Glengarry may have captured the silverware with a last minute goal from Raymond Robertson but Camanachd Leòdhais captured hearts with a brave performance in a 1-0 loss in the 2026 Chieftain’s Cup Final.
Na Leòdhasaich took to the national stadium pitch at the Bught Park on the 1st of August with passion from the off. They soon let Glengarry know they were in for a game, and even though Lewis lost Ryan Gunn and Michael MacLeod to injury and Donnie MacRae missed a penalty just before half-time, their collective performance was astonishing against a team who compete at the top of the league above.
Even though fatigue became an issue into the last ten minutes, the Dubh is Gorm never ever faltered until the final minute as finally Raymond Robertson, one of the most deadly forces in the lower leagues, found the room to give Connor Chalmers no chance.
The squad was Connor Chalmers, Daniel Gallagher, Michael MacLeod, Ryan Gunn, Paddy Sinclair, Ronan Sinclair, Scott MacLeod, Joseph MacInnes, Donnie MacRae, John Slaughter, Paddy Wilson, Daniel Harrison; Subs, Declan Wilson, Finlay MacLeod, Kieran Macdonald, Ally Lamont, Callum MacRitchie
There is no man of the match award for the Chieftain’s Cup Final, but surely Connor Chalmers would have been strongly in the running for an incredible performance between the sticks. He made numerous incredible saves and even one moments before Robertson scored made the crowd feel it might just be a Leòdhasach day.
And what a crowd. From the first minute to the last, the sizeable cohort of over 200 Dubh is Gorm fans who travelled from the island and from other parts of the mainland never stopped singing and cheering every tackle and every hit. There was passion, craic and laughter in Gaelic and English. The Directors of the Camanachd Association commented on the fact it was the best atmosphere at a shinty final in many years. The sheer weight of the support definitely lifted the players on the park. The stand was packed with Camanachd Leòdhais legends and people attending their first ever shinty final. It won’t be the last and next time we’ll take a thousand.
Onwards.
Featured Images – Crowd Shot By Neil G Paterson
Player Image by Iain Cochrane MacRath