Newtonmore dominate draw for first shinty silverware of the season
The draw for the first round of the first shinty silverware season was all about Newtonmore.
Pulling out the names of the teams for the first round of the 2024 MacTavish Cup were pupils from the village – and the final will be played at the Eilan.
And the Blue and Whites were even the first name drawn out of the hat for this year's competition.
They have been pitted against North Division One's Strathglass whilst neighbours Kingussie have a much tougher task.
They will be at home to Lovat in the ties to be played on March 30.
The draw was conducted by Marnie MacKintosh and Hamish Robinson, who are pupils at Newtonmore Primary School.
Both come from families with MacTavish Cup pedigree as fathers Andy MacKintosh and Jamie Robinson have lifted the famous trophy.
The classes were kitted out with T-shirts and caps emblazoned with the cottages.com MacTavish Cup logo as a thanks for their help in completing the task.
The final will take place at The Eilan on June 8 as the Bught Park in Inverness undergoes redevelopment works.
Elsewhere in the draw, Lochaber and Beauly – two sides who swapped places in the leagues – will face off at Spean.
In another all Premiership tie, Caberfeidh welcome Kinlochshiel with Glenurquhart playing host to Kilmallie in the final tie of the first round.
2023 finalists Skye are guaranteed to be in the second round after receiving a bye along with Inverness and Fort William.
New Camanachd Association president Burton Morrison said: “The association is delighted to have conducted the first round draw of the MacTavish Cup at Newtonmore Primary School this morning.
"I am sure that the excitement on show from the budding shinty stars will be replicated across our communities as teams look ahead to the new season which is just a matter of weeks away.
"The MacTavish Cup is the first major final of the year and is always eagerly anticipated, perhaps even more so this year with the final moving from the Bught Park to the Eilan in Newtonmore.
"Our thanks go to cottages.com for their ongoing support and I wish all teams in today’s draw the best of luck.”
Janette Macdonald, cottages.com business development manager, said: “We at cottages.com live and work in these communities and that is a core
reason that we want to provide this support to shinty – we know just how important the sport is to the people in rural communities across the North of Scotland.”
cottages.com MacTavish Cup first round (March 30, 2024): Newtonmore v Strathglass; Lochaber v Beauly; Kingussie v Lovat; Glenurquhart v Kilmallie & Caberfeidh v Kinlochshiel.
Byes: Fort William, Skye & Inverness.
