Balliemore Cup

The Balliemore Cup is a knock-out cup in the sport of shinty. It is the Intermediate Championship run under the auspices of the Camanachd Association and only first teams competing in the National, North Division One and South Division One are eligible for entry.



History
In the early 20th century, Captain Colin MacRae of Balliemore ran a shinty competition in the Kyles of Bute area, and the trophy was competed for by teams such as Kyles, Bute, North Bute, Balliemore and Rhubaan Rovers. The trophy was donated for competition by his brother, Major MacRae Gilstrap.

However, after a long period without being played for the cup was presented to the Camanachd Association by Captain Duncan MacRae of Eilean Donan to be used as a trophy for national competition between teams at an intermediate level, i.e. those teams who had little chance of winning the Camanachd Cup but who were also ineligible for the Junior championship, the Sir William Sutherland Cup.

The cup was first played for as the Intermediate Championship in 1985 and was won by Bute Shinty Club 3-2 against Glengarry Shinty Club. In 2009, Bute hosted the final which was the first Balliemore final to be televised, and it was broadcast by BBC Alba. The 2010 final was notable for a match-winning save by the Kinlochshiel keeper using his head, which became a widely distributed viral hit on the internet.



Previous winners
1985  Bute 3, Glengarry 2

1986  Strathglass 4, Col-Glen  2, (after extra time)

1987  Lochaber Camanachd 4, Bute 0, replay after 1-1 draw

1988  Glengarry 2, Bute 1

1989  Glengarry 5, Kilmory 3

1990  Glenurquhart Shinty Club  8, Col-Glen 0

1991  Glenurquhart 5, Ballachulish 0

1992  Kilmallie 5, Kilmory Camanachd 3

1993  Kilmallie 2, Inverness 1

1994  Lochaber 4, Kinlochshiel 2

1995  Caberfeidh 3, Kilmallie 1

1996  Caberfeidh 3, Kinlochshiel 2

1997  Caberfeidh 2, Kilmallie 1

1998  Caberfeidh 3, Tayforth 2

1999  Lochcarron 1, Skye Camanachd 1, (Lochcarron won 3-2 on penalties after extra time)

2000  Caberfeidh 3, Glasgow Mid-Argyll 3, (Caberfeidh won 3-2 on penalties after extra time)

2001  Inveraray 6, Ballachullish 1

2002  Lochcarron 2, Kyles Athletic 1, (after extra time)

2003  Strathglass 3, Skye Camanachd 3, (Strathglass won 3-2 on penalties after extra time)

2004  Bute 2, Lochaber 0

2005  Kyles Athletic 3, Kinlochshiel 1

2006  Bute 2,  Beauly 1, in Beauly

2007  Kinlochshiel 1, Glenurquhart 0, in Newtonmore, (original final rained off in Oban)

2008  Skye Camanachd 3, Kilmalle 1, in Beauly

2009  Strathglass 5, Kinlochshiel 1, in Rothesay

2010  Kinlochshiel 3, Lochaber 3, (Kinlochshiel win 2-0 on penalties) at An Aird, Fort William

2011  Bute 2, Caberfeidh 1, at Pairc nan Laoch in Portree

2012  Lochaber 5, Beauly 1, at Castle Leod in Strathpeffer

2013  Bute 4, Beauly 2

2014  Skye Camanachd 3, Ballachulish 2, at Taynuilt

2015  Beauly 5, GMA 3

2016  Kilmallie 6, Caberfeidh 0

2017 Caberfeidh 4-4 Fort William, Fort William won 5-4 in penalties, at Drumnadrochit

2018 Kilmallie 3-2 GMA, at Fort William

2019 Fort William 3-2 GMA, at Fort William

2020 No competition due to COVID-19

2021 Skye 3-1 Beauly, at Fort William

2022 Beauly 5-1 Inveraray, at Fort William

2023. Lochaber 5-0 Kilmallie, at Spean Bridge