The final preparations have been made ahead of the 2015 Artemis MacAulay Cup Final between Inveraray and Newtonmore at Mossfield on Saturday 22 August 2015.
The sides have met once already this season with a Grant Griffin goal giving Inveraray an unlikely 1-0 win at the Winterton.
Saturday 21 March 2015
Marine Harvest Premiership
Inveraray 1 Newtonmore 0
The surprise result of the day came at the Winterton where Inveraray upset the odds to beat reigning champions Newtonmore 1-0. Inveraray’s Euan McMurdo started a two match ban following his red card against Glenurquhart last weekend whilst Chris Crawford was also missing. However David MacPherson returned to the side after running the Barcelona Marathon the previous weekend and he played the full 90 minutes with no ill-effects. Garry MacPherson was also back at half back and another returning player, 2014 Inveraray Player of the Year John Kennedy, lined up in attack. Newtonmore were still minus Danny MacRae who has a calf injury and they were also without full back Norman Campbell. Rory Kennedy was on the bench which emphasised the strength of their squad. The visitors also lost defender Steven MacDonald through injury early in the match. Inveraray’s Grant Griffin was the toast of the home support as he scored the only goal of the game after 35 minutes. Inveraray’s solid defensive unit soaked up a lot of pressure during the match and hit Newtonmore on the break. Newtonmore had the bulk of the chances but Inveraray scorer Grant Griffin also hit the post. Both goalkeepers – Graham MacPherson for Inveraray and Newtonmore’s Michael Ritchie – made good saves throughout the game with MacPherson the busier. This was Inveraray’s first win over Newtonmore since they beat them in the 2008 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final. Newtonmore go into next weekend’s RBS MacTavish Cup tie with Lovat with injury concerns over Calum Stewart, Scott Campbell, who needed eight stiches to a finger injury, and Fraser MacKintosh, who was only able to play in this match for around 10 minutes before having to come off. However ‘More full back Norman Campbell should be back in his usual position.
The 2015 Artemis MacAulay Cup Final between Inveraray and Newtonmore throws up is at 3.15pm and the whole match will be broadcast LIVE on BBC2 Scotland. Match commentary will come from Hugh Dan MacLennan.
Admission is £7 / £4 concessions and U12s go free if accompanied by a paying adult.
Lachie Wood is the match referee.