HIS Sutherland Cup draw

The Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup draw took place in Inverness on Monday February 3.

Garry Mackintosh from sponsors HIS drew the home teams with Camanachd Association president Keith Loades pulling the away sides.

Holders Lochside Rovers were one of eight teams given a bye into a 16team second round. Gareth Evans, beginning his second spell in charge at Lochside Rovers, said: ‘It’s a bonus to get an opening round bye and all you can ask for after that is a home tie and we have that and we’ll see who comes through from the tie between Glenurquhart and Lochaber. We are not looking any further forward than that though but it is a plus that Kingussie, Newtonmore and Fort William are in the other half of the draw.’

The tie of the round is the derby meeting between Kingussie and Newtonmore second teams at the Dell.

There is also a west coast derby as the Kinlochshiel colts host the Skye colts whilst Glenorchy were given a trip to play Lewis Camanachd.

The Fort William and Kilmallie seconds both have home advantage against Strathspey Camanachd and the Inveraray seconds respectively.

First round Saturday April 11

Glenurquhart v Lochaber Kinlochshiel v Skye Camanachd Kyles Athletic v Kilmory Lewis Camanachd v Glenorchy Kingussie v Newtonmore Inverness v Caberfeidh Kilmallie v Inveraray

Fort William v Strathspey Camanachd

Byes

Boleskine SCOTS Camanachd Lochside Rovers Glasgow Mid Argyll Strathglass Lovat

Aberdeen University Beauly

Second round Saturday May 23

Aberdeen University v Kingussie/ Newtonmore

Glasgow Mid Argyll v Beauly Lochside Rovers v Glenurquhart/ Lochaber

Strathglass v Lovat

Kyles Athletic/Kilmory v Lewis Camanachd/Glenorchy Kilmallie/Inveraray v Kinlochshiel/Skye Camanachd Boleskine v Fort William/ Strathspey Camanachd SCOTS Camanachd v Inverness/ Caberfeidh

Garry Mackintosh from HIS said: ‘We are delighted to sign this three-year partnership with the Camanachd Association, with an option to extend for a fourth year. Shinty is vital to so many of the communities that Highland Industrial Supplies operates in and we are looking forward to developing our partnership over the coming years.’

Camanachd Association president Keith Loades added: ‘This year’s draw has paired together some great teams and there is little doubt that this, the 97th playing of the Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup, will prove as entertaining and dynamic as it has done in previous years. I wish everyone involved the very best.’

Camanachd Association chief executive officer Derek Keir added: ‘We are delighted to continue our partnership with Highland Industrial Supplies. The commitment they have shown to supporting shinty helps the Camanachd Association and our member clubs to reach people in some of the most isolated communities in Scotland. The Camanachd Association endeavours to work with businesses who operate and provide jobs for shinty communities and in signing off this partnership we can deliver on this objective. We are all very excited for what is to come and we are eagerly anticipating the start of one of our furthest reaching national competitions - the Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup.’

The 2020 HIS Sutherland Cup Final is scheduled to take place at Blairbeg on Saturday August 29.