SHINTY: Ross-shire clubs clash in opening round of Macaulay Cup
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A ROSS-SHIRE derby between Kinlochshiel and Caberfeidh is the pick of the opening round matches in the Macaulay Cup this weekend.
Both teams will have aspirations of going all the way to the final and lifting the trophy, with ‘Shiel having the more recent pedigree as far as silverware goes but Cabers having been one of the top teams in the Premiership so far this year.
Elsewhere, the north side of the draw features another derby as Lovat travel the short four-and-a-half miles to face Beauly.
Defending champions Kingussie will be going on the road to Skye, while current Premiership leaders Newtonmore will have home advantage against Fort William.
The Macaulay cup is not the only knockout competition on the calendar this weekend, though, as the second round of the Strathdearn Cup is also due to take place.
There, Kinlochshiel’s second team host Lochaber, while Lochcarron will also be at home, welcoming Strathspey to Battery Park.
Last week the focus was on league action, with Caberfeidh losing a top-of-the-table clash against Newtonmore 3-1.
Craig Morrison had fired back after Iain Robinson’s double put daylight between the teams, but Craig MacLeod sealed the points for ‘More.
Kinlochshiel, on the other hand, were victorious on the road to Glasgow Mid-Argyll.
Finlay MacRae got them off to a flying start just two minutes in, with Keith MacRae and Jordan Fraser adding to the lead by the half-hour mark.
Cailean MacLeod cut the deficit on the brink of half time, but Fraser would claim his second of the day in the 70th minute.
Ruairidh Ralston scored what would turn out to be a consolation 10 minutes later, meaning both points made the journey back north to Balmacara.
In North Division One, Kinlochshiel’s reserve side picked up a narrow win over Fort William thanks to Duncan MacMillan’s decisive goal.
One tier down, Cabers’ second team again marked out their title credentials with a 6-0 win at Strathspey – led by Scott MacPhail’s hat-trick and backed up by Donald Wilson, Ruairidh McCreadie and Ruairidh MacLeman.
Lochcarron earned a win of their own, as Crisdean Finlayson’s hat-trick helped them past Boleskine 3-2.
