Lochaber High School pupil Shane O’Rua, who is not 15 until July, became the youngest player to score for Kilmallie’s senior side in quarter of a century when he helped book the Caol team’s place in the Cottages.com MacTavish Cup quarter final ballot.
Sharpshooter O’Rua fired his side’s first and third goals in a 3-2 first round win over battling Inverness at Canal Park.
Kilmallie boss Martin Stewart said: “We’ve been racking our brains and no one can remember a 14 year old scoring for our first team.
“Shane may not be the first ever to do so, but certainly the first for 25 years or more.
“He’s made half a dozen appearances for us but this was his first full 90 minutes and the first time he’s found the net – and there’s a lot more to come from him.
“Inverness fought hard, they were really up for it and perhaps we underestimated them.
“They caused us plenty of problems, so it was a good time for that historic O’Rua double.”
Hit by call-offs, Kilmallie gave three players their debuts – 15 year old Seamus MacFarlane and teenagers Ryan Macleod and Lewis Cameron – and all showed their potential.
A Steve MacAllister own goal put Inverness ahead in 17 minutes but O’Rua levelled within a minute before Stuart Callison gave the home side an interval lead.
O’Rua made it 3-1 before Steven Bellshaw pulled one back in 75 minutes.
Newtonmore continue their strong start to the season
Newtonmore, the 2019 cup winners, continued their bright start with a 3-0 home win over Lochaber, with teenagers Struan Ross and Max Campbell on target.
Ross, who scored in each half, is the son of former Newtonmore player Donnie Ross.
Co-manager Norman Macarthur said: “Struan is shaping up extremely well and he and Max were among seven players aged under 19 in our starting lineup, maybe a record for us in the MacTavish Cup.”
Calum Shepherd’s spectacular edge of box strike broke the deadlock in 36 minutes and set Fort William on their way to a 3-0 win in their tie with Strathglass at Cannich.
Ally MacRae and Lewis Morrison added second half goals and co-manager Addie Robertson said: “Lewis Murphy played in defence in the first half but we pushed him into the centre line and he made a big difference.
“Arran MacPhee ran the show while keeper Paul MacKay pulled off a crucial save just on half time.”
Sizzling Skye romped into the last eight with a 7-0 win over Glengarry at Craigard Park with veteran Sorley MacDonald grabbing a hat trick.
Jordan Murchison hit a double with John Gillies and Iain MacLellan also netting for the visitors.
