Delight that there will be at least one Badenoch seconds derby after-all
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The Newtonmore and Kingussie second teams will meet at the Eilan following the draw for this coming season’s Strathdearn Cup.
With the new shinty fixture list due to be released at the beginning of February, this all-north competition gets under way at the end of April when the two great Badenoch rivals meet in the opening round.
The Strathdearn Cup is the only trophy that eluded the Newtonmore colts last season, losing out to eventual runners-up Kinlochshiel in the semi-finals, and their manager Peter Ross said: “That’s a great tie and it’s good to have a derby in the cup since we’re not meeting in the league.
“We’ll look forward to it but Kingussie will look forward to it as much as us. They will be stronger this year and they will fancy their chances.
“The boys are training hard and a few of our under-14 players will be added to the second team squad this year and I always like to promote more youth players every year.
“The tie isn’t until the end of April but we’ll have to be ready for it. Hopefully we’ll have too much for them though.”
Kingussie co-manager John Gibson agreed that it was a good tie for all concerned, given the sides will not meet in the league.
He said: “We’ll look forward to that game and it’s always nice to have a derby.
“We’re under no illusions that it will be a big ask as Newtonmore are the top shinty team at second team level but we certainly won’t fear it. Weather permitting, we’ll be a few games into our season before the game and it will be a good chance to gauge our progress.”
Whoever comes out on top will travel to play Lewis Camanachd or the Kinlochshiel second team in the quarter-finals.
The full first round draw is: First Round (Saturday 27 April): Newtonmore v Kingussie, Beauly v Inverness, Lovat v Skye Camanachd, Glenurquhart v Kilmallie, Boleskine v Caberfeidh, Lewis Camanachd v Kinlochshiel. Byes: Lochaber, Fort William
The Strathdearn Cup final takes place on Saturday 24 August with the venue yet to be decided.
• Full draw at www.shinty.com
