Skye and Kingussie face off in the cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final this Saturday at Bught Park, Inverness, the Juvenile Final commences at 1pm with the main event throwing up at 4pm.
Read the below stats to get you warmed up for the big fixture!
Kingussie are scoring an average of 2.66 goals per game and conceding an average of 0.83 goals per game. Each of these stats is slightly worse than at this stage last year (2.77 & 0.62)
Skye are scoring an average of 2.45 goals per game and conceding an average of 1.8 goals per game – although 1/4 of the goals they have conceded were in the last two games.
First to finish
The stats show that over half of Kingussie's goals come in either the first or last 15 minutes. If they can't blow the team away in the opening period, Kings can last the distance and grab late winners.
All out attack?
While Kingussie score with most regularity in the opening 15 minutes of games, they also concede the most in this period. Skye will likely aim to capitalise on Kingussie's all out attack in the opening period and sneak ahead themselves. Remarkably, Kings haven't conceded a 75th minute + goal this season.
Tactical tinkering
The stats show that Skye are most dangerous in the 15 minutes after half-time, whether that is due to tactical tinkering from boss Kenny MacLeod or from receiving the hairdryer treatment we can't say! Skye score double the amount of goals they do in the first half in the second.
Concentration dip?
Skye concede the majority of their goals in the 15 minutes before half-time, we know Skye as a solid defensive team so it makes sense that it takes some time for teams to break them down, they will have to avoid a drop in concentration levels if they are to win on Saturday.
Murchison & MacLeod on target
Jordan Murchison and Ruaraidh MacLeod are Skye's joint top scorers with 7 each, MacLeod was on target against Kingussie in the Macaulay Cup earlier this season.
Falconer flying
2023 Captain, James Falconer is leading by example, finding the net an impressive 8 times so far this season. Kingussie's 2021 top scorer will be hoping to replicate that this year.
Kingussie Road to the Final
0-2 vs Caberfeidh
0-3 vs Lovat
1-4 vs Newtonmore
Skye Road to the Final
2-3 vs Fort William
1-5 vs Beauly
3-1 vs Glenurquhart
Kingussie Captain
James Falconer
“Winning the Grand Slam last year was amazing, but it will mean even more leading the team out as Captain and hopefully defending the first of our trophies. Skye are a hard team, strong at the back and quick up front, very similar to ourselves in fact, it is going to be a good final I’d say. Kingussie will take a good crowd, you never get tired of playing in finals. We train so hard to make sure that we can last the 90 minutes and push on if needs be towards the end of games. After last year’s winner in the Camanachd Cup Final it’s going to be hard to top, but leading the team out will be a proud proud moment for me.”
cottages.com
Mark Whitehouse
“The cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final promises to be a captivating showcase of Scotland’s beloved sport, and we are proud to support such a thrilling event. We’re excited to see which team will emerge victorious and etch their name on the famous trophy.”
Camanachd Association CEO
Derek Keir
“We are really excited that the highly anticipated cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final will take place this Saturday. This clash between two talented teams marks the beginning of an exhilarating cup season, brimming with fierce competition and memorable moments. I encourage all shinty enthusiasts to join us in witnessing the pinnacle of skill, determination, and camaraderie on display.”
Skye Captain
John Gillies
“It is an honour to be leading Skye out in their first major final in 33 years, hopefully it won’t be the last time I do it! We have a lot of leaders in our team anyway but being the captain is definitely an honour. We know the quality of Kingussie, winning the Grand Slam last season, hopefully we will stop that this year! But in all honesty, we are just focusing on ourselves and what we can control, we have a good squad together and morale is high. The backing of the fans spurs us on, there should be well over 1000 people here for us and of course the Skye U17s making the Juvenile Final is going to help so I am really looking forward to the game.”
Want more?
Check out this week’s Half-Swing Shinty Podcast to make sure you are up to speed on the weekend’s action – Roddy Young and James Pringle join Aarron for a look ahead to the cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final – out Tuesday night!
Risk Assessment
The risk assessment for this Saturdays event can be found below