This weeks Game of the Week is Kinlochshiel SC v Kyles Athletic in the Semi-Final of the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup.

Aarron Macleod caught up with John MacRae of Kinlochshiel Shinty Club:

Just how big a match is this for Kinlochshiel Shinty Club

This is really important match for us. These are the games everyone wants to be in and we are no different. We have played Kyles Athletic a lot over the years and know what a good team they are.

You have the chance to get to Kinlochshiel’s first ever Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final this weekend, how are you managing the nerves ahead of Saturday’s Semi-Final?

My nerves are just down to expectation I think, and no-one puts more pressure or expectation on me than I do myself to try and perform every week. So trying to think of this weekend as no different.

Shiel have only lost one match this season against Lovat in the Macaulay Quarter-Finals. Does that give you confidence going into the weekend?

Yeah guess it does, I guess we just have to focus on ourselves and how we play and not worry about anything else.

Did you watch the Macaulay Cup Final at the weekend? What sort of task are you expecting from Kyles?

Yeah watched it, it was a good game. Both teams looked pretty sharp and I don’t expect any different from this weekend. Fair play to Kingussie on their win. 

We have seen a few youngsters dipping in and out of the Kinlochshiel first team this season including Archie MacRae and Arran Jack – would you say the future looks bright for Shiel?

 Yeah definitely, I’d say for sure in the last few months especially I’ve noticed alot of young good players coming through our youth so if  they all stay committed they would definitely have a promising future as part of the team. 

Archie has been great since he has played with us, good to see him pushing Ollie so far out that he has to play for GMA 😆 

What would it mean to get to the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final?

 It would be a great achievement for the whole area and community and the people that have put so much into getting Shiel to where they are now. Also for me getting into a final with all my best mates would be amazing as a reward for all the hard work and commitment we have put in over the years.