VIDEO – Shinty captain wants Camanachd Cup winning feeling with Lovat again
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CRAIG Mainland says Lovat are determined to replicate the feeling of winning the Camanachd Cup seven years after their last triumph.
The Kiltarlity outfit will travel to Kingussie to take them on for the most historic prize in the sport in the final on Saturday.
In 2015, Mainland was part of the Lovat team that won the Camanachd Cup final for the second time in their history, beating Kyles Athletic 2–1 in Oban.
Since then, Lovat have reached three of the last five finals, which included last year’s 3–1 defeat to Kinlochshiel in Oban.
Mainland says it has been a disappointment that Lovat have not gone on to add to their trophy cabinet at senior level since that Camanachd Cup success in 2015.
But he believes his team have the quality to end the drought by beating Kingussie at The Dell on Saturday.
Recalling winning the Camanachd Cup, he said: “It was very special, I have never felt anything like it from winning stuff.
“There is always a special feeling, even in the build up before. Then winning it and taking the trophy home – the community was celebrating it for a good few months.
“I feel that we have majorly underachieved as a squad in the last five to six years.
“We have been dealt bad blows when it comes to injuries and we have struggled squad wise, but we look like we will have a full squad for the final and we’ll look to upset a home party.”
Lovat also have an outside chance of winning the Premiership as they have four games in hand on leaders Kingussie, but are 11 points behind and as it stands they are fifth place in the table.
Mainland says to win the Camanachd Cup on Saturday doesn’t get any tougher than beating Kingussie on their home turf.
But he also says Lovat are confident that they can spoil a hometown party in Kingussie and bring the trophy back to Kiltarlity for only the third time in their history.
“If you don’t have confidence then there is no point playing,” he said.
“You can’t be complacent, you have to respect the other team and have belief in the boys who are around you.
“We have been here before, it is part and parcel of our season now. If we can take that experience forward and give it one final push hopefully we will take it home.”
