The Shinty Preview. | |
19 August 2009 The MacPhee & Partners Macaulay Cup Final is the main event of Saturday 22 August 2009. The MacPhee & Partners Macaulay Cup Final brings together 2008 winners Inveraray and 2008 Scottish Hydro Premier League winners Kingussie. At the risk of stating the obvious, Inveraray’s chances of success will depend on how effectively they can deal with Kingussie talisman Ronald Ross or if the can at least cut off the supply to the game’s top scorer. Inveraray will rely on the goal threat from Gary MacPherson and Grant Griffen. The Kings will have keeper Andrew Borthwick available for selection again on his return from holiday. The Kings are amid a series of vital games including Kyles Athletic in their Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final next weekend and a series of forthcoming Scottish Hydro Premier Division games. The final at Mossfield, Oban throws up at 2.10pm and will be shown live by BBC2 Scotland. The match of the day in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division is the meeting between Lochaber travel to Rothesay to take on Bute; boosted by last week’s fine victory over Oban Camanachd at Kyles Athletic host Oban Camanachd at Tigh na Bruach. Kyles duo Roddy MacDonald and Colin McColl both picked up head knocks in last weekend’s aborted Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final. Oban Camanachd will look to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Oban Camanachd. Oban won 3-1 at Mossfield when the sides met earlier in the season however Scott MacMillan, who scored their opening goal that day, will miss the match after being sent off last weekend. Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders Skye Camanachd do not have a fixture but they will be watching with interest as their title rivals are all in action. Second place Kilmallie travel to fourth place Lovat. Kilmallie are 4 points ahead of their rivals in the league but Lovat have 3 games in hand, so this match is crucial to both sides’ title aspirations. Lovat come into the match with confidence following back to back wins over Lochcarron and Beauly. They have only lost one match this season, less than any of their rivals and the Kiltarlidy outfit has playmaker Gavin Macaulay in fine form. Kilmallie have been idle for the last 2 weekends but will be all set for a title push. Third place Caberfeidh seem to have an easier task – on paper at least – as they host second bottom Fifth place Beauly await the visit of bottom club Lochcarron. The visitors have suffered 10 straight defeats from their opening 10 fixtures and they can’t seem to buy a win at the moment. Beauly won 3-0 when the sides met at Battery Park earlier in the season. Strathglass will want to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Skye Camanachd at Cannich when they travel west to play Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. The Strath might only be in 6th place but like Lovat, they have only played 8 games – half of their league programme. Both sides know that should they go on a run of wins, they can propel themselves to the top of the table so this match should be a cracker. Kyles Athletic and Inveraray will try again to play their Bullough Cup semi final tie for the right to play Lochside Rovers in the final. There are no games in Marine Harvest South Division 1 as the game between Glasgow Mid Argyll and Inveraray does not go ahead. There is a trio of 12 noon throw ups in Marine Harvest North Division 2. Lovat host Kilmallie at Balgate before their senior sides do battle later in the afternoon. Kilmallie won 2-0 when the sides met at Canal Parks in May thanks to goals from Craig MacPhee and Steven MacAllister. Newtonmore travel to Kirkton to take on Kinlochshiel in the knowledge that they only had a narrow 3-2 when the sides met at the Eilan. In Marine Harvest South Division 2, second place Strachur have the chance to narrow the gap on runaway leaders Taynuilt who do not have a game. Strachur visit 4th place Aberdour whom they beat 3-0 on the second Saturday of the shinty season. Bottom club Ballachulish host second bottom Glenorchy. However their must be a doubt over whether this match goes ahead due to the condition of Jubilee Park following last weekend’s Camanachd Cup semi finals. Marine Harvest North Division 3 leaders Lochbroom travel to the Highland capital to play Second place Beauly are also on the road as they play Strathglass at Cannich. Terry MacAllister scored 4 goals in Beauly’s 7-1 win over Strathglass earlier in the season. High scoring Beauly have bagged 29 goals in their last 3 league games. Lochaber host Boleskine at
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