ALAIN KINNEY set the tongues wagging with his cheeky celebration after he sealed Glenafton's 2-0 Ardagh Glass League Cup Final win over Auchinleck with the crucial second goal.

Now the experienced frontman reckons his developing partnership with fellow Glens striker Aaron Connolly could lead to even more silverware arriving at Loch Park.

The Little-and-Large pair combined to devastating effect in Sunday's defeat of Talbot.

Connolly also came close to getting his name on the score-sheet with a first-half shot that rebounded off the bar.

Kinney acknowledged his colleague's contribution and said: "A goal would have been a fitting reward for Aaron on the day because he terrorised Auchinleck's defence with his pace off the mark and willingness to run the channels.

"Aaron is the real deal and already there are signs of an understanding between us.

Unfortunately, injuries have severely restricted the opportunities for us to team up together so far.

"But hopefully we showed enough on Sunday to earn a lengthy run of games."

The forwards seem certain to team up again on Saturday when Glens travel to Glasgow to face St Roch's in a New Coin Holdings Cup first-round clash that could prove tricky for the Ayrshire side.

Kinney - looking quite a bit leaner than he did when turning out for Kilbirnie Ladeside and Pollok - laid the praise for his return to form at the door of gaffer Tommy Bryce.

He explained: "I had a really enjoyable spell at Kilbirnie under Tommy. He certainly knows my strengths and how to get the best out of me.

"At 29, I'm getting on a bit now and have realised I need to be in the best possible shape to make the most of what's left of my footballing career.

"Glenafton came so close to the biggest prize of all when they lost to Hurlford in last season's Junior Cup Final.

"But I would love to have another crack at it now that we are a year older and wiser for the experience."

The experiment of staging the Ardagh final on a Sunday was voted a success, as almost 1,100 spectators turned up at Portland Park in Troon.

It prompted West Region officials to schedule the Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup Final between Cumbernauld United and Blantyre Vics for Sunday, November 2, at a venue yet to be named.

At the weekend David Greig celebrated two years in charge of Vics with a 3-0 win over Vale of Clyde thanks to goals from Terry Hewitt, David Galt and Craig Smith.

The Castle Park gaffer said: "It's undoubtedly the correct decision to play the cup final on a Sunday.

"I just hope the powers-that-be take the game to a stadium that does not entail too much travelling for both teams."

Meanwhile, the latest whispers from the terraces suggest that John McKeown - whose Wishaw side lost out to Vics in the Euroscot semi-finals - is one of the frontrunners for the position of Cumnock boss.

It's thought that the one-time Ipswich Town and Ayr United defender - who had a brief playing stint at Townhead Park under Campbell Money - faces competition from another ex-Nock player, Brian McGinty.

One of McGinty's former clubs, Pollok, will be on tenterhooks tonight awaiting the West Region Committee's verdict on their striker Alan McKenzie's appeal against his red card in a game against Neilston which incurred a two-match suspension.

If his appeal fails McKenzie - who netted in a 2-0 weekend win at Rutherglen Glencairn - will sit out this week's New Coin Holdings Cup opener at home to Thorniewood United.

He could also miss the Scottish Junior Cup contest with Whitletts Vics on October 25.

Pollok boss Tony McInally is also due to appear after he was also sent off in the recent game against Neilston.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup. First round: Benburb v Girvan, Johnstone Burgh v Dunipace, St Anthony's v Vale of Clyde, Beith v Carluke Rovers, East Kilbride Thistle v Vale of Leven, Muirkirk v Hurlford Utd, Craigmark v Clydebank, Lanark Utd v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Saltcoats Vics v Largs Thistle, Annbank Utd v Rossvale, Irvine Vics v Blantyre Vics, Troon v Kilsyth Rangers, Dalry Thistle v Shettleston, Royal Albert v Maryhill, Glasgow Perthshire v Rutherglen Glencairn, Wishaw v Forth, Ardeer Thistle v Rob Roy, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Lugar Boswell, Petershill v Cambuslang Rangers, Shotts Bon Accord v Neilston, Arthurlie v Newmains Utd, Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock, Kello Rovers v Whitletts Vics, Irvine Meadow v Port Glasgow, Cumbernauld Utd v Lesmahagow, Darvel v Kilwinning Rangers, St Roch's v Glenafton, Yoker v Bellshill Athletic, Pollok v Thorniewood Utd, Maybole v Ashfield, Greenock v Renfrew.