The Shinty Preview. | |
11 August 2009 The Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi finals take centre stage on Saturday 15 August 2009. Both Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi finals are scheduled to take place at The first semi final between Bute and The second semi final is between Kingussie and Kyles Athletic. Kingussie’s main danger man will once again be Ronald Ross who has already scored 10 goals in the Kings 2 games in this competition this season. Kingussie will be without keeper Andrew Borthwick who is on holiday. Craig Dawson will take his place between the sticks and he performed very well there in last week’s second team victory over The Strathdearn Cup semi finals see Beaten Aberdein Sutherland finalists Lovat have home advantage against Newtonmore in the other semi final. Lovat have already beaten Newtonmore 5-2 at Balgate this season with Martin Anderson netting a double. However second half goals from John MacKenzie and Andy MacKintosh helped Newtonmore to a 2-0 win when the sides met at the Eilan a few weeks later. Therefore home advantage could be crucial with this one although ‘More will point to their recent good league form with 3 wins and a draw in their last 4 outings. David Wilde will be their main goal threat. Kyles Athletic and Lochside Rovers enjoy home advantage in the Bullough Cup semi finals. Marine Harvest South Division 2 sides Kyles Athletic and Glenorchy meet at Tigh na Bruach. Kyles ran out 2-1 winners when the sides met at Dalmally earlier in the season and they sit third in the table whilst Glenorchy are second bottom. Runaway Marine Harvest South Division 1 leaders Lochside Rovers host Aberdour, who are in fourth place in Marine Harvest South Division 2, at Mossfield. Lochside are the competition’s reigning champions and they will be difficult to stop this year too. The match of the day in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division is at Drumnadrochit where second place Glenurquhart host fifth place Newtonmore. The Glen have admittedly played 5 matches more than their opponents and ’More had a convincing 5-0 win when the sides met at the Eilan on the opening day of the season. Whilst Glenurquhart certainly settled into life in the top flight since then, Newtonmore have players back to full fitness with Danny MacRae looking particularly good. Neither side has played a competitive match since 25 July 2009. Lochaber host Oban Camanachd at Already relegated Glenorchy play Inveraray at Dalmally. Inveraray are by no means safe themselves as they also sit just 2 points above second bottom Kilmallie do not have a scheduled match in Marine Harvest North Division 1 but they will be interested in how 5 of their championship challengers’ fare. League leaders Skye Camanachd face a difficult task when they travel to Cannich to play Strathglass. This will be Strathglass’ first match since they won the Balliemore Cup 4 weeks ago and the Cannich area has been shrouded in sadness since Scott Bain’s death. Skye are still without Somhairle MacDonald and Iain Nicolson is absent because of work commitments. AB Connor will have a late fitness test following a knock picked up against Beauly. Kinlochshiel and Title challengers Caberfeidh and Beauly meet at Lochcarron will be out to break their points duck when Lovat come to visit Battery Park. Lovat have only played 6 league games and if they can go on an unbeaten run, they will join the other title contenders in the top half of the table. Lochside Rovers are not in action in Marine Harvest South Division 1 but they could be crowned champions if second place Glasgow Mid Argyll fail to take both points at third place Kilmory. This clash has added significance as Lochside Rovers cannot win promotion to the National Premier Division and so second place could clinch a place in the top league. The sides are separated by a single point in the table and Mid Argyll had a convincing 5-0 win when the sides met at Yoker on the first day of the season. However Kilmory have won their last consecutive 6 league matches. Oban Celtic host Inveraray with only one point separating them in the league. Marine Harvest North Division 2 leaders Glenurquhart have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table when they host Caberfeidh at Drumnadrochit. With Kingussie and Skye Camanachd will look to make it 3 consecutive wins in the league when they host Kinlochshiel at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The Islanders haven’t conceded a goal during their last 2 victories but they will be mindful that they lost 2-0 to Shiel when the sides met at Kirkton earlier in the season. Glengarry play Kilmallie at Invergarry. Garry won 1-0 thanks to a Ken Henderson strike when the sides met at Canal Parks earlier in the season. Both sides lost last weekend and in fact neither has won in the league since 27 June 2009 so both will be keen to get back on the winning ways. This match will be refereed by Skye’s John MacLeod. There is a Friday night match in Marine Harvest South Division 2 when Col Glen host There are two Saturday matches as second top Glenorchy play second bottom Strachur at Dalmally. Strachur won 2-0 when the sides met earlier in the season. This match has an 11.30am throw up. Third bottom side Glasgow Mid Argyll play bottom club Ballachulish at Yoker. Mid Argyll won 6-1 when the sides met at Marine Harvest North Division 3 leaders Lochbroom are not in action for the second consecutive week so Beauly have the chance to go top of the table. Beauly host Lochcarron at Lochaber play Ardnamurchan at |