Minnows to fight for place in MacTavish Cup final
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STRATHGLASS and Glenurquhart never expected to be battling it out for a place in the final of a major cup competition this season.
But the Inverness-shire clubs, who play in the second tier of national shinty, will face off in Cannich in the MacTavish Cup semi final tomorrow.
Glenurquhart won the tournament four years ago as a Premiership club. But a disastrous league campaign saw them relegated from the top flight without recording a win in 2018.
But the Drumnadrochit outfit, who are second in the National Division, will go into the match as heavy favourites against Strathglass who are bottom of the table.
But Glenurquhart co-manager Stuart Mackintosh is not taking anything for granted.
“People may say we are favourites to win but we think it will be an even battle.
“We have played them earlier this season winning 3-0.
“But Strathglass are playing better shinty, but so are we.
“If you looked at last season, we probably would never have thought we would have had a chance to get to a cup final.
“But there is a lot of confidence in the squad just now and that is shining through.”
Strathglass assistant manager Roy Mackenzie says his team will be underdogs to make it to the final but he says they can cause a shock.
“It wasn’t one of our target objectives to make the semi final but we got a decent draw in the competition,” he said.
“We are definitely the underdogs and Glenurquhart will probably be expecting to take their place in the final.
“If we can get off to a good start early and contain their main goal threats we have a chance.”
The winners of the semi final will face Premiership heavyweights Kingussie or Newtonmore in the final at Bught Park in Inverness in June.
The semi final throw-up is at 2.30pm.
