Current crop seal spot among all-time greats
NEWTONMORE claimed a hat trick of Camanachd Cup wins for the first time in four decades with a comfortable 3-0 win over Lovat.
There was also a lot of satisfaction in the camp after the Blue and Whites had lifted the game's biggest prize for the 33rd time in their history.
Captain Andy Mackintosh, who missed out in last year's cup win against the same opponents, summed it all up neatly: "It feels absolutely brilliant. I've said before it's the dream of every young boy in the village to captain Newtonmore in a final and win.
"It's particularly satisfying as we have been written off as an ageing team by a number of commentators. That helped spur us on and it has been great to prove them wrong.
"Now we need to focus on getting the league title."
Veteran midfielder Jamie Robinson, who gave the Lovat team a masterclass in hit ins, remarked: "Last year we were in the unusual position of being the underdogs but this year we had the pressure of expectation again.
"We maybe didn't play as well as we could in the first half but we took our chances. Over the whole game I thought there wasn't a weakness in the 15 that played."
Striker Evan Menzies scored the winner last year, bagged another two cup final goals on Saturday and won the Albert Smith medal for his match-winning performance.
He said: "I was very pleased to get the award as it means a lot to me to stand alongside some shinty legends from the past.
"However it's the team that's the thing and there were other worthy candidates like Mike Russell, Steven MacDonald, Craig Ritchie and Rory Kennedy.
"We have had a tough fixture list the last few weeks and I think that helped our match sharpness. Our defence has been superb and was again in the final.
"Greg Mathieson is the top scorer in Scotland this season averaging well over a goal a game but he has never scored when playing against Rory Kennedy, who is probably the best defender in shinty. I would hate to play against him."
The Blue and Whites last claimed the Scottish three times in a row from 1977 to 1979 when they beat Kyles Athletic on each occasion.
They never looked like missing out on Saturday at Mossfield Park in Oban with the goals all coming between the half hour mark and half time whistle from the prolific pairing of Menzies, who struck twice, and Glen MacKintosh.
* More reaction to the big cup win in this week's Strathy.