2016 Celtic Cup Lille Métropole HC, France
9-11 September 2016
Grand Masters regain Celtic Cup
For the first time, France hosted the Celtic Cup at Lille Métropole Hockey Club, 106 avenue Delécaux, 59130 Lambersat, over the weekend of 8-11 September. The competition was for Grand Masters (Over 60) and Great Grand Masters (Over 65) only.
Having convincingly beaten Ireland and Wales in the 2016 Home Internationals, Scotland were looking to regain the Grand Masters Celtic Cup which was currently held by Ireland. Scotland defended the Great Grand Masters Celtic Cup which they won from Wales in 2015 in Bangor, though both France and Ireland had now entered the equation and were fielding Over 65 sides for the first time in the Celtic Cup.
Both sides began with wins on Friday 9 September, Scotland Great Grand Masters edging out Ireland 1-0 thanks to a goal by Peter Gordon and Scotland Grand Masters recording a resounding 8-0 victory over Wales, the scorers being Niall Sturrock (2), Alistair Hay (2), Alistair Ogilvie (2), John Candlin and Derek Johnstone.
There were mixed fortunes on the second day, the Grand Masters side scoring a hard fought 2-0 win over Ireland though goals by David Rowlands and Derek Johnstone, while Scotland Great Grand Masters lost by the same score to Wales.
The final day saw both Scotland sides take on France. Nothing less than a win by a very large margin against France, and a favourable result in the Ireland-Wales match following, would do for Scotland if they were to retain the Great Grand Masters Celtic Cup. A 7-0 victory took them part of the way there but Wales were too strong for Ireland and finished with a 100% record, leaving Scotland in a creditable second place ahead of Ireland and France. A draw would have been enough to guarantee Scotland the Grand Masters Celtic Cup but, even though the French side proved tougher nuts to crack than expected, Scotland maintained their 100% record and took back possession of the Grand Masters Celtic Cup with a 2-0 win. A special word must go to the Scottish defence, which went through the whole tournament without losing a goal.
After the tournament, President Kieran McLernan sent out the following message:
"Congratulations to all those who represented Scotland in the visit to Lille last weekend to contest the Celtic Cup. The 60s won the Over 60 trophy and the 65s came second having surrendered the trophy to Wales.
Both sides plainly showed the influence of the Coach and played outstanding hockey from time to time with the 60s showing more control and consistency and fitness which enabled them win the trophy comfortably. The 65s, particularly in the last game, created some beautifully constructed goals which would not have been achieved without much hard work from Coach and players."
Results
| Grand Masters (Over 60) | Great Grand Masters (Over 65) | |||||
| Fri 9 Sep | 14:30 | Wales 9 | France 0 | |||
| 16:30 | France 2 | Ireland 3 | Scotland 1 | Ireland 0 | ||
| 20:15 | Scotland 8 | Wales 0 | ||||
| Sat 10 Sep | 10:15 | Ireland 0 | Scotland 2 | France 0 | Ireland 4 | |
| 12:00 | Wales 3 | France 1 | Scotland 0 | Wales 2 | ||
| Sun 11 Sep | 10:30 | Ireland 5 | Wales 1 | France 0 | Scotland 7 | |
| 12:15 | France 0 | Scotland 2 | Ireland 0 | Wales 2 | ||
Tables
| Grand Masters | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pt | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 9 | +12 |
| Ireland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 6 | +3 |
| Wales | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 3 | -10 |
| France | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | -5 |
| Great Grand Masters | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pt | GD | Wales | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 9 | +13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 6 | +6 |
| Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | +1 |
| France | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | -20 |
Squads
Over 60 |
|
Over 65 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hew | Bishop | Alan | Auld | |
| John | Candlin | Jim | Bate | |
| John | Connaghan | Jim | Chisholm | |
| George | Finlayson | Roy | Crichton | |
| Ben | Gibson | Nigel | Dixon | |
| Alastair | Hay | Donald | Dunbar | |
| John | Hay | Andy | Ferrol | |
| Derek | Johnstone | Colin | Gallacher* | |
| Chris | Kalman | Peter | Gordon | |
| Gordon | Loudon | Kieran | McLernan | |
| Gerry | McBride | Alan | Parker | |
| Bernie | Morrison | Peter | Robertson | |
| Alistair | Ogilvie | John | Smith* | |
| Glenn | Paton | Colin | Tucker | |
| David | Rowlands | Douglas | Turner | |
| Ronnie | Stott | |||
| Niall | Sturrock | |||
| Ian | Wilson | |||
* underage