The Glasgow Celtic Society Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the Scottish Sea Farms Celtic Society Cup since 2018, is a knock-out cup competition in the sport of shinty. Entry is open to all senior teams from the South District playing in the Premier Division and South Division One. It is the oldest competition in the sport, first being played for in 1879.[1] It is one of the five trophies considered to be part of the Grand Slam in the sport of shinty.[2]
The final was always played traditionally at Old Anniesland, although both 2011 and 2012 finals were outside of Glasgow and the 2015 Cup final was held in Taynuilt between Oban Camanachd and Kyles Athletic. The final continues to be played outside of Glasgow at present. It is organised by the Glasgow Celtic Society in conjunction with the Camanachd Association, not by the Camanachd Association itself. The present holders are Glasgow Mid-Argyll.
The Celtic Society did not originally run the competition but presented the trophy to the Glasgow Shinty Association. Upon the demise of this organisation the Celtic Society took over the running of the competition.[3]
In 1888, Inveraray played Furnace in the final and disputed the validity of a goal. The club took legal action and the cup was suspended for 12 years.[4]
Teams from the North sometimes entered and Lovat won in 1950 and 1951.
Inveraray were champions in 2009, defeating Oban Camanachd 3–2. From 2004 until 2011, the competition had two unique bylaws - firstly all free-hits were direct and secondly, the penalty area was significantly larger, akin to a football penalty area, any infringement within this area culminating in a penalty hit. The restrictions regarding entry into the D and off-side remained the same as in the normal rules of shinty.[5]
As of 2010, the opening rounds of the cup were played midweek, in order to reduce the backlog of fixtures that has regularly afflicted shinty.[6]
In 2011, the Directors of the Glasgow Celtic Society decided to play the final at the Winterton Park, Inveraray on Saturday 25 June. Only two of the previous 106 cup finals were played outside Glasgow.[7] This decision was based on a lack of sponsorship for the cup and the cost of hiring Old Anniesland.
The cup gained a new sponsor in 2012 with a two-year deal with AJG Parcels.[8] The 2012 final, which was initially rained off and moved to the following Saturday, featured Inveraray, against Taynuilt in their first senior final. Unfortunately Taynuilt were thrashed 14-0 by the Royal Burgh side.
Since 2018, the cup has been sponsored by Scottish Sea Farms. A new sponsorship deal was signed in May 2022 for a further three years [9].
| Club | Total | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Kyles Athletic | 35 | 1901, 1903, 1910, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1939, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 2000, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021 |
| Glasgow Cowal | 4 | 1879, 1905, 1907, 1909 |
| Ballachulish | 1 | 1952 |
| Vale of Leven | 1 | 1880 |
| Inveraray | 21 | 1887, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1934, 1935, 1968, 1974, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 |
| Oban Camanachd | 21 | 1889, 1900, 1904, 1911, 1937, 1938, 1947, 1973, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2005, 2018, 2019, 2023 |
| Glasgow Mid-Argyll | 12 | 1930, 1936, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1980, 2022 |
| Glencoe | 2 | 1881, 1882 |
| Dunollie | 1 | 1886 |
| Oban Lorn Athletic | 1 | 1955 |
| Glasgow Caledonian | 1 | 1902 |
| Furnace | 5 | 1906, 1908, 1912, 1914, 1958 |
| Glenorchy | 1 | 1998 |
| Glasgow Inverness-shire | 1 | 1931 |
| Lovat | 2 | 1950, 1951 |
| Lochfyneside | 2 | 1949, 1953 |
| Glasgow Skye | 2 | 1913, 1932 |
| Oban Celtic | 2 | 1948, 1962 |
| Strachur | 2 | 1982, 1985 |
