Ayrshire rivals out to end on a high
Auchinleck and Cumnock depleted for showpiece final
ABUMPER crowd is expected to descend upon Meadow Park tonight as Auchinleck Talbot and and Cumnock bring the curtain down on a West Region season that is now into its 46th week.
The age-old rivals lock horns in the Ayrshire Cup final (7.30pm). The long running competition, now in its 127th year, was last won by Cumnock in 2010 while Talbot toasted success in 2012.
Cumnock are motivated by thoughts of a triumphant finish to their season to help atone for their recent penalty shootout defeat by Pollok in the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup final, while Talbot are hoping to make it third-time lucky after coming second best to Kilbirnie Ladeside (Ardagh Glass League Cup) and Glenafton (Scottish Junior Cup).
An epic battle is promised despite the demands of a long and arduous Junior season affecting the available personnel. Talbot boss Tommy Sloan said: “We are a bit patched up if I’m being totally honest with Gordon Pope looking doubtful at the moment while throwing James Latta straight in is a risk given he hasn’t played for a number of weeks.
“Even our attempts to try and save legs in Monday night’s league game with Largs Thistle didn’t go as well as expected because of the unavailability of Keir Milliken and Dylan Pooler through holiday commitments forcing us to field our only two remaining forward types Graham Wilson and Mark Shankland.
“Thankfully they both came through the game unscathed because this will be a stiff test against a much-improved Cumnock team who will be favourites to come out on top.”
Sloan was a notable inclusion in his side’s midfield against Largs on Monday night but he has no intention of selecting himself tonight.
He said: “Games against Cumnock mean everything to our supporters so putting out our strongest possible starting X1 means no place for me, and that’s how it should be.
“The players are up for the final and this being our last game will have them wanting to sign off with a victory.”
Expecting a searching examination of his weakened line-up is Nock gaffer John McKeown, who was keeping team news close to his chest.
He said: “To have key players missing going into Cup Final against our biggest rivals is disappointing and more so when playing last weekend would have seen us much better off in terms of numbers You can’t blame the guys for going off on holiday because we hammer home the message here that pre-season training is not to be missed and that’s due to start in only three weeks’ time so when else can they get away with their families?
“They have been hard at it for the past 50 weeks but everyone is fired up and looking forward to the Talbot game.”
Elsewhere, Petershill goalkeeper Mikey White may have played his last game for the club in their Central League Cup Final victory over Yoker Athletic on Sunday as he has signed for Queens Park, who are also keen on Rutherglen midfielder Ryan Docherty.