Badenoch boss says no room for complacency in the Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final
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The Women’s Camanachd Association’s main showpiece event of the season takes place at the Eilan in Newtonmore tomorrow (Saturday) when Badenoch and Skye Camanachd meet in the prestigious Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final.
This is a repeat of the last final in 2019 when Skye ran out 8-6 winners following a thrilling encounter at the Dell, avenging the result from 2018 when Badenoch won 4-1 at the same venue.
However, this year has been one of transition for Skye with influential players Sarah Corrigall retired and both Lorna MacRae and Emma Gordon now plying their trade with Kinlochshiel.
The sides met at the Dell in the Mowi National Division earlier this season when Badenoch romped to a 15-1 victory; making them hot favourites to wrench back the trophy.
The sides have also still to meet in Portree in a clash which will surely decide the destination of the Mowi National Division title.
Badenoch head coach Scott Campbell is looking forward to the clash.
He said: “We are delighted to be competing in the Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final for the third year running.
"It has been a long two years without this competition to look forward to and who better to meet at this stage than our old friends and recent rivals Skye Camanachd Ladies.
“We are in good shape leading into the final and preparations have gone well. We have a couple of injury concerns but I am hopeful that we should be close to full strength, providing we get through the Ardnamurchan game unscathed.
“We have a pool of 15 players selected for the final and I am pleased with the strength and depth within the squad. We had a couple of players missing for the Ardnamurchan game and that opened the door for all to state their claim to starting next week.”
Campbell doubts Badenoch’s big league win over Skye will influence the final.
He added: “We enjoyed a comfortable win against Skye earlier in the season, but it is my opinion that cup shinty doesn’t allow for previous results or form. It’s a one-off game and anything can happen.
"Yes, there is a confidence that we can take from that fixture, but with confidence comes the risk of complacency. We will not be taking
the threat that Skye can pose lightly.
“My hope is that we can recreate the great finals of both 2018 and 2019 and put on a spectacle for the shinty community to enjoy and may the best team win.”
Skye Camanachd’s Caitlin Maclean is also looking forward to the big day. She said: “Preparations have been good. We have been doing two training sessions over each of the last few weeks and we have had some different coaches come in to put across different ideas and that has been really helpful.
“We have a few players back too and with it being a Saturday game, we will have a full squad. There have been one or two niggly injuries over the course of the season but we have had Kirsty, our physio, along and that’s been helpful as well. Everyone wants to play in a cup final.”
Maclean agrees that Badenoch’s earlier league win over Skye won’t be a deciding factor.
She added: “Badenoch were outstanding that day. They were on fire and played really well whilst we didn’t. When they hit us, we didn’t know how to respond but we know what to expect now.
"We’ve also had matches against high level teams since then which has helped. We have worked hard and won every match bar that game and we are ready for the final.”
Throw up is at 4.05pm and the final be broadcast live on BBC ALBA from 4pm.
Earlier in the day, Kinlochshiel and Lovat contest the Mowi Challenge Cup. The sides drew 5-5 in the league recently so this should be a good match-up.
Throw up is at 1.45pm.
The WCA has acknowledged that times are hard for many families at present, so they have kept gate prices as affordable as possible with adults – £5, concessions – £3 whilst under-12s go free.
There will also be bouncy castles, face painting and other fun with a £5 inclusive wrist band available to purchase for kids’ activities.
There will be catering on-site.
This is all intended to enable as many people as possible to enjoy a shinty day out, celebrate WCA shinty at the highest level as well as spreading happiness and positivity in these tough times.
