08/06/2026
🟢⚪️ Beauly 5 vs 1 Skye II ⚪️🟢
WCA MOWI North League
A momentous day for Beauly Shinty Club as Beauly Women’s Team recorded their first competitive win. We have said from the beginning that fulfilling all our fixtures and getting a full squad to every game would be achievement enough for this team. Beyond that maybe a goal, and then going forward looking for results, a draw or even a win, but those things were thought to be way ahead of us, something for the future. The main focus was and is to build rapport in the squad, create a community for the team so that women in the area can come along and enjoy shinty and be part of something that is ultimately social and fun. Having just started last summer and entered the league this year we were ambitious, we were building momentum, and numbers. The core of the squad are young players that have come through the club youth system and now have a future in the sport beyond the youth level. They have been joined by local women with an interest or connection to the club, as well as women from further afield that have thought: “I’ll give that a go”! Some have sports experience, whether it be football, hockey, rugby or other sports, some even have a bit of shinty experience. A few have been fans of the game for years but always been on the sidelines, and others hadn’t even heard of shinty. Currently our age range is 13 (the minimum age allowed in senior shinty) to 52 with no upper limit. What they all have in common is they’re keen to enjoy themselves and they’re doing that every week at training and in games.
The start of the season in March saw us host Inverness. A mix of youth and experience they showed their strength and came out of the game 0-5 winners. No shame in it, as our first league game. Player of the a match went to Eilidh Boyle for an outstanding display in the midfield, textbook tackling and a terrific desire to win the ball. A decent respectable loss, where the score didn’t really reflect the performance. This would become a theme when in the next few games we faced Lochaber away and Kinlochshiel away, losing 6-0 to both respectively. The Lochaber game was a terrific battling performance where Beauly looked really competitive - the Spean side just showed their strength and finishing ability and made the most of their chances. Player of the Match went to Elena Kelleher for her dominant performance at full centre, where she was head and shoulders the best player on the park. Shiel was the same, the West Coasters were young, well organised and fit and made the most of a massive pitch with their great hitting, however, like in Spean the scoreline didn’t reflect the game - it was a hard, fair and determined competition throughout. Rosa MacInnes was Player of the Match at Rèaraig as she was a woman possessed - up and down the park involved in everything - her terrific hitting shining in front of her west coast relatives. Next we were away to old rivals Lovat in the league and a big day for us when after over 100 years of local derby between the teams, it was the first time we were to face each other in the senior women’s game. Lovat showed their quality and their pedigree in the game and were convincing winners. There was a lot of positives for us, not least the absolutely outstanding performance of Lauren Anderson in goal, without whom, we’d have seen a scoreline closer to 20-0 than 9-0, this saw her named Player of the Match. Onwards to the Single Team Cup and we were drawn at home, against the second highest ranking team in the competition, a club with a long history in the Women’s game, Lochgilphead outfit, Dunadd Camanachd. Here we saw a really tough battle, the Argyll women fought for every ball and were hard tacklers and great hitters. They moved the ball very well up front and their skill, pace and ferocity proved too much for us. 0-12 but again no shame in it - spectators at the game praised the team and Dunadd players and management were very complimentary of the Beauly upstarts who gave them much more of a game than they expected. POTM was Laura Houston for her courageous and determined performance at wing back - she was a wall on the wing. We licked our wounds - figuratively and literally and moved on.
Back to league action and we welcomed Skye. We had high hopes for the game - wanting to bounce back from the Dunadd result and maybe even get on the scoresheet or finally see a closer scoreline that more accurately reflected our performance. We got even more than that.
From the whistle we were up for it, and only a few minutes in, new signing Carly MacIver used her strength and determination to get Beauly’s first competitive league goal. Another milestone for the club. The game was end to end, Beauly trying to capitalise and Skye trying to respond and it was the sgitheanach that managed to get one back with a ball just creeping over the line before our goalie was able to clear it. Our heads didn’t go down though and full centre Elena Kelleher found the back of the net with a strike worthy of her Cork heritage. Laura Houston then got our third having come off the bench and put up at full forward, chasing in a second ball and slotting it home. Then after a lot of good work, keeping Skye in their own half, Elena found space to shoot and made absolutely no mistake to get her second.
Half time, Beauly 4-1 Skye.
The half time team talk was, as you can imagine, very positive - new territory for the team, being ahead. The focus was on building on things, keeping up the intensity and enjoying the feeling of a great performance.
With the wind in the second half Skye were able to push up much more easily, their fullback was very strong and her long goal hits to wing forward were a huge asset to the Islanders. However we resisted, and resisted well, and kept pushing. We rotated the team to give the whole squad game time and some players tried new positions to make the most of their strengths. Skye always looked dangerous going forward with their half forward in particular pushing them on and working hard to get through but we stood firm. Then after a spell back in defence, Carly was swapped back up to the forward line and after a couple of chances her hard work, strength and battle paid off and she got her second goal. She looked to be on for a hattrick and we threatened time and again but it wasn’t to be. 5-1 Full time. Player of the Match was a tough choice - a lot of great performances across the team but it had to be Carly MacIver for an outstanding, hard battling debut. Well done!
