EMOTIONAL Aberdour Shinty Club head coach Lisa MacColl has described winning their first-ever senior title on Saturday as “pretty incredible”.

In what she said was “a long time in the making”, her talented squad defeated nearest challengers Lochside Rovers 3-0 to ensure they couldn’t be caught at the summit of Mowi South Division One and seal an historic success.

The club, which was formed 18 years ago, are now looking at competing in the game’s second tier, the National Division, having missed out on the championship in recent years.

With 11 wins, two draws and just one defeat from their 14 matches played, ’Dour knew that victory in Oban would secure the title with a game to go and, after a scoreless first half, the reliable Angus Thorburn fired the visitors ahead early in the second after Scott Robertson had been ordered from the field for the hosts.

Jack Mitchell made the game safe with 10 minutes to go before Tom Bowerman, formerly the team’s goalkeeper, ensured the championship party could start – and a birthday to remember for MacColl – by grabbing Aberdour’s third in the final minute.

“It’s starting to sink in now but it was an emotional weekend and a long time in the making,” she reflected to Press Sport this week.

“It was pretty incredible. It was 18 years in May since we were officially formed to come to that, so it has been an emotional rollercoaster.

“We’ve been close a couple of times over the last three years but have stumbled at the final hurdle. I’ve always known they could do it but it was having that maturity and ability to deal with pressure.

“They’ve got that now and it showed on Saturday. They are a brilliant group and showed incredible commitment. We have a squad of 16 and they were pretty much always available.

“I’m just delighted for the lads because they’ve put in so much hard work.”

She continued: “It was quite a physical game but the guys rose to the occasion and not the opposition. They were a credit to themselves and the club, and showed real maturity.

“I’m absolutely delighted for the boys. It couldn’t have been done better as we needed to take the two points to guarantee Lochside couldn’t catch us. It was also my 40th on Saturday, so the timing couldn’t have been better!

“We had a huge travelling support – our sideline far outweighed theirs – and to have people travelling to support the boys was just brilliant. They carried them through the game.

“It makes a bit of history for us but it also rewrites history for the shinty association because it’s the first time Aberdour’s name is on a senior league trophy.

“I’ve always believed that they had the skill and ability.”