Strathglass shatter 11 year wait to lift trophy in shinty derby win over Glenurquhart
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Strathglass ended an 11-year wait to lift the Macdonald Cup as they came from behind to defeat Glenurquhart 4–2.
The Cannich outfit came from 1–0 behind at half time to launch a second half blitz against the Drumnadrochit club to lift the trophy for the first time in over a decade.
Now they hope they can take last weekend’s famous victory into the regional league season which starts on Saturday with a home match against Caberfeidh.
The league format has switched this season from the Premiership and National Division to regional divisions of six teams to ensure games can be played.
Strathglass, who played in the second tier National Division before the pandemic, also find themselves in a group with Premiership champions Kingussie, and top flight heavyweights Lovat and Newtonmore.
Beauly are the only other National Division team in the group.
While seeing this season as a learning experience, manager Allan MacLeod says he is hopeful his squad can use last weekend’s Macdonald Cup success as inspiration to achieve some positive results.
“All the games in our league will be exceptionally tough as we have been drawn in a league with four Premiership teams,” he said.
“However, we will be approaching all the games as a learning curve.
“At the end of the day, in every game we will be the underdogs.
“We are going to go out, enjoy our shinty and learn from it.”
MacLeod says he was delighted with how his young team came from behind to defeat Glenurquhart in a contest where they have came off second best for a number of years.
“It was a big occasion to win the trophy against our arch rivals,” said MacLeod.
“It was a very young squad which I put out which made it even more sweet.
“We were behind at half time, but I expressed to them if we got the ball down and play wide, we could win and that is what happened at the end of the day.”
Strathglass were undefeated in all three matches against Glenurquhart last weekend.
The reserve teams drew 3–3 in the Ali Bhan Cup which Glenurquhart retained as the holders.
In the women’s competition, Strathglass beat Glenurquhart 3–0 to lift the MacLennan Quaich.
