Kilmallie Shinty Club

Kilmallie
Full nameKilmallie Shinty Club
Gaelic name Comann Camanachd Chille Mhaille
Nickname N/A
Founded 1929
Ground Canal Park, Caol
Manager John Morrison
League North Division One
2013 1st
Reserve Manager ?
League North Division Three
2013 4th
Home colours
Away colours

Kilmallie Shinty Club is a shinty team from Caol, Fort William, Scotland. The club's first team are the North Division One Champions and the second team plays in North Division 3. The team are also renowned for a strong youth policy. The club most recently achieved prominence in the all-Fort William Camanachd Cup Final in 2005.

History

The club was founded in 1929 and is named after the parish of Kilmallie, within which the team plays. They were given a pitch at Corpach by James Weir of Annat Farm, where games took place until the pulp mill opened and they relocated to Canal Parks in Caol. The club has never folded or amalgamated with another club. Having won the MacGillvary Senior League in 1959 and 1960, the club won the Camanachd Cup in 1964 against Inveraray in Fort William but then fell on hard times, falling as low as North Division Four.

The club slowly made progress from this low ebb by a concentration on youth policy and they climbed the leagues and are now a fixture in the Premier Division. The club then reached the Camanachd Cup Final in 2005 where they were defeated 3-2 by Fort William Shinty Club at An Aird, Fort William, in one of the closest and exciting finals for many years.

In more recent history Kilmallie striker John Stewart has been a regular part of the Scotland International team that plays annually against Ireland, most recently recording a win at Croke Park.

Whilst 2007 saw the first team's top-flight status come to an end despite a late season rally, the second team gained a revenge of sorts for the Camanachd Cup in 2005 by defeating Fort William Reserves in the Sutherland Cup Final on 17 August 2007 in Oban and also won the Strathdearn Cup the same year. The club finished second in North Division One in 2008 and 2009. The club won the league in 2010 thanks to a defeat of local rivals Lochaber.

Kilmallie has had a number of successes over the years including the Camanachd Cup in 1964, the McTavish Cup in 1959,1961,1967 and 1969, and the Balliemore Cup in 1992 and 1993.

Location

Canal Park

The pitch is in a beautiful location on the north west side of Caol. On one side it is bounded by the Caledonian Canal and a row of magnificent trees. On the other side is Loch Linnhe. Spectators have great views across the loch to Achaphubuil and Fort William. Ben Nevis can be see to the south east.

External links