2014 Balliemore Cup Final …………. TODAY! | |
12 July 2014 Skye Camanachd and Ballachulish meet in shinty’s Balliemore Cup Final at the Sports Field, Taynuilt on Saturday 12 July 2014. Skye Camanachd first team manager John MacLeod spoke to Hector Cormack on Cuillin FM’s Dol Dhachaigh on the eve of the big match. When asked how preparations had gone ahead of the game, MacLeod said, “We had a couple of good training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday this week and they went well – no problems. The boys are really looking forward to the final.” The Islanders face a 310 mile round trip but that’s not an issue for the Skye boss. “It’s an early start but we’re used to that. We’ll head off from the Clubhouse on our Stagecoach bus at 7.45am. We’ll have a stop-off in Fort William to give the players a chance to get a bite to eat and then it’s off to Taynuilt.” The Skye senior side have turned things around quite dramatically following last year’s disappointing season. MacLeod said, “It’s going well and the players are putting in a lot of work. They are turning up in numbers twice a week at training and we’ve always known the potential was there. We’ve tried to encourage them and organise them better but all the credit goes to the players for applying themselves. We asked the guys at the start of the season what their ambitions were and they have had a real go at realising them so far this season.” The first team’s progress this season has been coupled with the Skye second team reaching the Strathdearn Cup Final, the Skye Ladies reaching the Valier Fraser Cup Final as well as success at youth level; especially Portree Primary School’s winning exploits in national competitions. The club’s conveyor belt of youth talent continues and MacLeod added, “We had hoped to blood a few more youngsters already this season but the senior players have played so well that it has been difficult to do that. We might add a couple by the end of the year but at the moment, all our focus is on the Balliemore Cup Final. It will be difficult against Ballachulish but we will do our best.”
The 2014 Balliemore Cup Final between Skye Camanachd and Ballachulish throws up at 2.30pm and Lachie Wood is the match referee. There will be free car parking and teas, coffees, pies etc will be on sale from the Clubhouse. There will also be stronger refreshments available at the adjacent Golf Clubhouse. There is also a new play-park to help keep the youngsters amused. Taynuilt Shinty Club will be running a raffle throughout the day. The whole match will be featured live on Cuillin FM and you can listen online from 2pm at www.cuillinfm.co.uk |