Glen reserves target trophy success
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GLENURQUHART’S recent capture of the MacAulay Cup ended a 125-year wait for a senior trophy and tomorrow the club’s reserve team intend to create their own piece of history by lifting the Sir William Sutherland Cup for only the second time.
It was 1963 the last time the national junior trophy resided in the Blairbeg trophy cabinet, while the class of 2012 aim to go one better than their 2010 counterparts, who lost 4-1 in the final to Aird rivals Lovat.
Several players involved two years ago will be in the Glen squad tomorrow when they take the field at Beauly’s Braeview Park and will be determined to take their chance second time around.
But the background to the final is also one about getting a second chance after Newtonmore won the original final in July only to subsequently stripped of the trophy after it emerged they had fielded and ineligible player not only in the final, but also in the semi-final where they defeated Glenurquhart 4-1.
The Glen go into tomorrow’s match as narrow favourites by virtue of their higher league position, but the only league match between the sides ended in a 3-3 draw.
Glen manager Iain MacLeod has worked well with his squad and they have picked up come notable scalps in the league, including a 2-1 defeat of Newtonmore.
The side have prepared well for the final beating Glengarry 4-0 in a recent league match and following that up with a 5-1 friendly win over Inverness.
Manager MacLeod will be looking towards Drew Maclennan as a goalscoring threat, while Stuart MacKintosh’s understudy Cameron MacLennan has emerged as a real goalkeeping prospect.
Kingussie have been attempting to get veteran Rory Fraser’s suspension lifted by arguing that his availability should be based on the circumstances of the original final when he was free to play.
The Badenoch side will also relish their second chance after losing 5-4 to Newtonmore in the first final and will be keen to take the opportunity to retain the trophy they won in Aberdeen last year.
