UHI Cup Finals Day 2026

This is the sixth time the UHI Cup Event has been played since 2019 and was set up as a result of a partnership which has been formed between the CA and the University of the Highlands and Islands Sports Department. Since 2019 it has grown in popularity with 24 teams (240 primary aged players) involved in the event this year.

All current HNC sports students have been taken through their foundation coaching course, delivered to them by their local CA Development Officer and to follow in from this and allow the students to gain more knowledge about the game of shinty and see the game in action they then attended UHI Cup events over two days.

24 teams of primary school aged players from across the North of Scotland have now come together twice, once for a provisional round robin which decided which squads would go on to compete for the UHI Cup on finals day and which would play for the UHI Salver. Each team was allocated a newly qualified UHI coach, their role was to get to know the players, take the group for warm ups and cool downs and importantly work with and be mentored by the existing club/school coach or teacher.

All 24 teams came together in the middle of May at Blairbeg Park, Drumnadrochit,  for the finals day, and what a fantastic day of shinty it was. We were blessed with dry weather for the day which was a relief to many as the forecast in the days leading up to the event had looked worse. The teams were split into two groups. There were 10 teams playing for the UHI Cup which were split into 2 groups of 5 across 2 pitches and there were 14 teams playing for the salver which were split into 2 groups of 7, playing across 3 pitches.

In the Cup competition things were very close and competitive with Skye Shinty Academy (SSA) going undefeated in their group and progressing to the semifinal, they were joined by Lovat after a very close play off with Aviemore (where they tied for second place). In group B of the cup competition the impressive Kingussie side topped their group followed by Inverness who overcame GlenUrquhart in their final group game to claim the second spot.

In the Salver competition, games were all won and lost on very close margins, Inverlochy Primary topped Group A and were joined in the semi finals by local rivals Lundavra. In Group B Hilton were on fire and came out on top without a loss, they were joined by Kinlochshiel who grew into their games as they day progressed.

This set up 4 eagerly anticipated semifinals. In the Cup section SSA took on Inverness while Kingussie played Lovat. In the Salver competition Inverlochy played Kinlochshiel and Hilton took on Lundavra.

In the Salver semifinals it was the two league underdogs that prevailed, with Lundavra securing victory over the unbeaten Hilton 1-0 in an enthralling end to end game. In the second semi-final it was Kinlochshiel that took the win in the most dramatic fashion with extra time and penalties required against a very good Inverlochy team.

The Salver Final saw a very competitive game between Kinlochshiel and Lundavra. Both sets of players gave everything and there was some nice shinty played by both teams throughout the game. It was Lundavra that started the sharper with 2 goals scored quickly within the first half. Kinlochshiel didn’t let their heads drop and pulled one back before half time. Lundavra came into the second half focussed through and scored another to secure victory and  crown them Salver winners for 2026.

In the Cup semi finals it was Kingussie who had the upper hand over a talented Lovat side who had tired a little in the semi final, with some nicely worked goals Kingussie were resounding 4-1 winners. Skye Shinty Academy had their work cut out of them against a well organised Inverness team who pressed them until the final whistle but a second half goal gave the islanders the win they needed to progress to the final.

The Final was a fantastic game of shinty with both sides showing some skilful play coupled with communication and close control skill that was well above their years. There wasn’t much between the sides but a well worked goal from SSA’s Rhys MacLeod broke the deadlock and SSA went on to press Kingussie further. Kingussie never gave up and pushed the islanders looking for a goal but it was SSA who scored again through Ali MacDonald and secured Skye Shinty Academy the UHI Cup once again for 2026.

It was great to have the Abbey MacGregor; Graham’s Daughter from Graham MacGregor Joinery on hand to conduct the presentations for 2026, she did a fantastic job of handing out the medals and trophies after playing through the group stages herself.

A huge thank you goes to Graham MacGregor Joinery who kindly agreed to sponsor this event each year,  his support and sponsorship is massively appreciated.

Additionally our thanks go to GlenUrquhart Shinty Club (especially Billy, Jim and Helen) for the use of their pitch and their work to set up the pitches over the course of the 2 days, to GlenUrquhart High School and especially the PE Department who as well as allowing us to use their astroturf facility for both events allowed their S2/S3 Shinty playing pupils to support the UHI competition fantastically over the course of the 2 days. Thanks also go to the UHI Students involved and Sports Department (Jenna Gray), Iain Cochrane for taking photos, to Jim, Bart, Andrew, John and Graham for officiating the games and mentoring the young people from GUHS over the course of the two days. And lastly to all the players, clubs and teachers for entering the event and making both days ones to remember.