The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Derby tie headlines second round of Camanachd Cup
Tomorrow is one of the biggest days on the shinty calendar as the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup second round brings together the tournament’s top 16 sides.
Holders Kingussie and record-winners Newtonmore have raised the famous trophy more than any other club, yet one of them will exit the competition at the Dell this weekend in what will be the second of three Badenoch derbies over a four-week period.
Kingussie won 4-1 in their cottages.com MacTavish semi-final at the Eilan a fortnight ago but Newtonmore co-manager Norman MacArthur dismisses any relevance that has to tomorrow’s tie.
He said: “Our last game against Kingussie could have gone either way but whatever has gone on before in these games means nothing.
“It will be 100 miles-anhour and it will be about whoever can take their chances mixed with a little bit of luck on the day.
“It doesn’t matter how many times we play each other; a Camanachd Cup game will always have added importance.
“It would be great to get a result.”
Kingussie boss Iain Borthwick also recognises the significance of the tie.
He said: “I can’t wait for Saturday. The Camanachd Cup final is shinty’s end of the season finale and everyone in the shinty family wants to be involved in it.
“The MacTavish and Macaulay finals come earlier in the season and the league doesn’t always go on, but the Camanachd Cup final stretches your season and maintains interest right until the very end.”
Tomorrow’s game comes too soon for Kingussie’s Roddy Young who is still awaiting a scan on his knee while Alexander Michie has been receiving physio on a hamstring problem.
Newtonmore will give skipper Conor Jones every chance to prove his fitness after he missed last Saturday’s win over Beauly through illness.
Oban Camanachd will make changes against Aberdour, who play two divisions below.
Boss Gareth Evans said: “Daniel Sloss and Malcolm Clark are carrying injuries so we will leave them out and take the opportunity to give a couple of our younger
boys some first team action instead.
“The likes of Alexander MacDonald have earned that. Daniel MacCuish completes his suspension, while David Lafferty has picked up a knee injury so we’ll miss him for a few weeks.”
Lovat face Fort William at Balgate, with Lorne MacKay back in full
training while Graeme MacMillan returned to training this week.
Skye Camanachd and Caberfeidh clash in Portree. Skye have keeper Murphy Henderson and wing centre Ally MacLeod both available again.
Kinlochshiel meet Kilmallie at Rèaraig, but they will be without Oliver MacRae, who suffered a
broken thumb in last week’s draw with Oban Camanachd.
Glasgow Mid Argyll have saved their best form for the cup competitions and the Scottish Sea Farms Glasgow Celtic Society Challenge Cup finalists welcome Oban Celtic to Peterson Park. GMA will start as favourites against a Celtic side which has had
no games for seven weeks.
Lochaber take on Beauly at Spean Bridge and both sides can be pleased with their starts to the season.
Kyles Athletic have their designated free Saturday so their tie against Bute has been put back a week. Kyles hope this will give injured players, like Will Cowie and Innes MacDonald, added recovery time.