Badenoch giants to clash at their first hurdle in the Camanachd Cup
Holders Kingussie will have to get past local neighbours Newtonmore in the second round of the Camanachd Cup if they are to lift the famous trophy.
It is the stand-out fixture in the draw earlier today for the first and second round of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup at Inverness Town House.
In attendance were Sandy Grant, Tulloch Homes Managing Director; Innes Smith, Springfield Properties CEO, Steven MacKenzie, Camanachd
Association President and Derek Keir, Camanachd Association CEO.
The cup final will take place in the city this September at Bught Park.
The 2022 Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final was a sell-out at The Dell and the Camanachd Association has said ticket sales are already at unprecedented levels for this time of year.
The first and second round draw has been regionalised.
The draw in full below:
Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup 2023: first round (April 22)
Northern section: Strathglass v Kilmallie; Glenurquhart v Fort William; Lochaber v Inverness.
Southern section: Bute v Inveraray; byes for Aberdour and Oban Celtic.
Second round (May 27)
Northern section: Lovat v Glenurquhart/Fort William; Kinlochshiel v Strathglass/Kilmallie; Skye v Caberfeidh; Lochaber/Inverness v Beauly.
Southern section: Oban Camanachd v Aberdour; Glasgow Mid Argyll v Oban Celtic; Kingussie v Newtonmore; Kyles Athletic v Bute/Inveraray
Steven MacKenzie, Camanachd Association President said: “It was my pleasure to be at the draw this afternoon alongside Sandy and Innes from Tulloch Homes.
"This year’s final will mark 100 years since the first Camanachd Cup Final in Inverness and after this draw I know there will be real excitement
amongst clubs and fans alike!
"There are a lot of exciting ties, none more so than a Badenoch derby in the second round which should provide rich entertainment.
"With the only other all Premiership tie being Caberfeidh versus Skye, the National and Area League teams know they will have to beat Premiership opponents to book their place in the quarter finals.
"My thanks as always go to Tulloch Homes for their valued support and to Highland Council for welcoming us to the Town House.”
Tulloch Homes managing director Sandy Grant said: “It’s great to begin our company’s 98th year of trading by being able to support shinty and the Camanachd Cup once again – less than six months since I handed over the trophy to Kingussie’s Savio Genini.
“These early rounds are where dreams can be sparked – or dashed. Skye were in the first round last year but reached the quarter finals. So were Beauly, went on to only lose on penalties at Kingussie. It would be good to see a first round winner reach the tournament’s later stages this year.
“This year’s final, the highlight of the shinty year, will be in Inverness for the first time in six years and this ballot signals the start of what I’m sure will be an exciting and entertaining tournament.
“Tulloch Homes is very pleased to again work in close liaison with our friends at the Camanachd Association, president Steven MacKenzie and chief executive Derek Keir in particular, and we wish good fortune to all the clubs in first and second round action.”
Tickets for the 2023 Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final are available at www.shinty.com/tickets and are 33 per cent off for a limited time only.
Read all the reaction to the mammoth cup tie in the next Strathy
