SHINTY: Inverness women aim to make history and win cup for first time
INVERNESS B will be looking to make history by winning the Challenge Cup for the first time when they face Kinlochshiel in the final on Saturday.
Having reached the final twice previously and finishing as runners-up, the club will look to finally lift the trophy at The Eilan at Newtonmore with throw-up at 1.45pm.
Inverness B will go into the final as underdogs against a Kinlochshiel team who are top of North Division Two having won every game this season.
But Inverness are having a good season in the league too and are currently in third place.
Coach Drew McNeil says it is a fantastic achievement for Inverness B to reach the final of the competition.
He believes his team are capable of returning back to Inverness with the Challenge Cup for the first time.
“I have a young bunch of players who are continuing to punch above their weight this season and they’ve shown they are a great team,” says McNeil.
“It will be a tough test against a Kinlochshiel team who are averaging nine goals a game and only conceding one.
“But I am confident that our team will be able to give them a game.
"The one thing about our girls is that they have improved with every game.
“The girls also have experience of playing with the A team in the National Division, so they have also played at a higher level than North Division Two.”
Inverness run two women’s teams with the A team in the National Division and the B Team in North Division Two.
McNeil says the success of women’s teams in Inverness is down to their academy getting girls involved in the sport.
“At primary school, teams are mixed with an all girls pathway created at under-14 level and it has done well.”
The Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup final between Skye and Glasgow Mid-Argyll takes place afterwards at 4.10pm on Saturday.