Colin MacDonald, the man who set up Kyles Athletic’s victory in Saturday’s Macaulay Cup final, has paid tribute to the opposition for having helped him get into match-winning form.

The full forward scored the first half goals that twice put the Tighnabruich side in front in the opening half of the match in Oban, then set up what proved a vital fifth goal for clansman Roddy MacDonald midway through the second half, Kyles going on to win 7-4.

His contribution was all the more cruel for the beaten side because of the hospitality they have shown him since his work took him to their part of the world.

“I was two years away in Australia and I came back and my old boss said he needed to send me up north. I said that was fine and he said: ‘I need to send you to a place called Newtonmore, have you ever heard of it?’ I said I’ve come across it once or twice… then added ‘at least it’s no’ Kingussie,’” laughed MacDonald, before adding more seriously: “I can’t thank Newtonmore enough for the generosity they’ve shown. They’re a great club, the boys have been fantastic letting me train with them since pre-season and even going into these big finals they still let me train with them.”

He noted that their attitude in doing so is very much in keeping with a sport that could hardly do more to live up to the image of being the domain of the traditional warrior Highlander, but which still boasts a healthy sense of camaraderie.

“What happens on the park stays on the park, but after the game we’ll all go back and that’s what playing shinty’s all about, being rivals on the park and old friends off it,” MacDonald observed. “The game we play is a hard game. We give a lot to it, we train twice a week and we surrender our weekends for half the year and it’s a completely amateur sport and we just play for the glory.”

That was reflected in the views expressed by PJ Mackintosh, manager of Newtonmore, who said they had no regrets on the matter.

“He’s a good guy Colin, best of crack and he fits in well, no bother at all. He could go anywhere and fit in, he’s just one of those guys,” he said.

MacDonald’s braced matched his contribution which made the difference against Oban Camanachd in the previous round and with Kyles also in connection for the Marine Harvest Premiership title he is delighted to have taken his opportunity to be involved.

“I’ve only broken into the first team in the past four or five weeks,” he pointed out. “It took a lot of effort this season to come back and the only real option for me given the chance up front is to score goals. It doesn’t come very naturally for me I must admit, but I’ve been very lucky scoring two in the semi-final and two today.”