Must-win game for Lovat
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LOVAT will walk a relegation tight rope tomorrow as they bid for maximum points in their penultimate match in the this season’s Scottish Hydro Premier Division.
They make the long journey south to Dalmally to play Glenorchy — a club already relegated, but dangerous opponents nevertheless and for the Balgate side maximum points is order of the day.
Joint team boss James Gallagher is under no illusions about how big tomorrow’s game is for his side.
"Simply put, it is a must-win game for us," he said. "We cannot rely on others doing us a favour, we have to take matters into our own hands and go all out for full points."
On paper, Lovat should win with Glenorchy yet to register a point from 16 games and having scored just four league goals all season.
Lovat have beaten them twice already this season, although they needed a replay before progressing past Glenorchy in the Camanachd Cup.
Gallagher and his managerial colleague John MacRitchie hope to name an unchanged side and they were boosted last weekend when defender Drew Howie came on as a late substitute after missing most of the season with a knee injury.
With wet weather forecast, there will be a question mark about Glenorchy’s Mart pitch and as the match has already been twice postponed because of waterlogging, the Camanachd Association may force the tie to be played at a neutral venue.
The other two matches in the Premier Division, where Oban Camanachd take on Kilmallie and Kyles Athletic face Inveraray will also impact , not only on the relegation issue, but also on the destination of the title.
League leaders Kyles have lost just once this season and that was against Inveraray in the Camanachd Cup. They will not want a repeat of that this weekend, but Inveraray are battling for their Premier Division survival.
Oban also need to take maximum points from Kilmallie, who currently sit just outside the relegation dogfight.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Charleston Academy in midweek when they were beaten 2-0 by Kingussie High School in the final of the Wade Cup.
The competition for school shinty’s senior trophy was run along the lines of a round-robin event with six teams taking part including Dingwall Academy and Glenurquhart High School.
Dingwall and Inverkeithing were eliminated in the first round of matches leaving a semi-final line-up of Glenurquhart versus Kingussie and Charleston against Lochaber High School.
Lochaber, who have dominated school shinty for the past few years, were knocked out after extra-time by Charleston as they progressed into a final with Kingussie.
Despite a spirited performance, a tiring Charleston’s luck deserted them as they hit the woodwork three times in losing to Kingussie.
Laura Gallagher, from Kiltarlity, was Charleston’s top player scoring in every round except the final.