A huge moment for Beauly Shinty Club, and emotional moment for the players and their families and friends (and the manager!) as they see undeniable evidence of their enthusiasm and work in training and games so far. A win. A good win. Our first goal, our first win and a 5-1 scoreline to beat a very good young Skye side. Just a brilliant day.
Everyone played their part in the game. Lauren in Goals was her usual outstanding self demonstrating a rare talent for stick saves combined with incredible bravery and strength. Nicole at full back was excellent - blocking everything in front of her and clearing her lines. Emily at half back defended strongly as we’ve come to expect, her hitting off both sides turning defence into attack. Eilidh and Rosa at wing centres ran all game, supporting their defence and backing up the forwards. Eilidh is unstoppable never giving up, a terrier in the tackle winning her battles, as is Rosa, whose cannon shots from distance were unlucky not to find the back of the net. The youngest starting player Rosa defies her youth putting in such a strong performance every week, her hitting and strength so key to the team, while Eilidh reads the game so well and gets her stick on the end of so many balls before driving forward with great runs, always pushing us on. At full centre Elena, who only joined us in March is a revelation. She dominates a game, so strong in the tackle, a big hitter, with great skill and natural ability - she runs the game, playmaker, striker and box to box midfielder all in one, she shows incredible promise in the sport. Carly started at half forward and her strength, evident in training since she joined was key to us pushing on and creating an attacking threat. She played a great game and that strength was put to good use when she was moved back into defence to sure things up. At full forward, Megan, the birthday girl, was great - pulling the defence out of position before making runs and chasing every second ball. She was so unlucky not to get a goal of her own, but we’ll see it yet, as her improved ball striking now sees her rattle shots on goal. From the bench, Laura Houston came on and played another blinder. Her work was repaid with her well taken goal and I’m sure her kids, both of whom are in the club junior ranks will be delighted to see their Mum on the scoresheet! Carrie also came on and put in a huge amount of work against their strong defence. Always tussling, she gathered in the ball and moved it on well and again was unlucky not to get a goal. Erin came on and was excellent at half back as we shuffled the deck and moved players around. She showed great ability as always, with a deft touch and great battling tackles. Her drive to win the ball and get it back up to the forwards kept us moving forward and ensured the score stayed positive for the team. Lastly, the newest player in the squad, Anna made her Beauly debut. Having not played shinty before, Anna shows great natural ability and has progressed so well in training in just a few weeks earning her place in the match squad. Coming on at wing centre she made some great challenges and kept the ball moving forward - positively pushing the team on. Every player had a terrific game - and the team as a unit played with such cohesion. The positive atmosphere in the camp is so palpable (even before the win) and it’s great to see everyone, across the team enjoying the result.
Thanks to Skye Camanachd for the game, played in great spirits. We owe a massive thanks to our headline Sponsors, BR Plumbing and Heating for their support, to Corner on the Square for their sponsorship and for providing the fantastic post match pizzas. To Sandy Tulloch for refereeing the game - as well as helping set up the pitch in the morning. thanks to Laura Tulloch for her help with admin and the collection (thanks to the mini Tullochs too for their help!) To Glyn Evans for helping set out the 8 Aside pitch originally and his constant support, and to Ellie for his tireless work as groundsman at the club - Braeview is looking brilliant and it’s down to Ellie’s hard work and countless hours dedicated to the quality of our park. Huge thanks to Aarron and Kenny for their support in coaching the team, to Iain Morrison for goalkeeper coaching as well as Stephen Mackenzie our Bus Driver and Donna Mackenzie who despite her Skye loyalties is such a help and inspiration to the team at training. Thanks too to Lucy Kingham and Catherine MacKinnon for match photos and thanks to the club and committee members for their support and lastly and most importantly thanks to all the women for their hard work pushing this team on and laying the groundwork for the future of Women’s Shinty in Beauly.
The whole team won yesterday - not just the match squad and all the players in the Women’s Team share in the result. It was great to see so many come along to support at the game and enjoy the celebration afterwards. We continue to grow and players of all ages (over 13), abilities and experience are welcome to come along and be part of this team. It’s friendly, it’s fun and it’s good vibes all round.
Squad
Lauren Anderson
Eilidh Boyle
Anna Hardie
Laura Houston
Carrie Kaczynska
Elena Kelleher
Rosa MacInnes
Carly MacIver
Erin MacKinnon
Nicole MacRae
Megan Meldrum
Emily Thurau-Pirie
I would also like to acknowledge the players not in the team this week that have trained with us or played in games this season, all of whom have contributed to the continued development and success of the team 💚
Lynsay Boyle
Keri Craib
Maddison Duncan
Beth Dunion
Cerys Evans
Louise Foster
Nicki Grant
Meg Hopkins
Erin Jolly
Gemma Jolly
Lucy Kingham
Leanne MacAulay
Kerri MacIntyre
Donna Mackenzie
Eilidh Mackenzie
Eilidh MacKenzie
Mara MacKenzie
Marci Maclean
Brooke Mann
Shuna Mayes
Grace Milligan
Iona Milligan
Mary Dawn Mohun
Hannah Moneagle
Skye Morton
Erin Sandever
Liga Sevastjanova
Karla Stevenson
Michelle Stevenson
Joanna Renwick
Kirsty Watson
and more all the time!
Come on you girls in green! Onwards 💚
🟢⚪️🟢
