Camanachd Cup final: Kyles return to exorcise Oban demons and go one better against Inveraray

Saturday 15 September 2012

If Kyles Athletic of Tighnabruaich need extra motivation to win Shinty's Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup today, they will simply need to recall 2009.

Custom byline text:

Kenneth Stephen

Today's BBC-televised final against south counterparts Inveraray brings them back to that same venue, Mossfield Park in Oban, which may be fitting if they triumph.

Boffins conversant with psychology often suggest those looking to exorcise scars and hoodoos should return to the setting of their trauma and confront it.

Not that the team of young upstarts disgraced themselves three years ago when they lost 4-3 to Fort William – hardly a crime. It was more that Kyles' players, when showered and back on the bus home in their slightly creased cup final suits, must have had the feeling that the showcase had passed them by.Indeed, they only started to play when 3-0 down, bringing the final back to a taut point at 3-3 before losing out in the climactic moments.Yet it is a different Kyles that will face 2004 winners Inveraray in Oban – a side who have taken the knocks, learned the hard way and moved on.Still baby-faced in many ways, they now have the chance to do what no Kyles team has done for 18 years and bring the ancient silver trophy home to The Playing Field."I think it was the occasion more than anything that did for us last time," admits coach, James Perlich. "In 2009 we were more caught up in what it was about, like how many people were going and the BBC being there and getting a fancy bus booked rather than the actual fact that we were just doing what we do every Saturday – playing shinty."Despite the frenzied anticipation that is attached to shinty's biggest occasion, the build-up has been decidedly more low-key around the Kyles of Bute. There was a relaxed hit-about on Monday, a good session in Dunoon and training on the grass at their own park.Since 2009, Kyles have lifted the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup and also took the Macaulay Cup against Newtonmore in a final which saw them come of age.True, Kyles can equal Kingussie's record of 21 Camanachd Cup wins if they deliver the blow to Inveraray today. No one, though, is looking too far ahead. "The boys didn't want any fancy bus this time, they want to travel up in the mini-bus and be together. We'll stop at Inveraray and have a roll and soup for lunch, nothing fancy and then it will be getting our heads around the game," added Perlich.Centre Robbie MacLeod feels Kyles are ready this time and knows how much a win would mean. He said: "I think I was five the last time Kyles won this trophy," he said. "Most of the boys were five or six and we've heard hundreds of stories."Last year, it was good to win two cups and get over the hurdle of not winning anything and everyone said then that the next step was the Camanachd Cup. That is us in the final now so it would be great to win it. We were very young in 2009."Standing between them and catharsis is Inveraray, a side who have been a thorn many times. The Winterton outfit are packed with experience but will start as underdogs on the basis of league position. Inveraray's David Robertson isn't looking upon that necessarily as a negative. "It probably suits us for Kyles to be favourites but I don't think league positions will come into it," he said. "We actually have a decent record against Kyles but it is all down to the day."A crowd of around 3000 is expected. If past matches are a yardstick, they'll spend the afternoon with hearts in mouths.

Contextual targeting label:

Arts and Entertainment

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Camanachd Cup final: Kyles return to exorcise Oban demons and go one better against Inveraray

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED