Kingussie and Newtonmore will take one of Scottish sport’s great rivalries to Oban this Saturday when they meet in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final at Mossfield Park.
The Badenoch neighbours will contest shinty’s greatest prize from 2.05pm, with BBC ALBA broadcasting the final live from 2pm.
Between them, Kingussie and Newtonmore have lifted the Camanachd Cup 61 times and occupy the top two places on the competition’s all time winners list.
Newtonmore will make their 56th appearance in the final and are chasing a record extending 36th victory.
They also arrive as defending champions after defeating Kingussie in the 2025 final and will attempt to repeat that success against their closest rivals.
Kingussie are appearing in their fifth consecutive final and have won the trophy 26 times.
Victory on Saturday would give them a fourth Camanachd Cup in five years, adding another chapter to an extraordinary recent record in the competition.
There is little separating the clubs geographically, but there will be no shortage of incentive when two communities with shinty woven through their histories meet on the biggest day of the season.
Newtonmore arrive as league leaders after surviving a dramatic semi final against Oban Camanachd which was eventually decided on penalties.
Kingussie booked their place at Mossfield with an emphatic 4 to 1 victory over Skye and have already lifted the MacTavish Cup this season.
Camanachd Association President Burton Morrison said:
“Saturday’s Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final has all the ingredients of a classic Badenoch derby.
“Newtonmore go into the final as league leaders and showed great resilience to overcome Oban Camanachd on penalties in their semi-final, while Kingussie produced an impressive 4-1 victory over Skye.
“With Kingussie having lifted the MacTavish Cup earlier this season and Newtonmore claiming the Camanachd Cup against their rivals in 2025, both sides know what it takes to win on the big stage.
“We are hugely grateful to Kieran and the team at Tulloch Homes for their continued support, which helps make occasions like this possible.
“I look forward to a fiercely contested final that showcases the very best of shinty.”
Newtonmore captain Iain Robinson said:
“Everyone is absolutely itching to get going.
“Looking back to the semi, there’s a lot of teams that would’ve folded and given up, I was buzzing seeing them digging in deep in extra time and getting that penalties win.
“Growing up you dream of winning The Camanachd Cup, I’ll be happy as long as the trophy is in Newtonmore’s hands.”
Kingussie captain Ruaridh Anderson said:
“We’re absolutely buzzing, the mood throughout the camp is really good and we’ve got the added incentive of it being a derby.
“It’s the best day in the shinty calendar so I’m really looking forward to it!
“It’s always such an honour to represent Kingussie in these big games.
“You always go into these games with confidence and when you’re enjoying your shinty this confidence comes.
“The feeling never gets old.”
Before the senior sides take centre stage, Kilmallie and Kingussie will contest the MacMaster Cup Final from 11am.
Then all eyes turn to the old Badenoch rivals and another afternoon when a few miles of Highland road between Kingussie and Newtonmore will feel considerably wider than usual.
Tickets for the final are cheapest when purchased online and are available at www.shinty.com
