Brora Rangers goalkeeper Cammy Mackay is ready for the real thing in the North of Scotland Cup final at Nairn after thrill of two Scottish Cup finals with Inverness Caley Thistle
A North of Scotland Cup final might seem like a trifling matter for a man who has twice experienced the thrill of a Scottish Cup final.
Try telling that to Brora Rangers’ goalkeeper Cammy Mackay.
The former Caley Thistle shotstopper collected a winners’ medal from Hampden Park in May 2015 after victory over Falkirk, followed by a runners-up gong as Billy Dodds’ Championship side fell at the final hurdle to Celtic in June last year.
At Nairn’s Station Park this weekend, Mackay is relishing the chance to play a full and active part against Clach.
“I was lucky enough at Caley Thistle to experience some great things,” the 27-year-old summer signing said.
“Being involved in a Scottish Cup final the second time around against Celtic was a great occasion and experience. If we’d managed to pull off the unthinkable, it would have been incredible.
“But it is very different looking forward to a game like this, knowing you will be playing. If we can get the win, it will be special to play a part in that rather than sit back and watch other people do it.
“At Caley Thistle, I worked as hard as I could during the week, but then Saturday came and there was nothing for you.”
Mackay, who has transferred that work ethic to a local haulage firm since leaving full-time football, chose Brora in an effort to maintain that professionalism in a part-time setting.
The transition to working life has been tough, but rewarding, as he strives to maintain the levels he achieved alongside the likes of Ryan Esson and Mark Ridgers.
“It is a massive change - a change in your body and your whole routine,” Mackay said.
“You think full-time football is hard going every week until you try mixing football with a job.
“My body is slowly adjusting after three and a half months, but I start at about 5am so I’ll never really adjust to that.
“But now at training nights, I’m not as tired as I was at first.
“I work to maintain those standards. It is really the only way I’m tuned, to be honest.
“Fighting for positions season after season, you’ve got to keep a high standard. If you drop down to part-time football and lose that standard, it can lose its purpose.
“You could easily fall into the trap of thinking you can just turn up, take the mick, and not work hard.
“That’s the kind of mindset you can quickly fall into.”
Brora, in fine form and second in the league, are massive favourites, but Mackay is wary of Clach.
“We are favourites, but that’s no disrespect to Clach. They’ve had a great start to the season,” he said.
“Not many people expected them to be where they are, fifth in the league. They have made good signings and have Joe Malin and Josh Meekings at the back.
“Everybody who knows the Highland League knows what a good goalkeeper Joe is.
“They have quality and a good team spirit and sometimes a good team spirit can take you far.
“It will be dangerous if we approach it in the wrong manner, but if we approach it the right way I think that will show in the end.”