This Saturday is Mowi Women’s Cup Finals Day with two games taking place at The Eilan, Newtonmore. First up will be the Mowi Challenge Cup which sees defending Champions Kinlochshiel play Inverness in the final. We caught up with Kinlochshiel top scorer and Mowi Marvel, Lexie MacKenzie, to preview the match.

Lexie, it comes round quickly but suddenly we are just days away from the Mowi Challenge Cup Final, how are you and the rest of the girls preparing for Saturday?

We are training as normal, but unfortunately we have had a month without games, but we have managed to get a few friendlies in and games amongst ourselves. My Dad set up a practise net at home and that’s really helping with my hitting.

6 weeks ago you had a convincing win against Inverness at Rearaig, beating them 8-1, what did you make of them that day and do you think you can repeat the trick on Saturday?

Inverness are a good, young, strong team. We may have beaten them 6 weeks ago, but it’s a final and we’re not taking anything for granted.

Kinlochshiel have a 100% record in all competitions this season, that must give you incredible confidence coming into Saturday?

It gives us a massive amount of confidence but we can’t be complacent, as it’s a final and anything can happen on the day. We’ve had a great team this year and everyone has worked really hard. It’s been pretty much the same group of girls all the way through

On a personal note, you’ve been on an incredible run of goalscoring form bagging a hat-trick per game on average. Just what is clicking for you this year and how much are you enjoying your shinty at the moment?

I’m enjoying my shinty the most I ever have. I learnt a lot last year playing against the boys in the under 14’s, but this year has been a massive step up going into the under 17’s. It’s been fantastic to be scoring goals for the under17’s at that level. I really feel playing in the under 17,s is helping me be a better player for the ladies.

You won the MOWI Challenge Cup last year, just what would it mean to yourself, the team and the community to bring it home again?

It would mean everything to myself and all the girls to be rewarded for all our hard work. I know it would mean a lot to the community because of all the support we’ve had.

Finally, I think we all agree that the sky is the limit with your potential, what goals do you have for yourself in the long term?

I’m only 14 and I know it’s a few years away but I really want to represent Scotland at the senior ladies internationals. Also I’ve got three years to do it but I would love to represent the North again but this time at under 17’s.