Carloway hoping EAF is lucky 7

Since their first attempt at landing the Eilean an Fhraoich Cup back in 1933 - some 83-years ago - Carloway have never known the joy of holding the EAF Cup aloft.

They have come agonisingly close to doing so with cup final appearances in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1999, 2012 and 2014 but they have had the silverware snatched from their fingers just as they reach for it.

Now the ‘Way will be hoping 2016 is lucky number seven as they prepare for their seventh EAF Cup final against Lochs next weekend.

Carloway ruthlessly dispatched Ness 5-2 at home in the second-leg of their semi-final, securing an emphatic 9-4 passage into the cup final which will take place at the Creagan Dubh in Leurbost.

The Eilean an Fhraoich Cup is the only missing colour in Carloway skipper Domnhall MAckay’s football rainbow.

“It is the one I’ve never managed to win so it’d be nice to add that to my collection but more importantly for Carloway to win it for the first time,” he said after the match.

“We are all looking forward to the cup final now which we know will be a tough game but it is one we are excited about.

“Eachainn scored an absolute screamer to settle things down and from then on we scored some quick goals and that was it. We played well and both Eachainn and Angus Grant, a young guy from Breasclete home on holiday, did really well.

ed about.”

Supporters were treated to a flood of goals at each leg of the semi-final. Six were scored in Ness with seven following in Carloway. The chief architecht of Ness’ downfall was teenage midfielder Eachainn Miller who netted home and away for Carloway including a hat-trick in the return leg at Cnoc a’Choilich.

In Ness, Dan Crossley scored inside 120-seconds for Carloway but James ‘Titch’ Morrison levelled before the break. Miller crashed home a stunner to restore Carloway’s lead after linking up with Calum ‘Beag’ Mackay. DI Maclennan made it 3-1 before Miller scored again for 4-1.

Colin Morrison gave Ness a glimmer of hope for the away leg with a late thunderbolt which rocketed into the net for 4-2.

Over in Carloway the two sides picked up where they left off, trading footballing punches and goals.

Miller scored twice for Carloway either side of half-time to all but kill the tie off giving Carloway a 6-2 aggregate lead. Angus Grant fired them 3-0 up on the night before Cally Mackay converted from the spot for 3-1.

Grant scored another before Miller completed a hat-trick, his fifth goal against Ness in the semi-final legs, as Carloway cruised 5-1 up on the night and 9-3 overall.

Jack Dunlop scored late on but it was little more than a consolation goal for a Ness side well beaten on the night.

Ness manager David ‘Spider’ Macleod commented: “We went 1-0 down after a wonder strike just before half-time which was difficult for us as we had created some good opportunites but the first goal was crucial.

“The boys did well considering the team we put out due to unavailable players but that’s been the story all season for us.”