Kings and Skye to meet in rematch

Holders Kingussie will play Skye Camanachd in a repeat of last year’s final following the cottages.com MacTavish Cup semi-finals draw.

James Falconer’s goal was all that separated the sides in the 2023 final and Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “It’s a match between the top two teams in the league at the moment so I’m happy to have home advantage.

“It certainly won’t be easy as Skye have been racking up good results this season.

“There are no easy games at this stage and we all have important league and cup games to play before then.”

Skye manager Willie MacDonald said: “You have to beat the big teams to win the trophy, so we’ll take it. We’ve not played Kingussie yet this season and we are having a bit of an injury crisis at the moment but, with the tie three weeks away, hopefully some of the injured boys will be back before the semi-final comes along.”

With redevelopment work continuing at the Bught Park, Inverness, this year’s final takes place at The Eilan and, with Fort William hosting Newtonmore in the other semi-final, the draw throws up the prospect of a Badenoch derby in the final on Newtonmore’s home pitch.

Fort William co-manager Alan Knox hopes his side can throw a spanner in the works but is also realistic. He said: “We are the only side from outwith the Mowi Premiership in the semifinal draw so it was always going to be difficult, whoever we got.

“We are very happy to have home advantage though.”

Newtonmore co-manager Norman MacArthur added: “We played Fort William in a pre-season game at An Aird, and it finished a goalless draw. Our preseason didn’t go as we’d have hoped which contributed to our poor start to the season, but we have put a run of wins together since then.

“I watched some of Fort William’s win at Kilmallie last weekend and Victor Smith’s return to the side certainly made a big difference to the Fort. Victor has ability, no doubt about it.”

The MacTavish semi-final ties are scheduled for Saturday May 18.

REUNITED: James Falconer celebrates against Skye in the final last year.