Shinty rivals set to lock horns

THE traditional New Year Lovat Cup shinty challenge is scheduled to take place at Braeview Park on Friday where Beauly will take to the park as underdogs for their annual clash with local rivals Lovat.

Both teams have commenced pre-season training ahead of this eagerly-awaited derby and with local pride very much in the minds of both camps, will have prepared well for the 111th playing of the Lovat Cup.

When the sides faced up to each other 12 months ago, Lovat cruised to a 4-1 win to erase the memory of Beauly’s shock 2-1 victory in 2013, the first time since 2007 that the Green and Whites had emerged victorious.

Lovat’s under-21 international striker Greg Matheson, like he did in four previous Lovat Cup duels, played a big part by netting twice, claiming his third double in four Lovat Cup duels since 2011 to take his personal Lovat Cup goal tally to seven.

Also on target for a rampant Lovat last time around were Ryan Ferguson and another prolific internationalist Kevin Bartlett. Beauly’s sole response came through Calum Morrison.

Lovat will again go in to this encounter as firm favourites, having finished runners-up in the Orion Group Premiership to champions Newtonmore for a second successive season, whilst also retaining the MacTavish Cup after a 5-1 demolition of Glenurquhart in June.

Beauly, operating a division below Lovat, finished a credible fourth in the reconstituted National Division and when the new season gets under way in March, will be hoping to mount a serious challenge for promotion to the Premiership.

In such derby affairs, the form book cannot be taken too seriously and Beauly with home advantage will be hoping that they can rise to the occasion like they did the last time this fixture was played at Braeview Park and upset the odds by defeating a strong Lovat side packed with international players.

Casting aside Lovat’s storming 4-1 success last year, only three of the Lovat Cup derbies since 2000 have finished with more than one goal separating the teams with the biggest margin of victory being in 2001 and 2007 when Beauly won by 2-0 scorelines on both occasions, with Lovat scoring a 3-1 triumph in 2012.

In this period, Lovat have won five times – in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014 with Beauly winning it in 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2013.

Beauly as holders retained the trophy after drawn affairs in 2003 and 2006 whilst Lovat kept possession of the trophy after finishing all square in 2000 and 2011. With the attention and attendance this fixture attracts, every effort is made to get the match underway and postponements this century have been necessary only twice, in 2002 and 2010.

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