The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Kings wait to find out MacTavish tie
Holders Kingussie have been made to wait to learn their opponents following the cottages.com MacTavish Cup quarterfinal draw.
The Kings have been paired with the winners from the only remaining first round tie between Caberfeidh and Kinlochshiel, which was abandoned last weekend when referee Steven MacLachlan took unwell and required life-saving medical attention.
Cabers and Shiel play today, with MacLachlan, who is recovering well, hoping to attend. The winners host Kingussie a week later.
Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “That’s a difficult tie, whoever we face. It’s an away tie meaning we now have a run of six consecutive away games starting against Skye in the league (today).
“We don’t play at The Dell until Saturday May 18, ironically against Skye, again in the league.
“Hopefully, by the time the quarter-final tie comes around, we’ll have two or three of our injured players back with Savio Genini, Thomas Borthwick and maybe even Liam Borthwick having a chance of taking part.”
Kinlochshiel manager Willie MacRae said: “We have enough on our plate thinking about getting by Caberfeidh, but whoever gets through will be delighted to have home advantage against a team like Kingussie rather than face them away or even at a neutral venue.”
Record winners Newtonmore were drawn against Mowi National Division side Kilmallie at the Canal Park.
More co-manager Norman MacArthur said: “Kilmallie manager Mark MacPherson is fielding a young side who are coming together nicely. We last played them a couple of years ago, when we had two close games, but I think they have changed quite a bit from then.”
Mark MacPherson said: “We know this will be a difficult tie but we are at home, there will be a big crowd behind us and it will be a good chance for us to gauge the progress we have made this year.
“We played Premiership opposition in Glenurquhart in the last round, but we’d already matched the Glen a couple of times the year before. This one will be much harder. We are underdogs, but we can give anyone a game at Canal Park.”
The 2023 runners-up Skye Camanachd enjoyed a first-round bye and now play Inverness, the only regional league side still in the tournament, at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye manager Willie MacDonald said: “We are more than happy to be at home. It means we have a run of home matches this month against Kingussie and Lochaber before Inverness, and then Kyles Athletic the week after and follow that up at home to Kinlochshiel in the Macaulay in early May.”
At least one side from outwith shinty’s top flight will reach the semi-final stage as Fort William play Beauly at An Aird.
Fort William co-manager Alan Knox said: “We’re excited to welcome Beauly for what will be the first meeting between the sides this season. We are aware they are a good side, scoring lots of goals, but we will do our preparation as normal and it’s a good opportunity to reach a semi-final.”
The draw was conducted by Maisie Ewing and Taylor Cameron, two attendees at a Camanachd Association girls camp which took place in Kirkhill, along with Heather Grant, business development manager for cottages.com, and the quarter-final ties take place on Saturday, April 20.
The cottages.com MacTavish Cup final will be played at The Eilan, Newtonmore, on June 8.