Glen looking to overcome Cabers ahead of big games next month
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GLENURQUHART’S MacTavish Cup triumph over Caberfeidh last Saturday could help to set the club up for some important fixtures next month that will go a long way to decide their success or failure this season.
Tomorrow the Glen open their campaign in the Artemis Macaulay Cup away to National League side Fort William and then will play two Premiership games before stepping out against Newtonmore in the semi-final of the MacTavish Cup.
The fact that the first of the two league matches is at home to Aird rivals and current league leaders Lovat only adds spice to what is always an eagerly awaited derby clash.
But for team bosses Dave Menzies and Billy MacLean the focus is fully on tomorrow’s tie against a Fort William side revitalised under the guidance of former players Victor Smith and Adam Robertson.
The Glen have fond memories of winning the Macaulay Cup in 2012, but the expected lift from winning that first major trophy failed to materialise with the club experiencing a mediocre league campaign last year and a quarter-final exit in the Camanachd Cup at the hands of Fort William, who were later relegated.
So it will be a grimly determined Glenurquhart who will make the trip down the Great Glen to An Aird, taking absolutely nothing for granted and paying their hosts the greatest of respect, despite the Glen’s higher league status.
They will be without midfielder Ally MacKintosh and James MacPherson is doubtful as he recovers from a hamstring injury, while Andy Corrigan is unlikely to be risked as he prepares for a comeback from a serious hand injury sustained in the opening match of the season.
A win for the Glen would set up the exciting prospect of a semi-final clash with Lovat, who face Kinlochshiel at Balgate tomorrow.
Home advantage should tip this one in Lovat’s favour with ‘Shiel likely to be without Finlay MacRae, last Saturday’s MacTavish Cup hero who played through the pain barrier before snatching a dramatic winner against Kingussie in the dying minutes.
This weekend’s match comes hot on the heels of a tremendous tussle between the two in the league, which Lovat won 4-2, but were put under constant pressure by the Kirkton side.
The two are also scheduled to meet in the RBS MacTavish Cup semi-final next month, so fans of both clubs should be in for a treat in the coming weeks.
There is the prospect of a Badenoch derby as well with Newtonmore and Kingussie poised to face each other if they can overcome Kilmallie and Lochaber respectively in tomorrow’s other Macaulay Cup ties.
‘More, who hope to welcome back Norman Campbell and Cameron Binnie, should be too strong for a the Corpach side.
Meanwhile, Inverness are in Lochcarron hoping to book their place in the last four of the RBS MacTavish Cup Plate competition where they would face Skye. Mark Sproule is suspended for the city club and will miss out on facing his former team-mates.
Lochcarron have endured a miserable start to the season and astonishingly as week nine of the new season approaches, they have not played a single league match.
Defeats in the MacTavish Cup and last Saturday’s shock home loss in the Balliemore by Aberdeen University has rocked a club that not so long ago were a regular in the top flight.
Elsewhere, Strathglass manager Calum Duff will be looking for a reaction from his players after their sorry performance in last weekend’s 7-0 humiliating MacTavish Cup Plate defeat by Fort William.
The Strath face Beauly reserves, who have recovered from a slow start to the season to record wins over Inverness and Kingussie’s second string.
Strathglass want to be in the mix for promotion and so cannot afford to slip-up against their Aird neighbours.
