How Caley Thistle duo helped Brora Rangers win the Breedon Highland League title

Steven Mackay said Caley Thistle duo Shae Keogh and Sam Thompson did a “phenomenal job” to help his Brora Rangers side retain their Breedon Highland League title.

The 19-year-olds were on loan with the Cattachs last term and their high levels of performances no doubt would have had a bearing on Inverness opting to hand the pair fresh one-year deals for the League One winners.

Their team-mate Ben Corner was similarly impressive on loan with Conor Gethins’ Clachnacuddin in the Highland League, and he was also given a renewed contract for 2026-2027.

With Caley Thistle now back in the Championship after a two-year absence, the hope for the trio is they can make the best of their opportunity of now being considered first team players.

‘It’s the best example of how a loan deal can work for both parties’

Mackay, who has guided Brora to back-to-back HFL crowns and four overall since 2020, told The Press and Journal Keogh and Thompson deserve credit for the way they approached their loan stints in Sutherland.

He said: “It’s not easy to break into the Brora Rangers team and hold down a regular place, but Shae and Sam did that pretty much from day one.

“They both came to Brora as young boys and I feel like they left as young men.

“They grew up very quickly and settled into the team very well.

“It’s the best example of how a loan deal can work for both parties.

“They did a phenomenal job for our football club, and they return to Inverness as better players in my opinion and they have been rewarded with new contracts.

“I can’t speak highly enough of both players. Their attitudes were first class.

“They were always willing to learn and they absorbed everything.”

And Mackay, who signed ex-Inverness defender Sam Nixon on a three-year contract last week, detailed what each player added to his winning side.

He added: “Sam did a phenomenal job in the middle of the park.

“He scored some important goals for us, none more so than the one away to Clach which set us on our way to an important win.

“Shae played out of position more or less for the whole season. He’s not a natural right-back, but we had a gap in that area.

“Shae can play as a 10 or on the right, which is more of his natural position, but he made the right-back position his own as if he’d played there for years.

“I think Sam and Shae particularly enjoyed the big, crunch games.

“I was delighted with their contributions for us last season and I look forward to monitoring their careers. Hopefully they can get an opportunity with Caley Thistle.”

Trio will aim to catch manager’s eye

When the news of the Inverness trio earning fresh deals was confirmed last week, the club’s chief executive Charlie Christie said: “Shae and Sam benefited greatly by going out on loan to Highland League champions Brora last season as did Ben with his loan spell at Clachnacuddin.

“We now need them to hit the ground running at pre-season and force their way into the manager’s plans going forward.”

[Source: Press and Journal]