The Shinty Preview – Saturday 10 April 2010. | |
07 April 2010 A mixture of Premier Division and Balliemore and Sutherland Cup action catches the eye on Saturday 10 April 2010.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division leaders Newtonmore head for Rothesay to take on Bute.
Reigning champions Kingussie head for Mossfield in what will be a tricky contest with Oban Camanachd. Kingussie’s chances will largely depend on Ronald Ross’ fitness and whether he is available to play. Both sides have made what could be described as a shaky start to the season. Liam MacIntyre will be available for the home side after serving a 2 match ban.
There is a potential relegation battle at Balgate where Lovat host Glasgow Mid Argyll. This will be a vital game for both sides and it is the type of fixture which Lovat must win if they are to stay in the top flight.
There is an interesting meeting at the Winterton where Glenurquhart travel to play Inveraray. The home side are starting to gain a reputation this season of being a team with an excellent home record but who struggle on their travels. Glenurquhart will be boosted by their recent league win at Rothesay against Bute.
There should be a cracking match at Tighnabruaich where Kyles Athletic look forward to the visit of Fort William. This is a repeat of the 2009 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final.
The only other league match to go ahead is in Marine Harvest South Division 1 where leaders Glenorchy host newly promoted Taynuilt. The home side has 3 wins from 3 matches so far and even at this early stage of the season, they look determined to make a speedy return to shinty’s top flight. Taynuilt are still looking for their first win but they do have 2 points from a couple of draws.
The Balliemore Cup first round sees reigning champions Strathglass travel west to play Kinlochshiel at Kirkton in what is a repeat of the 2009 final. The home side welcome back Finlay MacRae following a 2 match suspension but keeper Graham Kennedy remains absent with ankle ligament damage. Ian Cameron will continue to deputise between the sticks following his excellent performance in the 3-0 defeat to Fort William last weekend. Strathglass will be without Michael Stokes who was hurt in a car accident last weekend.
There is a North v South match at Braeview Park where Beauly host Oban Celtic. David Neilson has been amongst the scorers for the home side this season whilst Neil Carmichael is a major influence for Oban Celtic.
The winners from the clash between Kinlochshiel and Strathglass will enjoy home advantage against whoever progresses from the meeting of Beauly and Oban Celtic in the quarter finals.
2008 Balliemore Cup winners Skye Camanachd make the long journey to Lochgilphead to play Kilmory. This will be the first ever meeting between the sides and Skye will be well aware that their hosts made it very difficult for their west coast neighbours Kinlochshiel when the sides met a fortnight ago in the preliminary round of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup. Skye will have Somhairle MacDonald and Kenny Campbell back in the squad whilst defender John Moir may also be available. Kilmory sit in second place in Marine Harvest South Division 1 with 5 points from 3 games. However they were somewhat disappointed to go out of 2 cup competitions in the last 2 weeks. They were beaten at home by Ballachulish last weekend in the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup whilst Kinlochshiel beat them in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup the previous week.
The winners will host Taynuilt, who received a first round bye, in the last eight.
The potential tie of the round takes place as Canal Parks and is an all Marine Harvest North Division 1 clash as Kilmallie entertain Caberfeidh. Free scoring Kilmallie will test the normally reliable Caberfeidh defence with John Stewart, Peter MacIntyre, Michael Rodgers and Liam MacDonald all providing a serious goal threat already this season. Cabers have dropped 3 points out of 4 at home in the league over the last two Saturdays. However they demonstrated last season that they are a tough prospect away from home and forward Kirk Taylor has already been in impressive goal scoring form this campaign.
The winners will travel to Dalmally to play Glenorchy, who received a first round bye, in the quarter finals.
Lochaber and Inverness meet for the third consecutive Saturday. This tie is scheduled for Spean Bridge where-as the previous two meetings took place at the Bught Park, Inverness. Stevie Munro’s side had players returning last week and his team put in a much improved performance to only go down 2-0 compared to the previous week’s heavy defeat. Lochaber will start as favourites and will have an eye on a good cup run.
Lochcarron also head south as they travel to Jubilee Park to play Ballachulish who are second bottom of Marine Harvest South Division 1. Lochcarron made it difficult for Skye before going down to the only goal of the match in last weekend’s MacTavish Cup. Kenny Ross remains absent with a hand injury.
Strikes from Andrew Young and Scott Henderson gave Ballachulish an impressive win against Kilmory at Lochgilphead last Saturday.
The winners of the Lochaber / Inverness tie will have home advantage against the victors from the clash between Ballachulish and Lochcarron.
The Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup also begins at the weekend and reigning champions Fort William make the short journey to Invergarry to play Glengarry.
There is an all South clash in Glasgow as Glasgow Mid Argyll entertain Bute.
The winners of the tie between Fort William and Glengarry will have home advantage against either Glasgow Mid Argyll or Bute in the second round of the competition.
Kinlochshiel and Kilmallie meet at Kirkton. Shiel have made a promising start to the season and will start as favourites. This match has a 12 noon throw up.
There should be a close tie at Balgate where Lovat meet Newtonmore. This match has a 12 noon throw up.
Whoever comes out on top in the tie between Kinlochshiel and Kilmallie will host the victors of the Lovat / Newtonmore tie.
Tayforth, relegated from Marine Harvest South Division 1 last season, make the long journey to play Skye Camanachd in Portree. The Islanders picked up their first point of the season last weekend against Kinlochshiel but they currently sit bottom of Marine Harvest South Division 2. Tayforth’s main goal threat will come from ex Newtonmore player Stuart Ferrier. Tayforth took on the Skye Camanachd first team in a couple of cup competitions in 2008. The Islanders senior side were convincing winners in Portree but it was a much closer affair in Perth.
Col Glen host the Taynuilt second team who have only entered the cup competitions this season.
The winners of the tie between Skye Camanachd and Tayforth will enjoy home advantage against the victors of the tie between Col Glen and Taynuilt.
Aberdeen University head for the Highland Capital to take on Inverness. The sides met recently in Aberdeen where the Students were convincing winners.
Lochcarron face a stiff test at Battery Park where they welcome Glenurquhart. The Glen suffered a rare defeat in Fort William last weekend and they will be keen to put a cup run together – something they didn’t manage last season. Lochcarron brought full forward Davie MacKenzie out of retirement for last weekend’s win over Strathglass and he responded with 2 goals.
Inverness or Aberdeen University have been given home advantage against Lochcarron or Glenurquhart in the last 16.
Boleskine make the short journey down the A9 to play Kingussie at the Dell. The visitors will have been boosted by last week’s win over Ardnamurchan. However they will likely find an experienced Kingussie side lying in wait which may include the likes of Rory Fraser and Michael Clark.
Lochaber head for Cannich to play Strathglass.
Kingussie or Boleskine will be at home to Strathglass or Lochaber in the second round.
Lochbroom head for Fife in what will be a difficult tie against Aberdour.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 side Caberfeidh will be tested Harvest South Division 1 reigning champions Lochside Rovers at Castle Leod.
The reward for the winners of the tie between Aberdour and Lochbroom will be to host the winners of Caberfeidh and Lochside Rovers game in the next round.
Inveraray are already through to the last 16 having beaten Lewis Camanachd. They will have home advantage against Beauly who received a first round bye.
Strachur and Kyles Athletic both also received first round byes and they have been drawn against each other at Home Farm in round 2. |