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Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Shinty: MacTavish Cup final - Lovat skipper says 'ignore league results', as Kingussie counterpart hunts captain's caman
A refurbished Bught Park, Inverness, is the setting for the first final of the shinty season as holders Kingussie meet Lovat in the WM Donald MacTavish Cup showpiece. Both captains think this contest is too close to call. While Lovat may have slipped into the Mowi Premiership relegation zone last weekend, their skipper Martin Mainland said: 'Don't take our league results as an indication of how the final might go – our league form's been patchy but that's down to injuries and player availability. 'We've had a stronger squad for the three cup competitions and we're unbeaten in these.' It is a much-changed Lovat rearguard after keeper Stuart MacDonald and defenders Drew Howie and Daniel Grieve stepped down at the end of last season. Mainland – who has won the MacTavish on two previous occasions – is now fulfilling the full-back role and has been impressed by keeper Ronan Macmillan, who stepped up from the second team. He said: 'Ronan is such a good shot-stopper, but I feel as a defence, we've let him down at times this year. We're all building that experience of playing together – something Stuart, Drew and Dan had for years. 'I've broken my ankle a couple of times recently, including in last year's Camanachd Cup final. I've rested it, but now playing the full back-role suits me.' Kingussie have lifted 11 of the last 12 trophies on offer, but captain Thomas Borthwick, a four-time MacTavish winner, is taking nothing for granted. He said: 'It's a cup final and it's all about what happens during the 90 minutes. 'My first win came in 2010 when my uncle Stephen was manager. 'I've never won a silver-mounted caman before (given to the victorious captain), so that's an incentive – but so is Kingussie winning.' Borthwick's played upfront for most of his career, but is currently revelling in a midfield role. He added: 'I enjoy midfield – whether full-centre or wing-centre – where you're more involved in the game. 'I've had injuries in the past, but I've played every minute this season, and although we've been without key players over recent weeks, we'll be going in with a full squad on Saturday, so the manager has options.' Lovat are without top scorer Marc MacLachlan, who's on a pre-planned holiday, but Greg Matheson should return, while Kingussie welcome back Savio Genini, Lee Bain, Rory MacKeachan, Dylan Borthwick and Cammie Bremner. Earlier in the day, Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh and Rockfield primary school contest the MacKay Cup final before the MacTavish Juvenile Cup final between Glenurquhart under-17 and Newtonmore under-17. With two Artemis Macaulay Cup semi-final spots up for grabs, Oban Camanachd are favourites at National Division side Bute. The Oban side were boosted by Daniel Maccuish's return from injury last weekend. Kyles Athletic and Glasgow Mid Argyll both go into their tie at Tighnabruaich on the back of successive defeats. With Kingussie and Oban Camanachd in cup action, Fort William play their game in hand and can go level on points with the Kings at the top of the Mowi Premiership if they win at bottom side Beauly. The first derby of the season between Kinlochshiel and Skye Camanachd takes place at Rearaig. Shiel were encouraged when Ali Nixon played 90 minutes following injury last week, but manager Willie MacRae fears David Falconer's season may be over with the player on crutches. Skye boss Kenny MacLeod's hopes of including Jordan Murchison have been dashed after the talented forward suffered an eye injury playing for the second team last week. The top two sides in the Mowi National Division clash as second-placed Col Glen host leaders Lochaber. Col Glen, who trail by a point, have Jamie MacVicar free of suspension. Kilmallie's Calum MacDougall misses Inveraray's visit as he starts a three-match ban. In the WCA Mowi Premier League, Lochaber play one of their two games in hand on leaders Badenoch when they visit Skye. Lochaber are currently four points off the top.
Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Inverness Thistle chief reacts after new club wins place in North Caledonian League
A new club with an old name – Inverness Thistle – are celebrating after being accepted into the North Caledonian League. The moniker of the historic former Highland League club had been used in recent times in the Inverness amateur leagues, but a group of dedicated volunteers have been working towards creating a competitive side in the NCL. Inverness Thistle and Caledonian FC merged in the early 1990s to create what is now Caley Thistle, who are in SPFL League One after have had two spells in the top-flight and won the Scottish Cup a decade ago. However, football fans with a love for the red and black of Thistle have thrown their support behind the plans to build a new Jags club and they have been granted entry into the NCL – part of the pyramid system. From next season, the North Caledonian League will have a competitive Inverness Thistle in action – and the efforts to get a squad in place can really pick up pace. The club's chairman is Martin Mainland, a Lovat shinty player, who has played for Inverness Athletic in the NCL, and won the title with Loch Ness in 2023. He stressed that the great news for Jags followers comes on the back of a wide community involvement and that 'team effort rather than individuals' has helped secure this early off-field victory. The Thistle chief told The Press and Journal explained the background to Inverness Thistle, of 2025, reaching this crucial milestone. He said: 'In the Inverness amateur scene around 2016 or 2017, there was a team called Inverness Thistle AFC. 'That club was run by quite a few people who are on our committee now. Our current secretary, Robert MacIllwraith, was their chairman at one point for example. 'Unfortunately, it didn't work for them, but we knew there was always an opportunity to take on the naming rights if they are not in use for a certain period of time. 'This was our chance to take the name into the senior football leagues, so we just went for it. 'We held many focus groups with fans and there are many people, even more than 30 years on, who remain sickened with the merger between the two clubs. 'A lot of people have a lump in their throat and they're not willing to follow the current club. 'But we are a new club, and it is just nice to bring something back. 'I'm only 33, so I knew next to nothing about the merger when I was wee, but I have a soft spot for the underdog, and I felt for so many people and how (losing Inverness Thistle) affected them. 'It hit a spot, and I felt 'maybe we can do something here'. And that's what's happened. 'We're in week 57. We started it in May last year with our first focus group to gauge the interest and it has grown from there. 'We have a really extensive team of people behind the scenes. This was so important to so many people, we wanted to get it right. 'It's run by hard working volunteers and I'd like to say I'm so grateful to everyone involved. It's a real team effort.' Mainland explained one of the first steps was to get the right football management in place to move the club into these initial stages. He said: 'We have a dual management team, Andrew Martin and Ryan Macleod, who I had seen in the amateur leagues for some time – they ran Culloden together for about 10 years. 'I was always interested in how they always kept a happy camp. In amateur sport, you see arguing and bickering, but they never seemed to bicker with one another and they fostered great camaraderie within their teams. 'Even though players would come and go, there was never fall-outs, so I thought it was important to get these guys in and that follows our club's ethos, which transmits on to the park. 'We're a community club – and the community is everyone. We want everyone involved at the club to be happy, and Andrew and Ryan were the perfect fit.' Work is gathering pace to put a squad together, with this new Inverness Thistle not even having played a game yet. Mainland added: 'We've not had a chance to play a game yet, but it will happen soon. 'We will soon get players signed up. We've been speaking with a large amount of players. I think we've around 30 players already interested in playing for us. 'We will also be running an open trials' day for people to turn up and have a go. We want to ensure we're as inclusive as possible.' And Mainland is thrilled that Inverness Thistle will be one of 13 clubs lining up in the 2025-26 NCL, which kicks off on August 9. He said: 'There are a lot of people on our committee with experience of the North Caledonian League, and I played for Loch Ness and Inverness Athletic where I was also captain. 'I know the clubs, the grounds, the area, and how competitive the North Caledonian league is. 'We thought about contacting the junior leagues, but we thought geographically it made sense to go for the North Caledonian League where we can get derby games in Inverness. It is the best way to create interest locally.' Mainland confirmed that a home venue for Thistle remains under wraps, but the club will make an announcement in the coming days.
