It is one of my greatest regrets. I was never good enough to play shinty in a Camanachd Cup Final.
The teams I played in were never good enough to get me there. However, since 1983 I have been privileged to have commentated on these great occasions with the likes of David Francey, Alister Alexander and David Begg (Archie Macpherson never made the list), all of whom marvelled at the spectacle of two sets of players giving it laldy for 90 minutes or more, then celebrating/commiserating for weeks.
They also spoke in awe of the history attached to the occasion, the continuity of teams within the contesting clubs of the day, the beauty of the surroundings and the camaraderie of the supporters, very often marshalled by a police force numbering single figures.
Today’s contestants Lovat from Kiltarlity and Kyles Athletic from Tighnabruaich bring to Oban’s Mossfield Park that same collection of driving forces. They will contest a match resonating at every turn with the remarkable history which gives shinty its appeal as and event where, truly, “on the turf as well as under it, all men are equal”.
Some are more equal than others, though. These are the facts: Kyles have won 21 of 42 Camanachd Cup Finals they have contested (strike rate 50 per cent). Lovat have won one and lost one of the two in which they have appeared, their winning effort in 1953 taking two attempts, against Kyles, whose draw in the first game and ultimate defeat still rankles. A late equaliser cost them the first game and they blamed the referee; in the second, they played with 11 men for a long spell when Alister Turner left the field injured in the days before substitutes were allowed.
Is any of this relevant? Of course. Both teams remember 1953 for different reasons and Lovat can legitimately claim that their team of that era was one of the greatest ever, winning all the available trophies including the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup, which is no longer available to north teams.
The clubs still have a handful of players between them surviving from 1953. Some will attend Mossfield today, hitting every ball and offering a view on the players of the day, their shortcomings, their fitness, their skills, and even, perhaps, their hairstyles.
Form often counts for little in these matches. Kyles are in second place in the premier league. Lovat lie, deceptively one suspects, mid table. Both have a clutch of internationalists. Lovat have nobody who has picked up one of the great trophy’s medals. Kyles have a bus-full.
The teams have a special relationship given their meetings in 1953 and Lovat invited Kyles to their centenary party in 1988. There will be no great hospitality extended when they cross camans this afternoon. There will be mutual respect, however. It will be a commentator's nightmare.
Kyles have two MacDonald brothers, Roddie and Innes, and their captain Calum Miller is married to their sister. Their father is the co-manager, the legend who is Kenny Macdonald who elevated goalkeeping to an art form with his languid demeanour and longevity. Just for good measure, Kyles have the Whyte twins; Gordon and Thomas, taking the field along with their younger brother Gordon and Lovat have the Mainland twins. There are two Zavaroni brothers for good measure.
My point? The sundry MacRaes, Mainlands, MacColls, Irvines and MacRitchies involved in shinty’s great day are a mark of the continuity and rich heritage which marks shinty as a very special community-driven activity.
The referee who will take control is the man who scored the fastest goal in a Camanachd Cup Final, Deek Cameron, taking less than ten seconds in 1992.
Such is the rich tapestry which will be woven once again at Mossfield Park in Oban. If only I had been good enough… but then I’ll have the best seat in the house.
Hugh Dan MacLennan will be commentating on the Camanachd Cup Final on BBC2 Scotland from 2pm.
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