Caberfeidh believe they can record back-to-back wins over Kingussie to progress in MacTavish Cup
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Garry Reid believes last weekend’s sensational victory over grand slam champions Kingussie was a measure of burgeoning belief within a steadily improving Caberfeidh squad.
The Scotland shinty-hurling manager and Cabers’ head coach has overseen a dream start to the new Premiership season, with Saturday’s remarkable 3-0 win at the Dell cementing joint first place alongside Newtonmore after three games.
It was the first home defeat in five years for Kingussie.
The Strathpeffer side, after standing strong and taking their chances in a bruising and exhausting tussle with the champions, have it all to do again this weekend, this time at home in the MacTavish Cup.
Reid, who succeeded the successful Jodi Gorski after his six years in the post, said: “I was delighted for the players who have put in so much effort during pre-season.
“They came close against Kingussie last season, but there’s a little bit of an extra step in them. They have a little bit more belief now and showed that on Saturday.
“We took our chances, defended pretty heroically and rode our luck as well, but I think they deserved that luck for their work ethic.
“They finished last season with eight straight victories. It is just building on that, really. It is a good squad, with a good attitude. That’s all you can ask for.
“They have been very committed and we’ve had up to 28 or 29 players regularly turning up for training. They’ve all bought into it.
“That little bit of extra fitness has definitely helped.”
Saturday’s rematch is also a rerun of last year’s MacTavish final.
Asked if the Caberfeidh squad could rise to the same levels shown seven days earlier, Reid seemed quietly confident.
“We looked at the fixtures for March and thought ‘ooft – that’s a tough start!’", the manager admitted.
“Kingussie are the best team in the country, but we can take a little bit of confidence into it. It’s at home at Caberfeidh, which is a little bit of a tighter pitch. The pitch is not going to be at its peak at this time of year.
“We’ll just go out there and compete again, try to take our chances, and make sure we’re at the races. We’ve had boys a little bit sore through the week and a wee sickness bug, but we’ll bring that same kind of attitude to the cup tie.
“They believe they can go out and beat them.”
More more more for Kinlochshiel
Kinlochshiel have an immediate opportunity to avenge last weekend’s Premiership defeat to Newtonmore when the sides go head-to-head once again tomorrow in the MacTavish Cup first round.
Craig MacIsaac’s 83rd minute penalty separated the teams last time around, but ‘Shiel had the added setback of a red card for Jonnie MacAskill in added time.
Both team’s reserve sides also went up against each other in the North Division One, and again Newtonmore narrowly came out on top – although this time it was after a seven-goal thriller.
Xander Ross and Brodie MacBean had given ‘More the early lead, only for Seamus Martin, Zander MacRae and Duncan MacMillan to turn things around for ‘Shiel.
However, Glen MacKintosh would swing things back in the other direction with a late double to seal the points.
This weekend Kinlochshiel host Lovat.
In the North Division Two, Caberfeidg saw off Strathglass 3–0 thanks to goals from Ruaraidh MacLeman (2) and Kai MacAulay while Lochcarron won by forfeit as Strathspey could not raise a team.
This weekend, Cabers’ reserves are idle but Lochcarron host Lewis.
