It might have all gone down to the final day, but Falmouth were in no mood to leave anything to chance in the Shinty League Finals on Saturday at Cunningham Park, Mabe, writes Matt Mossop. 

They scored 11 without reply in their final flourish, even being able to allow Holland a rare outing up front to net his first competitive goal and the party was on.

Cornish captain and Falmouth’s talismanic centre Alex Amos (aka Shrek) smashed seven, grabbing the Caman D’or and helping Falmouth to an emphatic first title win.

Falmouth were superb right across the park, dropping just one point all season, barely conceding a goal en route.

Jack Fitt, Falmouth Camanchd captain, praised his team saying: “It's brilliant. The team have worked so hard this year, and been so dedicated, to say I'm proud of them would be an understatement - and to see that hard work end with us lifting the trophy is just amazing.

“We owe a massive thank you to Falmouth Marine Band and Castle Sports for kitting us out, and to everyone who's come out to support us over the season.

“It's been a tough fight for us as a relatively new team, but we've done it, and brought the trophy home for Falmouth."

Meanwhile Mabe and Bristol were left wondering what might have been. Mabe’s imperious form came crashing down in a devastating week of injuries and absences. Three of their starting six succumbed in the week leading up to the finals.

When captain Paul Tatibogel was helped to hospital by his wife, with a broken hand after the second match, it was backs to the wall time and any thought of a consolation win versus Falmouth in the finale was dead in the water.

Meanwhile Bristol’s heads never recovered from Falmouth’s crushing late win in February, though they fought brilliantly all day, coming from behind three times to grab a draw with Mabe.

It was a Camborne School of Mines derby in the finals, which saw some serious siege heroics from CSM Blue and may well earn Captain Soar and Keeper Tjia more time out for Cornwall as the senior season starts up.

A 0-0 draw with their own seniors, CSM Gold, shows clearly just how far they’ve come in just six months. Five league goals for Hughes will definitely have the Cornwall selectors interested.

Finally, Devon had a tough return to the South West Shinty League, which given the experience they could draw on shows how far the league has come in the last few years.

Saturday, March 23 sees the start of Cornwall’s historic first English Shinty League title defence at the Bristol 6s, as the senior season fires into life.

Thanks has been given to Cornwall Shinty Club and their sponsors Finn M’Couls, Mabe Shinty Club and Mabe Youth Community Project for being hosts for this year’s finals, and to The New Inn, Mabe for the warm welcome afterwards. Finally thanks have been given to English Shinty League sponsors Abbot Risk Consulting, whose support has been described as “absolutely invaluable.”

To give one of the oldest sports a go, make contact via www.facebook.com/Cornwallshintyclub SW

SW Shinty League Finals Results:

Mabe 1 (Mossop 18”) - CSM Gold 0

Falmouth 2 (Amos, Drury) - CSM Blue 0

Bristol 0 - CSM Gold 1 (Bolt 19”)

Mabe 1 (Board 2”) - CSM Blue 0

Falmouth 4 (Amos x3, Drury) = Bristol 0

CSM Gold 0 - CSM Blue 0

Mabe 3 (Board; Mossop; Walters,L) - Bristol 3 (Hughes x2, Walters, M)

Falmouth 3 (Amos 7”, Shaw OG 10”, Holland 12”) - CSM Gold 0

CSM Blue 0 - Bristol 1 (Walters, M)

Mabe 0 - Falmouth 2 (Amos 10”, 17”(Pen))

SW Shinty League Caman D’Or Top Scorer: Alex Amos 23

SW Shinty League Champions 2023-24: Falmouth Camanchd

SW Shinty League Officials of the Season: Jack Fitt, Matt Ferguson, Zoe Baker and Brendan Rouse

Falmouth Camanchd Squad: Jack Fitt (Captain), Alex Amos (Vice Captain), Jakob Holland (Goals), Ed Russell, Wayland Drury, Megan Davis Substitutes: Ellen Peel, Merlin Wright

Mabe Shinty Club Squad: Paul Tatibogel (Captain), Matt Mossop (Vice Captain), Annan Birkett (Goals), Lewis Board,, Mipi MaCleod, Libby Walters Substitute: Jordan Matthews

Bristol Camanchd Squad: James Beaumont (Captain) Ellie Kemp (Vice Captain), Lara Cripps, Mike Walters

CSM Gold Squad:  Matt Ferguson (Captain) Zoe Baker (Vice Captain), Molly Shaw (Goals), Caleb Hamlet, Natasha Cooper, Tom Bolt

CSM Blue Squad:  Harry Soar(Captain), Rachel Purvis (Vice Captain), Winston Tjia (Goals), Sophie Fox, Luke Hughes, Vikki Johnson. Substitutes: Jack Horder, Thom Kirby, Emily Painter