Sutherland Cup draw brings back fond memories for Newtonmore seconds boss
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The 2024 Highland Industrial Supplies Sutherland Cup draw has rekindled fond memories for Newtonmore seconds boss Peter Ross.
The draw was made by HIS Director, Garry Mackintosh and the competition is regionalised in the early rounds.
Holders Newtonmore were given a first round bye and were then paired with Aberdeen University.
Boss Peter Ross said: “Aberdeen are no mugs and I’m pleased we have home advantage.
“The Aberdeen team can change from year-to-year as it depends which students are available and that must be a struggle for them at times.
“We haven’t played Aberdeen University for a long time.
"I can’t remember the last time we faced them although I do remember playing against them for Kincraig in the 2001 Sutherland Cup final.”
Ross is right to recall that encounter which took place at the Eilan.
Goals from Stephen Dormer and Peter Ross got Kincraig off to a great start but the students went on to score twice to level the final.
Then, with just seven minutes remaining, player/manager Peter Ross cracked home an unstoppable a shot, in off the frame of the goal, to make it 3-2 and give Kincraig the trophy for the first and only time.
Meanwhile Kingussie welcome Glenurquhart in the first round with the winners off to either Boleskine or Inverness.
Co-manager John Gibson was not looking past the first round tie and he said: “We had a couple of close games with Glenurquhart last season and would expect this to be a tough game again.
"I think we led at Blairbeg but ran out of steam.
“It will be interesting to see how we get on with a re-shuffled team and I would imagine the Glen will have a good mix of youth and experience, much like us.
“It’s certainly a game to look forward to.”
Camanachd Association president Burton Morrison said: "The Sutherland Cup is the competition which attracts entries from the largest number of teams in shinty and provides opportunities for a great number of communities to meet up and compete for a very prestigious trophy which celebrated its centenary last year.
“In recent years, with the support of Highland Industrial Supplies, the final has become one of the best attended in the game, and a key date on the calendar.
“On behalf of the association, I would like to accord my sincere thanks to them, and I wish all teams involved the best of luck in the competition."
The section draw is as follows:
Section 1 - first round (Saturday 6 April): Kingussie v Glenurquhart, Boleskine v Inverness. Byes - Aberdeen University & Newtonmore.
Section 1 - second round (Saturday 11 May): Boleskine/Inverness v Kingussie/Glenurquhart; Newtonmore v Aberdeen University.
Section 2 - first round (Saturday 6 April): Lovat v Kinlochshiel, Caberfeidh v Lewis Camanachd, Beauly v Lewis. Bye – Skye Camanachd & Beauly.
Section 2 - second round (Saturday 11 May): Skye Camanachd v Caberfeidh/Lewis Camanachd; Beauly v Lovat/Kinlochshiel.
Section 3 - first round (Saturday 6 April): Kilmallie v Oban Celtic, SCOTS Camanachd v Lochaber. Byes - Lochside Rovers & Fort William.
Section 3 - second round (Saturday 11 May); Kilmallie/Oban Celtic v Lochside Rovers, Fort William v SCOTS Camanachd/Lochaber.
Section 4 - first round (Saturday 6 April): Inveraray v Tayforth, Strachur-Dunoon v Kyles Athletic. Byes: Bute & Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Section 4 - second round (Saturday 11 May); Glasgow Mid Argyll v Strachur-Dunoon/Kyles Athletic, Inveraray/Tayforth v Bute.
The 2024 HIS Sutherland Cup Final takes place at Blairbeg, Drumnadrochit on Saturday 14 September.
