This Saturday, the shinty world descends upon Bught Park, Inverness for the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final (2pm). Before the main final, the cream of U14 shinty comes together to compete for the MacMaster Cup (11am), this year holders Skye aim to retain their title against Newtonmore. We spoke to Newtonmore Captain Joe Coyle to preview the match.

Joe, how are you and the rest of the team feeling ahead of Saturday’s Final?

We are all really looking forward to the game on Saturday. We’ve been training hard all year for this game and hopefully we will perform well.

Have you played Skye this season? If so, what do you think about them as a team?

Yes, we played away 2 weeks ago. We won 6-1 but we had to work very hard for the victory.

Skye are a physical but fair team and are technically very good.

They are by far the best team we have faced this year.

You had a good semi-final win against Oban Celtic, what 3 things do you think you did well that day?

Played well as a team.

Moved the ball quickly.

Took our goals well.

On a personal note, you are one of the most exciting young players in shinty, what kind of things do you enjoy most on the shinty field?

Running with the ball.

Playing in the same team as my friends.

Scoring goals.

Finally, you came up just short last year against Skye, what would it mean to win the MacMaster this year?  

It would be a great honour for all the boys to win Newtonmore’s first MacMaster cup.

Big Rob Ritchie told me he thinks it’s the only trophy Newtonmore have never won.