THE final of the Balliemore Cup takes place today in Kingussie with both of the competing clubs, Beauly and Glasgow Mid Argyll, hoping to get their hands on a trophy that has so far eluded them.
For Beauly, it will be their fourth time in the final, having lost in 2006, 2011 and 2012.
This time, manager Roger Cormack dares to believe he has the talent on the pitch to help him to defeat a Mid Argyll side who beat his team 3-1 when the sides met in the National League earlier this season.
Cormack said: “The league defeat was a big disappointment but our team has been stronger since and with a full squad to pick from there are players competing for various positions which is a good situation to be in.
“There is definitely a positive mood about the squad and that’s all you can ask.”
For Glasgow Mid Argyll, much will depend on how manager George Hay lays out his midfield around full centre and captain David MacLean.
The former under-21 international is a mobile player and that quality will be key because the Dell, the acknowledged premier playing surface in the shinty world, always demands a fast moving style with the emphasis on tidy stick work.
It won’t be an easy shift however because Mid Argyll have a settled centreline in John Don MacKenzie, Innes MacMillan and Ewan Murray who will work hard to hold the middle and build attacks of their own.
If they can do that, Hay, who will start with the experienced Angus Mackintosh up front, also has the option of introducing proven goalscorer Craig Anderson into the forward line at some stage.
Anderson, missing for much of the season due to injury, is on the way back and while doubts over his full fitness linger, he has the potential to be an impact player from the bench. Mid Argyll lost out last weekend to Inveraray in the Camanachd Cup quarter-final but his side’s performance gives Hay hope of Balliemore success.
“We made Inveraray work for their win despite being players short,” he said. “This week we have two or three of these experienced lads back.
“Winning the Balliemore would be great for club development because it will be the first final we have been in where more than half of our players are home-grown and we are not entirely relying on Highland exiles.
“Beauly certainly start favourites but we feel we can spring a surprise.”
Elsewhere, the main action takes place in the Marine Harvest Premiership with Newtonmore looking to add to their lead at the top when they welcome second-placed Kinlochshiel to the Eilean.
Newtonmore have three games in hand over Shiel and will have the same players available who defeated Oban Camanachd last weekend, though manager Paul John Mackintosh will probably take the opportunity to freshen up his squad with some youngsters given that his reserve side has no Saturday fixture.
Shiel, who lost heavily last week in what has been for them an erratic season, will be without Donald Nixon and Calum MacLean and will be lucky to take a point from the encounter.
At the other end of the table, Inveraray face a daunting trip to Kyles Athletic and really must take something from the game if they are to move away from the relegation zone.
However, given that Kyles still have an outside chance of the title themselves, Inveraray will struggle to get a result.
In the other game of the afternoon, an understrength Glenurquhart will not relish the visit of a resurgent Lochaber side who sit third in the table after three recent victories.
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