Mighty 'More target Macaulay Cup glory
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
NEWTONMORE can move one step closer to winning a double when they meet Kyles Athletic in the final of the Artemis MacAulay Cup at Oban’s Mossfield Park.
’More have all but wrapped up the Orion Group Premiership title, so this clash gives them their final chance this season to win a cup competition.
It’s a repeat of last year’s final when Kyles won 4-3, with Roddy MacDonald’s second goal in the 72nd minute proving to be the winner.
It allowed his side to take the trophy back to Tighnabruaich for the second time in three years, the 2011 win also being after a single goal victory over ’More.
Newtonmore’s cause was not helped last year when full centre Jamie Robinson was sent off. The loss of their influential skipper proved a difficult obstacle for them to overcome.
’More will be looking to take this trophy back to their village for a 10th time, with their last MacAulay Cup success being in 1986 when they emerged 4-2 winners over Kyles.
In recent years they have been in the final three times, losing 3-0 to Inveraray in 2008 followed by losses to Kyles in 2011 and 2013.
Kyles’ record in this tournament is slightly better than Newtonmore’s, with 11 triumphs putting them second in the list of winners behind Kingussie, who have 23 MacAulay Cup victories to their name.
To reach the final of this national tournament, which is zoned right up to the final, Newtonmore beat Kilmallie4-0 in the first round before going on to beat Badenoch rivals Kingussie 4-1. In the North area semi-final, ’More ran out 3-1 winners over Lovat.
Kyles’ passage in the South area of the draw began with 5-1 win at Inveraray, which preceded a 3-0 victory over Glasgow Mid Argyll.
This paved the way for a semi-final clash with Oban Camanachd, who were defeated 3-0 at Mossfield Park.
The form book points to a Newtonmore win.
In league meetings this season, ’More took all four points, winning 5-1 at The Eilean in early March followed by a 1-0 win at Tighnabruaich 11 weeks later.
However, their last meeting in May saw Kyles eliminate ’More from the Camanachd Cup, with Colin MacDonald netting a last minute winner at Tighnabruiach to give his side a 2-1 victory.
Lovat and Kingussie complete their Orion Group Premiership programme at Balgate and if Lovat take anything less than both points from this encounter, Newtonmore will become champions.
Lovat sit second in the table on goal difference over Glenurquhart and only defeat by more than four goals would see this situation reversed.
For Kings, a win would almost guarantee a fourth place finish, although Kyles could still match their final points tally.
There is no doubting the top match in the Marine Harvest National Division will be taking place at An Aird, where Fort William and Oban Camanachd face up to each other for the first time this season.
Whilst Oban go into this fixture as leaders, this would change if Fort emerge victorious.
Fort go into this crucial fixture on the back of some good performances and will be tipped to take the points on offer, although Oban will be boosted by their vital 3-2 victory over Kilmallie on the other side of Loch Linnhe last Saturday.
At Castle Leod, Caberfeidh will be targeting a league double over Glasgow Mid Argyll.
In the sole North Division One fixture, champions Skye look a good bet to keep their 100 per cent record intact at Cannich in what will be the last fixture of the season for Strathglass.
