chosen as player of the tournament by the referees.

Highland Development Officer, Russell Jones, said, “All coaches and parents deserve great credit for getting the teams to The Bught on a week day evening and the 100 plus u17 players on show provided some great Shinty for the spectators.  I would like to also thank referee’s John Matheson, Graeme Macmillan and Barrie Dallas along with score keepers Peter Gow and Calum Duff.

For photos from the event, visit the Camanachd Association’s Facebook Page.PHOTO: Action from the Final.  Pics courtesy of Donald Cameron