‘Historic tournament returns to the Ross’
Saturday 28th July saw the return of the eagerly anticipated Bunessan 5-a-side football tournament to the Ross of Mull after a prolonged Covid-19 induced absence. Around 100 competitors descended on the ‘Bun-Etihad’, otherwise known as the Bunessan School playing field, with players travelling from across Mull, Iona, Oban and beyond for a shot at glory. With three pitches, sixteen men’s teams, two women’s teams and many spectators, it was an action-packed afternoon punctuated with excruciating near misses, euphoric celebrations and more than a few ‘robust’ tackles.
The return of the 5s saw the biggest men’s roster ever as well as a Ladies competition for the first time. In the men’s competition, teams were split into groups of four, with the top two teams in each group progressing into the ‘Gold Cup’ whilst the bottom two teams moved into the ‘Plate Competition’. Men’s group stage games took place at the same time as the women’s ‘Mull Derbies’ before local children took to the field for a kick-about as part of the pre-match entertainment prior to the Gold Cup final... more in the printed issue

Photo shows Bunessan Ladies team – Photo by Alan Palmer