Double injury blow for pacesetters Kingussie

Forwards Falconer and Genini miss Lochaber match

Kingussie’s 19- year- old attacker James Falconer is out for three to six weeks with shoulder ligament damage as hi s team attempts to remain surprise Marine Harvest Premiership leaders.

Fellow frontman Savio Genini, 20, will also miss tomorrow’s match against Lochaber at Spean Bridge and is likely to be sidelined for threeweekswithahamstring problem.

Falconer, a 16-year-old schoolboy when he scored i n K i n g u s s i e ’ s 2014 Camanachd Cup final triumph, sustained the injury at Kinlochshiel last weekend and a medical check has confirmed ligament trouble.

Manager Dallas Young said: “James hasn’t missed a single training session and has started the season in outstanding form. We’ll miss his drive and energy.

“Savio has been having hamstring trouble for weeksbut it didn’t stophim playing. Now, however, it’s reached the stagewhere he needs to rest. We haveMartin Dallas and Chris Hollysong, both of whom came on last week, and one or the other ofthemwill get a start at Spean.”

Lochaber, fielding a very young side this year, have not picked up a point yet but manager Ally Ferguson takes heart from a plucky performance at Drumnadrochit last week as Shaun Nicolson and company bid for their first win. Theyhave leaked11 goals in two league games and need to tighten up if they are to trouble Kingussie.

Unbeaten Kinlochshiel have full back JohnMacrae back from suspension for their visit to Glasgow Mid Argyll. In addition, they are reinforced by brothers Donald and Alastair Nixon, who missed the win over Kingussie with a family wedding.

Mid Argyll, encouraged by picking up their first point lastweek, are likely to be without skipper Brian Slattery, the Irishman having sustained a foot injury.

Fort William ace Arran Macphee has got the allclear following a scan after fearing a recurrence of the cruciate injury which sidelined him for 18 months.

Manager Victor Smith said: “Arran is vastly relieved. The injury has proved to be minor and the lad can carry on playing.”

Sean Cruickshank and Bryan Simpson also return forFort’sMacTavishCuptie with holders Newtonmore at An Aird. Andy Mackintosh remains suspended for More.

Fort’s second string entertain Caithness in the Strathdearn Cup, while Kyles Athletic head for Bute in the Macaulay Cup first round. Former Camanachd Association president Ken Thomson is taking shinty’s longest strip sponsor deal in to its 31st season.

The former Strathglass player, who also served as a referee, was so pleased that the Cannichmenwon their first major trophy, the Balliemore Cup, in 1986 that later the same year he donated a strip in thename of his finance business.

Thomson has continued the sponsorship connection since, with the new strip bearing the logo of Thai Dining, an Inverness restaurant he owns with his wife, Tan.

Club president Donald Fraser said:“We’reproudto be part of this recordbreaking sponsorship whereby Ken has bought our strip for 31 years.

“He’s shown tremendous commitment to our cause and we’re enormously grateful.”

Thomson said: “I’m very happy to put something back to my local community in this way.

“I hope I can carry on the sponsorship for years to come.”

Meanwhile, National Division leaders Skye will field 19-year-old RyanMorrison in goal against Beauly at Portree.

Co- manager Willie Cowie said: “Regular keeper Iain Macleod has a knuckle injury and will be out for two weeks but Ryan has excellent potential.”

Teenage forward Will Cowie returns from injury for the islanders but Neil MacVicar is still out with a thumb fracture.

Former Fort William player PadraigMacNeil is a useful addition to the Inverness attack and faces Strathglass at Cannich, while Caberfeidh, unbeaten in the league, play host toObanCeltic, chasing their first point.

James Falconer: Has been in outstanding form