Dingwall Academy seal place in North of Scotland Cup final as Clachnacuddin’s ground to host bid to seal back-to-back trophies against Inverness Royal Academy
Dingwall Academy’s senior boys’ football team will have the chance to retain the North of Scotland Cup after surviving a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the semi final.
For the second year in-a-row spot kicks were needed to decide whether Dingwall would progress into the final, after they overcame Ellon at the same stage of last year’s competition.
Up against Fraserburgh this time around, goals from Craig Lawrie, Eoin Munro, Ryan Macnamara (2) and man of the match Lewis Gibson had given Dingwall the advantage, only for two late goals from the Broch to bring the scoreline back to 5-5.
In the shoot-out, Craig Lawrie, Ryan Macnamara, Lewis Mackay and Lewis Gibson all converted, while goalkeeper Ryan Ross made two vital saves to ensure it was the Highlanders who went through.
“We were 5-3 up this time before conceding two late goals, so you’re thinking that’s your luck gone,” Dingwall Academy senior boys’ team coach Kevin McKie said.
“It was two fantastic saves from Ryan, and we got the job done, so I’m delighted.
“There’s a unique group of S6 boys in particular, where we have seven boys in the North of Scotland select squad who will be playing their own final in a few weeks.
“That’s quite rare, and next year the S6 boys are leaving so the team will look quite different, but it gives the younger boys an opportunity to come in.
“Being on track to win back-to-back North of Scotland Cups is a fantastic achievement.
“I’ve been beaten at under-13 level, and won the under-15 cup, but I’ve never got to two finals in-a-row with basically the same group of boys. We’ll enjoy it while it’s going well.”
Dingwall have now overcome Culloden, Nicolson Institute, Lochaber and Fraserburgh on their way to the final, which will be against Inverness Royal Academy at Clachnacuddin’s Grant Street Park on Monday, March 24.
Mr McKie hopes that a second consecutive triumph in the competition will be the perfect way for the crop of final-year pupils to sign off in their school football careers, but says that if they do it will be the culmination of years of hard work.
“It’s worth mentioning that our head teacher Karen Cormack is so supportive of extra-curricular activity and sport, and she is also retiring in the summer,” he added.
“She is so supportive of the PE department, and the girls have won back-to-back cups as well, so it’s a real hotspot time for the talent here in Dingwall.
“This is the culmination of years of training going back to primary school. Gordon Duff at Ross County and Alan Munro at Dingwall FC are both very supportive too, so these boys have come together at the same time.
“I’m lucky that a lot of them are still in school. Craig Lawrie is playing in Clachnacuddin’s first team, and he’s still playing for us, and we have a lot of guys in the Ross County under-18s so it’s a unique group we’ve got.
“I’ve been at Dingwall for 15 years, and this is the strongest group of players we’ve had together.
“We’ve had good players in the past who have gone on to play in the Highland League, but to get to two cup finals in consecutive years and have so many guys in the North of Scotland is rare.”
