lochcarron ace alan is heading for dublin with national side in bid to tame the irish – but by way of lanzarote

Scots need big-hitter MacKenzie to make his capital connection

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Lochcarron’s Alan MacKenzie will fly off today on a sunshine break which begins in the Canary Isles and will end with him playing for Scotland in Ireland.

The 39-year-old defender, one of the biggest hitters in shinty, is off on a week’s holiday to Lanzarote and has arranged to fly back to Edinburgh in time to link up with the Scotland squad which will fly to Dublin for the international, which takes place tomorrow week.

Scotland manager Fraser Mackenzie is keeping his fingers crossed there will be no delays to allow MacKenzie to make his Irish connection.

In tomorrow’s two-game Premier Division card, the focus is on finishing second-top and second-bottom.

Fort William, with two to play, are runners-up on 22 points, while Newtonmore, with four games left, are on 19, so their duel at The Eilean is significant. James Clark, recovering from surgery, will again be missed by Fort.

Two teams hoping to avoid the second relegation place, Strathglass and Bute, will be hoping Inveraray win their home game with Lochaber. If the Spean Bridge men win, they will leapfrog Strathglass and go two points clear of Bute. A Lochaber win would mean Strathglass must win at Inveraray in their final game. Camanachd Association administrator Astie Cameron is arranging for all three clubs to play their final games on the same day.

Champions Glenurquhart play their final game as a First Division side when they visit runners up Kilmallie. Glen are attempting to finish unbeaten in 14 league games. Fort William colts, Strathdearn Cup winners, are closing in on the double and a point against Newtonmore at An Aird will mean they are crowned North Second Division champions.