Shinty: Kingussie 4 - 3 Inveraray: Ross does it again to help Kingussie win cup, but hints at calling time on career

Published on Saturday 21 August 2010 12:34

Ronald Ross claimed a four-goal haul to secure Kingussie the Macaulay Cup for the 25th time yesterday but will review his future at the end of the season. The 35-year-old unpicked a robust Inveraray side at Mossfield Park as Kings landed the trophy 4-3 after extra time.

It was a familiar tale, with the marksman who has netted more than 1,000 strikes making the telling contribution in front of the BBC2 cameras.

However, he stated afterwards those days may be numbered: "You never tire of winning trophies but I will review things at the end of the year. I managed to get the goals again but it can't keep going on."

Inveraray looked the most complete side in the first half but will rue missed chances. Kingussie were patchy although manager Stephen Borthwick wasn't too worried to go in 1-0 behind.

Inveraray went ahead in 14 minutes when Neil Andrews was first to pounce after Andrew Borthwick made a great block in the Kingussie goal.

A moment of excellence from Ross brought Kings back into it in 52 minutes. Falling deep, he turned to face his marker, pushed it past Scott Robertson, then let fly. As the ball rippled the rigging from 30 yards, someone in the crowd shouted "genius". Ross wasn't sated there.

When Rusell MacKinlay made it 2-1 to Inveraray from close range with nine minutes left, Ross seemed to find an extra injection.

He forced the final into extra time, turning Robertson one way then the other before shooting home.

Having saved Kingussie he added the match-winning garnish. Straight from the throw-up in extra time, he slipped the ball past Graeme Macpherson in a one-on-one. Then in 96 minutes, he showed how it's done with his fourth on the turn.

MacKinlay pulled Inveraray back into it but Ross had done the damage.

Inveraray: Macpherson, S Robertson, D Macpherson, St Robertson, Dando, A McMurdo, D Robertson, G Macpherson, E McMurdo, Griffin, MacKinlay, Andrews. Subs: MacKenzie, Graham, Campbell, Crawford, MacDonald.

Kinguissie: A Borthwick, Munro, Bain, I Borthwick, Hutchison, Grant, Munro, Gow, R Borthwick, T Borthwick, MacLeod, Ross. Subs: Dallas, McRae, Dawson, Munro, Fraser.

Referee: Billy Wotherspoon (Oban).