MacTavish Cup final preview: Newtonmore and Kingussie ready to contest season’s first trophy

Newtonmore and Kingussie contest the first silverware of the season in Saturday’s WM Donald MacTavish Cup final in Inverness.

Iain Robinson made his return from a month-long hamstring injury last weekend which boosts Newtonmore’s chances.

Until his injury, Robinson had scored 13 goals over eight matches and his manager Peter Ross said: “Robbo got a good 40 minutes over both halves on Saturday so he’s raring to go.

“He’s trained well this week, but we’ve also shown in the games he’s missed that others can score too.

“I’ve a full squad so there’s no excuses but that brings its own headaches.

“I’ve probably selected four or five different line-ups in my head already, but I’ll discuss things with assistant manager Fraser Coyle before making a final selection.

“Kingussie will be full of confidence having scored seven goals in Oban last week, but we scored four there too.

“The recent results in this fixture will leave Kingussie feeling they have something to prove but we’ll be ready.

“With our juveniles playing in a final earlier in the afternoon, it’s a big day for the club and we’ll take a big support.”

Ross relishing tough test

It’s a first final as manager for Kingussie boss Ronald Ross who said: “Both teams are in good form, so it has the makings of a great final.

“We’re both well aware of each other’s strengths so from our perspective, the focus is on what we do, and we’ll play to our strengths.

“Lee Bain was able to come on for the final 20 minutes against Oban Camanachd last Saturday and came through it fine. James Falconer and Rory MacKeachan both miss out though, unfortunately.”

Throw up is at 4.10pm and Craig Scott is the match referee. The final will also be broadcast live on BBC Alba.

Earlier in the day, Newtonmore and Skye Camanachd contest the MacTavish Juvenile Cup final at 1pm and the MacKay Cup final between Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh and Rockfield starts at 11am.

A chance for Oban to respond

In the south, the MKM Macaulay Cup has reached the quarter-final stage and Oban Camanachd will look to bounce back from last week’s heavy defeat to Kingussie when Bute visit Mossfield.

Assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: “Louie MacFarlane suffered some shoulder damage on Saturday and whilst the news isn’t as bad as first feared, he’s still looking at 2-3 weeks out.

“We’ve been managing Connor Howe’s hamstring issues all season, but it flared up again on Saturday, so he needs rest.

“Lorne Dickie has missed the last month with a muscle injury, but he might need to go on the bench as we’re light numbers-wise, but we’ll only use him if we have to.

“We’ve had some good news in that Calum MacMillan isn’t going to need an operation and he’s done a bit of running so we might see him again next month.”

New signing Kyle MacFarlane is cup-tied having already played in the competition for Oban Celtic whilst Bute’s Craig Fisher is suspended.

Aberdour welcome Kyles Athletic in the quarter-finals, whilst Lovat and Skye Camanachd contest the remaining first round tie with an 11am start.

Kinlochshiel and Fort William have a rearranged Mowi Premiership meeting at Rèaraig whilst in the Mowi National Division, Beauly meet Glasgow Mid Argyll and Inveraray play Kilmallie.

Beauly claim ’emotional’ first win

In the WCA Premier League, Skye and Lochaber meet in Portree whilst Glasgow Mid Argyll host Glenurquhart.

In the Mowi North League, the Beauly women’s team scored their first goals and recorded their first-ever competitive win, a 5-1 victory over Skye B.

Beauly formed last summer and entered the league this season.

Manager Euan Hardie said: “From the outset, we felt that fulfilling all our fixtures this year would be achievement enough.

“It was an emotional moment when the final whistle sounded, and everyone in the squad played their part in a good win.” Carly MacIver and Elena Kelleher both scored twice for Beauly and Laura Houston the other whilst Bethany Macintosh countered for Skye.

[Source: Press and Journal]