The Weekend Shinty Preview. | |
26 September 2008 There are some exciting fixtures set for Saturday 27 September 2008. Fort William will start as favourites in their Strathdearn Cup Final against Kingussie. Fort William have never won the trophy and although they have been dominant in North Division 2 in recent times, their cup record has been less impressive. They have lost to Kilmallie in the last two Sutherland Cup Finals so they will be desperate for victory against Kingussie. The Kings have lost in their last two Strathdearn Cup Finals but they will want to make it third time lucky this weekend. Donald MacRae from Dornie is the match referee. The Bullough Cup Final is an all Oban affair betwen Oban Celtic and Lochside Rovers. Both teams have a number of good young players and a good final is anticipated. The Kingussie first team will be looking to make it 17 straight wins in the National Premier League. They start as favourites at home to Kyles Athletic, but they will have to do it without the injured Ronald Ross. Although Ross misses the remainder of the season, players such as Michael Clark - playing out the remainder of their first team shinty - will be looking to go out on a high. The Kings last league match is away to Fort William and this will provide a testing end to their league campaign and their ambitions of achieving 18 straight wins. In terms of the remainder of the National Premier League, all eyes will be on the relegation battle. Bute host Newtonmore and the outcome could depend on which More players travel to the game. Whatever their line-up, More will find the Islanders a tough nut to crack. Fort William - even without the injured James Clark - will be favourites at home to the already relegated Lovat. Oban Camanachd will be keen to ease their relegation fears and take something from their Mossfield clash against Inveraray in their last match of the league campaign. However the away sides have games in hand and should consolidate their position in the top end of the league in the weeks ahead. In Marine Harvest North Division 1, the top two clash at Drum na Drochit. This match is Glenurquhart's penultimate game of the season, and a win will give them the title and promotion. They will have to do it without Lewis MacLennan who is in Austrailia. MacLennan also missed last week's narrow victory over Skye but the Glen hope to have him back for their visit to Canal Parks. However a Kilmallie win will mean that if they win their last two games - against Lochcarron and the Glen at Canal Parks - they will win the top prize. Beauly travel to Lochcarron in their last game of the season and they will need to at least avoid a heavy defeat so that they finish ahead of Caberfeidh in the relegation battle. Both teams are currently bottom of the league on 8 points although Beauly have slightly the better goal difference with Inverness a point ahead in 7th place. Bottom club Lochaber face a tough task away to Kilmallie in Marine Harvest North Division 1. Newtonmore host Kinlochshiel with both sides 3rd and 4th respectively.. Glenurquhart will be hoping for 2 points in their tricky visit to Lochbroom in Marine Harvest North Division 3. The Glen know that they need to convert their games in hand in to points if they wish to secure the title. Second place Beauly are at Strathglass and Lochcarron host bottom club Kincraig.
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