Lovat and Glen to contest MacTavish Cup final
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THE villages of Drumnadrochit and Kiltarlity look set to be deserted on Saturday 15th June as supporters of Glenurquhart and Lovat flock to Bught Park to support their teams as they contest this year’s Co-operative MacTavish Cup final.
Saturday’s semi-final wins for the clubs comes as a timely shot in the arm to shinty in the Inverness area, which has suffered in comparison to the strongholds of Badenoch and Lochaber over the years.
It will be the first time since this trophy was introduced in 1898 that the pair will have met in the final and the first time in living memory that either Kingussie or Newtonmore have not appeared in the final.
While Lovat enjoyed a hard fought 2-1 triumph over Kilmallie, it was Glenurquhart’s stunning victory by a similar scoreline against holders Newtonmore that grabbed the headlines.
An ecstatic Glenurquhart co-manager Fraser MacKenzie hailed the efforts of the players as they defied the odds to reach the final.
"The players are on cloud nine, but they fully deserved the win," he said. "To come to Newtonmore and beat the holders on their own pitch in a semi-final is a fantastic achievement.
"Drew (MacNeil, Glen co-manager) and I told the guys to believe in themselves and that’s exactly what they did. They matched Newtonmore not only physically, but also in fitness and skill levels".
Looking ahead to the final against Lovat, MacKenzie insists there is huge excitement in the squad, who are already eagerly anticipating next month’s contest.
"We played Lovat recently in the MacAulay and although we lost 4-2, I felt the scoreline was a wee bit harsh on us," he said. "I think it is going to be a fantastic occasion playing at the Bught in front of a big crowd."
On Saturday, Glenurquhart were never behind and after a first half where the honours were just about even, the young Glen side emerged after the interval in determined mood and on the hour mark David Smart fired them ahead.
Newtonmore’s response was almost immediate with Glen MacKintosh engineering the equaliser in the 73rd minute.
In the past that would have prefaced an onslaught by ‘More, but it was the Glen who looked more likely to add to their score and with just 13 minutes remaining teenager Ewan Brady finished off a sweeping move to beat goalkeeper Mike Ritchie from the edge of the penalty area.
The Glen defence came under enormous pressure as Newtonmore desperately tried to defend the trophy, but they could not find the goal that would have taken the match into extra-time.
Lovat travelled to Kilmallie uneasily wearing the mantle of favourites and the unbeaten Kiltarlity side duly produced a below par performance before edging the tie 2-1.
"We weren’t at our best," said relieved Lovat manager Allan MacRae.
"But semi-finals are notoriously difficult and the conditions were horrendous, so we have to be pleased.
"Getting to the final of the MacTavish is a terrific achievement and playing Glenurquhart just adds to it.
"I thought we deserved the victory and I was impressed with the defence, who withstood some strong Kilmallie pressure in the second half. It is a difficult venue and they are a side with a good cup tradition."
With wind-driven rain sweeping the pitch, Lovat got the ideal start when Lorne MacKay converted from close range in the fourth minute.
Lovat enjoyed the bulk of possession throughout the first half and three minutes before the interval Owen Ferguson doubled their advantage.
Kilmallie showed some resolve after the break to take the match to their Premiership opponents and came close to scoring on several occasions before Liam MacDonald finally made the breakthrough in the 85th minute.
Despite an anxious final five minutes for Lovat, they held out to set up a final clash with arch rivals Glenurquhart.
In other matches, Kinlochshiel boosted their Premiership survival hopes courtesy of a narrow 3-2 win over Lochaber at Spean Bridge in the only Orion Premiership match to go ahead.
The matches involving Fort William were cancelled as a mark of respect for Drew Ferguson, who tragically died in midweek.
In the Marine Harvest leagues, Beauly overcame Skye 3-0 at Braeview to establish a two-point lead at the top of North Division One with Jack MacDonald, Marc MacLachlan and Ross Forbes all on target.
Strathglass produced their first league win of the season with a spirited 2-1 win over Inverness at Cannich. The Strath goals came from veterans Gary Reid and Innes Simpson with Ewan MacKinnon replying for the Bught Park outfit.
In the Camanachd Cup, Caberfeidh and Oban Celtic will have to do it all over again after their first round tie at Strathpeffer ended goal-less. Caberfeidh’s Scott Maclean and Scott Burnett, of Celtic, were both red carded.
Meanwhile, Beauly and Glenurquhart join Lovat in the last eight of the Strathdearn Cup, but Strathglass crashed out after losing 3-0 at home to Kinlochshiel.
OPPONENTS of the Camanachd Association’s controversial league reorganisation proposals failed to get the required 75 per cent support needed to overturn the plan at a meeting in Fort William on Friday evening.
Forty four votes were cast with 22 supporting Skye’s motion to stop the changes with the association receiving 18 votes. There were four abstentions.
The plans, which will see the Premiership reduced to eight teams and a new eight-team National Division One set-up, will now be introduced next season.
