Shinty: Cup finalists Lovat lose key player to pool competition

Lovat hope to lift their second trophy of the season today despite losing players to two weddings and a pool competition.

The Kiltarlity outfit face Glenurquhart in today's Strathdearn Cup final, the side they beat 4-1 in late August to secure the Sutherland Cup.

However, they will have to ring the changes as key players are attending weddings in France and Shetland and one is playing in the Scottish pool finals.

Captain Jimmy Mackenzie will be doing his stuff on the green baize while scorers in the Sutherland final, Jamie Mathieson and Lewis Tawse, are wedding guests.

The final date was supposed to be last weekend but was altered, catching the trio out in their diary planning. "We have three boys out from the Sutherland team but we have a good squad and the ones who will come, I am sure, will do us proud," said manager Alan MacRae. "We have had a good season and it would be nice to win this, especially since we lost to Fort William in last year's final."

One welcome note for Lovat is the return of highly rated youngster Craig Mainland, just weeks after being hospitalised with meningitis.