Brothers planning each other's downfall
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FOR 90 minutes tomorrow brotherly love will be set aside when Inverness face Glenurquhart in a North Division One clash at Bught Park.
In opposing dugouts will be the MacLeod brothers from Drumnadrochit, with Allan, who is at the helm of Inverness, plotting the downfall of his brother Iain, currently player/manager of Glenurquhart’s reserve side.
Sibling rivalry will ensure that there is no quarter asked or given tomorrow, but away from the heat of the battle the pair are best of friends.
Although their early shinty careers were spent with their native Glenurquhart, their senior careers came together when they joined arch-rivals Strathglass. Alan went onto to gain a Scotland under-21 cap, while Iain became the mainstay of a strong Cannich midfield.
"We are very close really and we often talk about our upcoming games on a Saturday morning," said Alan.
"But I don’t think that will be happening tomorrow, although once its all over we will get together to chat about the game and Saturday’s results.
"It is a local derby and those matches are always a wee bit special. For me, trying to put one over my older brother, it becomes ever more special."
Inverness have struggled to find the right blend so far this season, but a narrow defeat to National League side Kilmallie in the MacTavish Cup and a 5-2 win over Kilmory in the Balliemore Cup has boosted confidence.
"It has been a bit of a struggle to get the same team on the park every Saturday but occasionally we get a glimpse of the potential in the side and hopefully tomorrow I will be looking at more or less my strongest line-up," said Alan.
The return of Connor Golabek from suspension has strengthened the side, while Innes Simpson is available after missing the Kilmory match. Alan’s only doubt is around Adam MacMaster, who is busy with university course work.
Meanwhile, the RBS MacTavish Cup has reached the quarter-final stage and tomorrow also sees the introduction of a plate competition for early exit teams.
There is just one all-Premiership tie with the other three contests pairing teams from the National Division with sides from the top league.
Cup holders Lovat continue the defence of the trophy with an away match against Kilmallie at Canal Parks. Lovat will be affording the Canalsiders their fullest respect with manager Alan MacRae likely to name his strongest line-up.
Kilmallie, one of the favourites to win the newly-introduced Marine Harvest National Division, showed up well in a pre-season friendly at Balgate holding a lead over the Kiltarlity side going into the final quarter of the match, before going down to a 6-2 defeat.
If Kilmallie could be something of a banana skin for Lovat, the same hazard faces Glenurquhart when they meet Caberfeidh at Blairbeg.
Also faring well in the new league, the Strathpeffer side warmed up for tomorrow’s joust with an 8-1 triumph against Bute.
The Sky Blues are a resilient outfit and have shrugged off the loss of top scorer Kevin Bartlett to Lovat. Teenager Craig Morrison looks a real find and his pace and his ability to snaffle the half chance could trouble the Glen defence.
The ace in the pack for Caberfeidh is undoubtedly the powerful Ally MacLennan, who is playing in a more advanced role this season, but is also adept in the midfield area, or even defence.
With their higher league status and home advantage, the Glen will be favourites to progress for a semi-final clash with either Newtonmore or Beauly, who face each other at the Eilan.
Two weeks ago the outcome looked a certainty with Beauly struggling in the league, while ‘More were beginning to build momentum after a slow start to the season.
But the dynamics changed slightly last Saturday with ‘More suffering a rare defeat and Beauly bolstered their confidence with a 5-0 defeat of Glenorchy.
While Newtonmore will make light of the defeat by Lovat, their ever-growing injury is not so easily dismissed. Their biggest concern will be international defender Norman Campbell, but Evan Menzies and Andy MacKintosh are also on the treatment table.
Beauly welcome back their captain Conor Cormack from suspension and hope to be at full strength. Newtonmore, however, remain odds-on favourites as they aim to add to their record number of wins in the competition.
In the final match, Kinlochshiel face Kingussie with the ‘Shiel support hoping that their Kirkton pitch, which is vulnerable to the elements, will pass an inspection tomorrow morning.
With home advantage Kinlochshiel will be quietly confident of taking their place in the last four where they would face the winner of the Kilmallie versus Lovat clash.
In the plate competition, Strathglass face Fort William at Cannich and Skye entertain Lochaber in Portree. The winners will be through to the final, which is scheduled to take place at Bught Park prior to the main event on Saturday 14th June.
