Published: Thursday, 4th December, 2008 4:40pm

Aberdour Shinty Club win second national title

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ABERDOUR have stunned Scottish shinty with a second national title.

After the club"s under-14s secured Aberdour"s first national title earlier in the year, the under-12s emulated the feat in a chilly Drumnadrochit at the weekend by winning the national primary championships.

To add to the achievement, Aberdour"s Daniel Neilson was named player of a tournament which involved the top 13 teams in Scotland.

Aberdour were drawn in a group with top class teams Glenurqaurt, Newtonmore, Ballachullish, Loch Duich, Portree and North Skye and drew their first match, against Glenurquhart, 0-0.

A great goal by Neilson gave Aberdour a 1-0 win over North Skye in their next game and Neilson hit a hat-trick against Ballachulish.

Neilson sealed a 2-1 victory in a closer game against Loch Duich, which had seen the West Fifers pegged back after Matthew McVay had given them the lead.

With four teams in the group vying for two semi-final spots, a 0-0 draw against Portree in their fifth game meant Aberdour would qualify for the last four with a win or draw in their last game against Newtonmore.

Peter Clark put Aberdour ahead and Neilson added another couple to his competition tally but the icing on the cake came when Lewis Farrar, making his debut and playing in his first major tournament, scored after a great assist from Finlay Williamson.

Aberdour faced the winners of the other section, Lochaber, in the semi-final. Clark"s presence and quick stick work was rewarded with two goals as a faultless display gave Aberdour a 2-0 victory and a deserved place in the final.

Facing Kingussie in the final, Aberdour started the stronger and went ahead when Neilson shot past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 after the first half.

Kingussie came out fighting at the start of the second half and equalised from a long-range shot with goalkeeper Brandon Marshall unsighted.

Aberdour steeled themselves for one last push and Williamson grabbed the winner in the dying moments.

A delighted coach Lisa Norman told Press Sport, 'I can"t believe it myself – I thought one national title at under-14 level was going to be our biggest achievement this year.

"There were some big clubs involved and, as the tournament was played on a six-a-side basis, they could all field their best players. Our guys did really well. They were outstanding.'