The Shinty Preview – Saturday 6 March 2010. | |
02 March 2010 The preparations are over and the new shinty season throws up on Saturday 6 March 2010.
The recent snow and frosty weather have hampered most teams’ pre-season plans.
Reigning Scottish Hydro National Premier Division Champions Kingussie preparations for the new campaign were limited to a 4-3 win over Marine Harvest North Division 1 side Beauly as they saw friendlies against Skye Camanachd and Caberfeidh fall foul of the weather. The new Kings management team of Stevie Borthwick and Russell Jones are set for their first competitive match as they host newly promoted Lovat at the Dell. Kingussie have been able to add Strathglass’ Lee Bain to their first team squad although he has picked up an injury in training and will miss this one. Kevin Thain has also indicated his preference to start the season in the second team to boost his fitness and he could be joined in the second string by Rory Fraser and John Gibson. Youngsters Martin Dallas and Thomas Borthwick will step up to the first team squad. Barry Dallas captains Kingussie this year. Full back Ally MacLeod misses the game through suspension. Lovat prepared for their return to the top flight with an 8-1 friendly win over Caberfeidh. James Gallagher and John MacRitchie’s side’s attacking options have been boosted by the good pre-season form shown by James MacPherson and Fraser Gallagher. The Kings will start as favourites and they know that this is exactly the type of game they need to win if they want to retain their title. However there must be a real doubt as to whether this game will go ahead in Kingussie at the weekend given the recent heavy fall of snow in the Badenoch area. Moving to Balgate may be an option but the venue is already scheduled to host a second team match.
Last year’s runners up Newtonmore fought for the title right up to the last day of the season. Norman MacArthur remains in charge and he takes his side to Blairbeg Park to play Glenurquhart who are led by new first team manager Jim Barr. ‘More’s Norman Campbell and Danny MacRae are unavailable for this one whilst Fraser MacKintosh is working abroad for a year. The Glen drew with Strathglass ahead of the big throw up but they should have John Barr back in the side for this game. Glen are without Steven Callander who has returned to play for Kinlochshiel. Newtonmore scored 5 times on each of the league meetings between the clubs last season and this has the potential to be one of the division’s top games.
Glasgow Mid Argyll start life with the big boys with a visit from Islanders Bute. Points will likely be at a premium for both sides this season and both will be confident of taking something from the game. Mid Argyll lost to both Kyles Athletic and Skye Camanachd in their pre-season preparations.
Inveraray and Kyles Athletic meet at the Winterton. The sides each won their home meetings against each other in the league last season.
With 2 all North and 2 all South matches, the only North v South meeting in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division is the intriguing clash at An Aird where Fort William, under the charge of Peter MacIntyre and Willie MacDonald, host an Oban Camanachd. Fort William will give young Paul MacKay his chance in goal following Scott McNeil’s decision to retire. Both sides have high expectations for the season ahead.
Last season’s Marine Harvest North Division 1 title race could hardly have been more exciting with Lovat eventually clinching the title by a single point over Kilmallie and 2 points ahead of third placed Skye Camanachd.
The league will be just as competitive this season with a strong Lochaber side taking Lovat’s place. Ally Ferguson’s side’s opening match is against Strathglass at Cannich. The home side won the 2009 Balliemore Cup but they were unable to repeat their cup form in the league. Strathglass now have Brian MacKay at the helm, assisted by the club’s most recent former managers Robert Geddes and Garry Reid. They have suffered a loss in personnel with the absence of father and son Steven and Marc MacLaughlan and Lee Bain who has joined Kingussie. Strath have converted Garry Reid to the full back role. Lochaber will be without keeper and club stalwart Angus Morrison who has retired and will be difficult to replace.
Kilmallie were Marine Harvest North Division 1 runners up last season and they travel to Castle Leod to play Caberfeidh. Caberfeidh keeper Archie Ritchie is now running the club’s second team so DJ Mellis comes in between the sticks. Kilmallie were victors when the sides met on the opening day of the 2009 season.
Skye Camanachd finished in third place in 2009 and they open their season with a trip to the Highland capital to play Inverness. The Islanders took the points with a 4-0 victory when the sides met on the first day of the 2009 season. Skye will be without the injured John Moir whilst Danny Morrison is a doubt. Iain Morrison, who was part of the Skye Camanachd U17 London Shield winning team last season, is promoted to the top team for the first time.
Beauly tested themselves with a pre-season game against Kingussie and were unlucky to lose 4-3. They also saw friendlies against Newtonmore and Fort William postponed. They start the season proper when they host Kinlochshiel at Braeview Park. Both sides have new additions with David Neilson joining Beauly and Steven Callander returning to Shiel. The sides also met on the opening day of last season when a 1-1 draw ensured honours were even.
Lochcarron have a free Saturday.
There is a cracking opening day match in Marine Harvest South Division 1 when Kilmory host 2009 champions Lochside Rovers. Kilmory will be without full back Fergus Walker who has retired.
Newly promoted Taynuilt start their league campaign with a trip to Jubilee Park to play Ballachulish.
Oban Celtic play host to Inveraray.
2009 Marine Harvest North Division 2 champions Glenurquhart are fixtured to travel to the Eilan to play Newtonmore. However the heavy snowfall may well have lessened the chances of this game going ahead as scheduled. The Glen will once again be a mixture of youth and experience and will be amongst the title favourites again this season.
Newly promoted Beauly travel to Portree to take on Skye Camanachd. Beauly had success at this venue last season when they beat the Islanders in the Strathdearn Cup. Skye have Ryan Nicolson back in the side but Ross Graham will be missing because of work commitments.
Kilmallie and Kingussie meet at Canal Parks. It could be an experienced Kingussie reserve side which takes the field with Kevin Thain, Rory Fraser and John Gibson likely to join Michael Clark from last season’s squad.
Kinlochshiel and Fort William battle for points at Kirkton.
Glengarry visit Balgate to play Lovat.
Aberdour will be looking to get off to a good start in Marine Harvest South Division 2 and they host Ballachulish in their opening game.
Col Glen cross the water to play Bute.
Kyles Athletic and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet at Tighnabruaich.
Tayforth will look to put last season’s team raising difficulties behind them as the head for Dalmally to play Strachur.
Caberfeidh were relegated to Marine Harvest North Division 3 at the end of last season and they will start amongst the title favourites this term. With former first team keeper Archie Ritchie at the helm, Cabers make the visit west to play Ardnamurchan.
Two young sides meet at Spean Bridge when Lochaber host Strathglass.
Lochcarron and Boleskine meet at Battery Park.
Aberdeen University host Allan MacLeod’s Inverness side. |