Shinty’s dominant force of recent seasons re-asserted its authority in claiming the first major trophy of the new season in the MacTavish Cup final at Bught Park in Inverness yesterday, but they were fully extended by a Kilmallie side that was running on high emotion.

The build-up to the encounter had been wholly over-shadowed by the Fort William-based club having to cope with the funerals of two famous names with the loss of sixties stalwart Donald Lamont, immediately before their previous match a fortnight ago, followed by deep tragedy with the death of Duncan Rodger, a member of their current squad.

Their players having unanimously rejected the Camanachd Association’s generous offer of a postponement of this live televised, showpiece occasion, their focus was on paying tribute in the best way possible as they took to the field wearing tee-shirts bearing the message: “Always with us – Donald and Duncan.”

Forward Michael Rodger meanwhile opted not to wear his own number 9 shirt in favour of the number 12 which would have been worn by his older cousin, his involvement in the match a triumph in itself.

There was no shortage of energy from him or his team-mates in the early exchanges, but from the outset the cup holders and Premiership champions of the past six seasons carried the greater threat and it was no surprise when they took the lead in 15 minutes with a Stephen MacDonald right-handed shot low to Kilmallie goal-keeper Shane Gillies’ left and they doubled their advantage 12 minutes later when, from a free hit, the scorer of the opener teed up clansman Drew.

When Fraser MacKintosh registered their third three minutes into the second half with an opportunist strike when he looked well covered, they looked set to cruise to victory.

However Rodger had been increasingly influential as the opening half had gone, his vision setting up his team’s best chances from a couple of free hits and he revived their challenge six minutes later when he gathered a pass from Innes Blackhall, too a couple of touches then, from close range, sent a sweetly struck left-handed shot beyond Norman Campbell, Newtonmore’s stand-in goal-keeper.

The favourites continued to have the better of the game, but were subjected to a testing last 15 minutes after Blackhall’s fellow teenager Calum MacDougall, who would deservedly win the man of the match award for a strong running and skilful overall showing, showed he could finish as well as create.

“I thought there was a bit of complacency,” said Newtonmore manager PJ MacKintosh.

“We were going really well at 3-0 but once they got one and got a second they were really up for it, so it was a bit of a nervous time but we got there.”

His Kilmallie counterpart Mark MacPherson meanwhile expressed his pride in the way his players had coped with the day, pointing out that this was also a significant challenge for a team that has only just returned to the Premiership after gaining promotion from the National League last season.

“They performed the way I thought they would,” he said.

“OK we got punished a wee bit for a few things and that’s the way it is. Every Premier team will do that, we’ve learned that in the league, but our fitness levels took us through and at 3-2 we kept going.”