The Balliemore Cup Final………..1 day to go! | |
17 July 2009 The 2009 Balliemore Cup Final takes place between Kinlochshiel and Strathglass at Rothesay, Bute on Saturday 18 July 2009 and the latest team news is………………….. Kinlochshiel are without long term injury Crisdean MacRae and they will also be without young defender John Don MacKenzie who suffered a cracked cheekbone in last weekend’s defeat to Lovat. They will also be without a third defender, Calum MacLean meaning that joint managers Keith Loades and Johnston Gill will need to make changes at the back. Youngsters Colin MacDiarmid, Duncan DA MacRae and Zander Grant have been added to the Shiel squad. The Balliemore Cup was donated to the Camanachd Association by Duncan MacRae of Kintail and the side from Kirkton have been major players in the competition in recent years, beating Glenurquhart 1-0 in the 2007 final and losing 3-1 to Kyles Athletic in Portree in 2005. Strathglass will be without wing centre Angus MacDonald who was recently injured against Lochcarron. Robert Geddes has an achilles problem but he is expected to be passed fit. This Final will set a remarkable achievement for 45 year old Geddes as he captained the Strath’s 1986 Balliemore Cup winning side when they beat Col Glen 4-2 after extra time. He added another winners medal in 2003 when as player / manager, he helped his side beat Skye Camanachd in a penalty shoot-out after the extra time period finished level at 3-3. Geddes is widely recognised as shinty’s second top goalscorer behind the legendary Ronald Ross. Geddes may have amassed as many as 700 goals in his 30 years in the game. Strathglass have recently been in good form, scoring goals from several different outlets, although their recent opposition has perhaps not been as strong as Shiels. The west coast side have certainly saved their best league form for the cup competitions. The opening goal could be vital in this Final. Shiel will stay in Strathglass will spend the Friday night in Oban before crossing the water on the Saturday morning. They will however spend Saturday night in The Balliemore Cup Final will be screened live on |