ABERDOUR coach Lisa Norman refused to be too downbeat after her side's hopes of Macaulay Cup qualification were ended by Kyles Athletic on Saturday.

The West Fifers needed just a draw in their final match of the season to secure third place in South Division One and a place in shinty's most prestigious competition for next year but after being 2-0 up in a first half that Norman described as "one of our best performances all season", the home side hit back in stunning fashion after half-time to record a 6-2 victory.

Angus Thorburn, who along with Cammy McCue has been selected for the south of Scotland under-21 team to take on their northern counterparts on Saturday, gave 'Dour a dream start by firing them ahead after only 10 minutes before Ruariadh Reid doubled the advantage eight minutes before the break.

But they collapsed in the second half and Norman told Press Sport, "It really was a game of two halves as we were comfortable at 2-0 up in the first half. They got an early goal and we were on the back foot but our fitness levels definitely cost us. It's disappointing and I don't really know what happened in the second half, but I couldn't fault any one of them after the first half. It's a bit of a shame but hopefully they'll learn from it but the next day I looked at the positives from the season. I'm disappointed about the Macaulay Cup but we finished a position above where we did last year and won the South of Scotland Plate final, so we've had a successful season.

"Third place was what we were pushing for but we can take a lot into next year.

"We're much stronger and are playing better than last year, and I'm really impressed and proud with the way the boys have played. We know how far we've come and what we're capable of and the squad we have is a young one. If we give them another six months then they'll mature further mentally and physically."

As well as Thorburn and McCue, Finlay Williamson was also handed a call-up for the south of Scotland team at under-17 level, who play their annual clash with the north on Sunday 28th September.