The Shinty Preview – Saturday 12 June 2010. | |
11 June 2010 There are semi final places in two national competitions up for grabs as the Artemis Macaulay Cup and Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup reach the quarter final stage on Saturday 12 June 2010. The match of the day is the Artemis Macaulay Cup quarter final tie between Newtonmore and Kingussie at the Eilan. Whilst Kingussie hold the upper hand with a couple of wins from their earlier encounters this season, both sides have been hit by injury. The match will likely come too soon for ‘More’s Danny MacRae although he is nearing a return to fitness. Norman Campbell is a concern for the league leaders as he has a knee injury. Newtonmore manager Norman MacArthur said last weekend that he felt his side was playing better in recent weeks and he felt there was confidence in the team. Kingussie suffered a major blow at the start of the week when it was confirmed that influential wing back Ally MacLeod suffered a broken thumb in last week’s victory over Kyles Athletic. Injury also ruled Fraser Munro out last weekend but he could be back for this one. Louis Munro is a doubt whilst Lee Bain picked up a muscle injury last week but should be fit. This is another away match for Kingussie – albeit just a couple of miles down the road – and they have incredibly only played at the Dell three times this season – all in the league. The other north tie sees Lovat and Fort William meet at Balgate. Fort William are without defender John MacLeod who has a hand injury and long term casualty Duncan Rodgers. However Gary Innes returns after missing last week’s league victory over Inveraray. Lovat won plaudits from Newtonmore manager Norman MacArthur for their young players’ performances against his side over the last two weekends but the games don’t get any easier for the Balgate men. In the south half of the draw, there is a 12 noon throw up at the Winterton where Inveraray and Glasgow Mid Argyll clash. The visitors enjoyed their morale boosting league win over Glenurquhart last weekend but they could hardly have been given a tougher draw as Inveraray have a 100% home record so far this season. There’s a derby tie at Tighnabruaich where Kyles Athletic welcome Bute. This is the third time the sides have met in three different competitions over the last four weekends. Kyles won both previous encounters but it took penalties to separate the teams at Tighnabruaich in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup whilst they won an epic Scottish Hydro Premier Division clash 8-4 a fortnight ago. The Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup has also reached the quarter final stage. Holders Fort William meet Marine Harvest North Division 2 champions Glenurquhart at An Aird. Both teams won through to the Strathdearn Cup semi finals during the week but one will not make it to the last four of this competition. Inveraray and Lovat meet in a 3pm throw up at the Winterton. The home side are struggling in Marine Harvest South Division 1 this season whilst Lovat have been inconsistent by their own standards. Lochside Rovers and Kingussie resume acquaintances in Oban. There was an epic meeting between the sides last season which finished 6-6 before the Kings won on penalties. Kevin Thain will be Kingussie’s danger-man and they are many people’s tip to win the competition. There are two matches in Marine Harvest North Division 1. Kinlochshiel will hope to keep their recent good run going when they meet Strathglass at Cannich. Shiel will have John MacRae back from suspension and Neil Fraser will be given every chance to prove his fitness after missing last week’s win against Beauly with a hamstring problem. The Strath played well against Kilmallie last week before eventually going down 3-2. Caberfeidh and Kilmallie meet at Castle Leod. Cabers officially opened their impressive new changing room complex last weekend and they are a match for any side on their own pitch. Kilmallie struggled to beat Strathglass at Cannich last weekend and it remains to be seen whether their players have one eye on next week’s MacTavish Cup Final against Kingussie. Glenorchy are going for 8 wins out of 8 when they host Kilmory in Marine Harvest South Division 1. The sides met last weekend with Glenorchy ran out 5-0 winners. Forwards Alex MacPherson and James Livingston have been consistently amongst the goals for the league leaders. Who would bet against Glenorchy going through their league campaign with a 100% record? There is a Marine Harvest North Division 2 derby at Kirkton where Kinlochshiel meet Glengarry. The visitors can go top of the table again if they pick up a single point. The match between Newtonmore and Kilmallie at the Eilan has been removed from the Camanachd Association fixture list. In Marine Harvest South Division 2, the match between leaders Kyles Athletic and Aberdour in Fife has also been removed from the Camanachd Association fixture list. Second place Glasgow Mid Argyll and bottom side Bute meet at Yoker. Mid Argyll sit 5 points above their opponents but Bute have 4 games in hand. Tayforth host Col Glen in Perth. Second place Aberdeen University have a chance to extend their lead at the top of Marine Harvest North Division 3. They await the visit of third place Caberfeidh whilst Lochaber are not in action. Cabers were 4-0 winners when the sides met at Castle Leod thanks to doubles from Alan Ross and Iain MacDonald. The match between Lochbroom and Strathglass in Ullapool has been removed from the Camanachd Association fixture list. |