ALAN Rough returns tomorrow to Firhill, where he kept goal with some

distinction in his days with Partick Thistle. The occasion is the OVD

Scottish Junior Cup final, when the entire populations of towns or

villages enjoy a family day out.

It is surprising, perhaps, that Auchinleck Talbot will not be there.

They were eliminated in the semi-final by Tayport, a Fife-based team who

play in the Tayside Region.

A 3-0 win earned them a place in the final against Glenafton, managed

by Rough, and who were beaten finalists last year.

Tayport come to Firhill as champions of their competitive local

league, whose Downfield and St Joseph's also had good cup runs.

The finalists from Tayside are only three years old as a Junior club

and, if you are a romantic, you probably will be hoping that they follow

in the footsteps of their fellow Fifers, Hill o' Beath Hawthorn, who won

the trophy in 1990 when relatively new to the Junior grade.

But the trophy's usual home is in south Ayrshire. Hill o' Beath

succeeded Cumnock as winners, and that followed three-in-a-row by

Talbot, who were expected to complete another hat trick this term.

It looks as though age may at last be catching up with Talbot. Instead

of Auchinleck, it is their rivals from only a few miles to the south,

the Glens (based in New Cumnock), who carry the Ayrshire banner this

time.

Rough, who confesses to being surprised at his own degree of

''community involvement'' in the area, is not the only former Thistle

player now associated with Glens. So also are his assistant, Andy

Dunlop, and four of the players.

Glens' ranks include prolific scorer Norman Montgomery,

Kilmarnock-bound Tom Brown, who scored the winner against Lesmahagow in

the semi-final, and the one-time Rangers player, Davie McFarlane.

There will be an incentive to go for goals. Sports Division may be

sponsors of Glenafton but the sports retailers have adopted a neutral

stance by offering a #5000 bonus to the first player of either team to

score a hat trick during the regulation 90 minutes.

Tayport's Hamish MacKay, a former Montrose striker who scored all the

goals in their upset win over Talbot, would be a contender. But

Tayport's main asset is a strong defence, and goals are likely to be

scarce.

Talbot's 4-0 win last year ended a sequence of five 1-0 scorelines,

and one goal again could be enough.