Shinty: Finalists will battle to put bad memories behind them

STATISTICS can work negatively if assessed too rigorously and for today's Artemis Macaulay Cup finalists, creating fresh history is the name of the game.

Take Newtonmore first. Figures show they have not won this clash of north and south's finest for 25 years - an uncomfortable record for one of the sport's leviathans. The south's Kyles, on the other hand, are 22 years without the merest whiff of it. But today's televised clash at Mossfield Park, Oban, therefore, is all about the here and now.

In the blue and white corner, Premier League champions Newtonmore are chasing the holy trinity of the Camanachd Cup, the league title and this one.

Kyles are seeking to steal their laurels in the league. They already have the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup and want this one as well.

Newtonmore have more recent experience of this final, which they reached in 2008, and this is where stats can be used to motivate. Indeed, the pain of losing meekly to Inveraray on an awful day can actually be charted as a crucial moment in their transformation to champions.

"That was maybe a start of something for us," said manager Norman Macarthur. There was so much local interest in this final three years ago that scarves had to be bought from Kilmarnock FC to cope with fan demand.

No sooner, though, had the blue and white hordes sat down on Mossfield's green hill, when the occasion started to spiral horribly away from them. Inveraray made a mockery of their resistance. Scotland stalwart Norman Campbell had to play up front as he was injured as most of the things that could go wrong did. The buses rolled off, wounds were licked and everything went quiet.

The next season, the club did not make the same mistake. Kingussie were dispatched in the MacTavish final and the following year, Newtonmore won the league. In fact, since that 2008 defeat, when a big game has loomed, they have not been found as wanting.

"Some good maybe did come of that," says forward Danny MacRae. "We feel more ready for these occasions now. When we won the league, everyone saw us as a target but that has made us up our game. Hopefully the younger ones will cope with the occasion."

One youngster who won't be unnerved is defender Rory Kennedy. He played 15 minutes of that 2008 final as a 16-year-old. Last year, at 18, he won the championship and Player of the Year. "I just felt lucky to be involved in that final but this is my third now. Hopefully we can win it this time."

Kyles are hoping the same. Don't bet against extra time.