The Shinty Preview – Saturday 10 July 2010. | |
09 July 2010 Three of the four Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter finals take place on Saturday 10 July 2010. The Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup reaches the quarter final stage with 3 ties taking place this weekend. The tie between Kingussie and Glenurquhart will take place next weekend as the Kings have a free weekend because of a wedding. The quarter final tie between Camanachd Cup holders Fort William and Oban Camanachd has been switched to An Aird. The tie was originally drawn to take place at Mossfield but the field is unavailable to Oban Camanachd because it has been booked for a football tournament. Oban Camanachd had hoped to move the game to the Ganavan but it turns out that the pitch is 4 yards too short so host such a match. The Camanachd Association has now ruled that the game should take place at An Aird meaning the Oban side loses home advantage. Oban went out at the quarter final stages last season when the lost to beaten finalists Kyles Athletic. They will be desperate to go at least a stage further this season. However Fort William have been the dominant force in shinty’s premier competition in recent seasons, having played in the last 7 finals and lifting the famous trophy for the last 3 seasons. These old adversaries Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore meet at Tighnabruaich. The sides have contested many a Camanachd Cup Final including 8 finals between 1970 and 1980 – with Newtonmore winning 6 times. Newtonmore went out of the competition on penalties at the same venue last season as Kyles did a Badenoch double on their way to the final. Newtonmore have Danny MacRae back in the side following his appearance at the Scottish Hydro Premier Sixes last weekend and Jamie Robinson has been a valuable addition to the squad since he returned to the Badenoch area. Its 20 years since Skye Camanachd famously lifted the Camanachd Cup. If they are to repeat that feat, they will have to do it the hard way as they travel to the Winterton to play an Inveraray side who have a 100% home record this season. Inveraray retained the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup a fortnight ago and they will assess the fitness of full centre David Robertson ahead of this tie. Skye, the only side outwith shinty’s top division to reach the last eight, have their own injury concerns. Defender Jamie MacDonald will definitely miss out as will AB Connor. Steven Morrison, Shockie MacLennan and John Moir should all play though following various injury problems. The first Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup semi final also takes place this weekend as Glenurquhart and Kyles Athletic meet at Blairbeg. The Glen are already in the final of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup and they will start as favourites to clinch a second final spot against a Kyles side which currently leads Marine Harvest South Division 1. There is one Scottish Hydro Premier Division fixture taking place a 2 vital points are up for grabs when Lovat play Bute at Balgate. Lovat are currently in seventh place, just 2 points out of the relegation zone. However they also just trail sixth place opponents Bute by 2 points. A Bute win will see them leap-frog fifth place Kyles Athletic. Lovat will miss the influence of suspended forward Fraser Gallagher. This match throws up at the earlier time of 1pm. Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders Kinlochshiel welcome Caberfeidh to Kirkton. Shiel have been in irresistible form in the league this season. After losing their first 3 league match’s, they have gone on a 6 match winning run. However one of their defeats was against Caberfeidh at Castle Lead on the third Saturday of the season. Cabers won that one 3-0 with Kevin Bartlett getting a double and Shiel had Finlay MacRae sent off. Second place Beauly travel to Spean Bridge to play Lochaber. Beauly lead Lochaber by 3 points although the Spean Bridge side have 2 games in hand. The outcome of this one could be crucial to both side’s championship chances. Kilmallie return to the scene of their epic Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final against Kingussie when they play Inverness at the Bught. Kilmallie have only played 5 league games this season – fewer than any other side – because of their cup exploits. They now only have the league to focus on and can focus on picking up some points. Kilmallie will run a check on forward Liam MacDonald who was withdrawn at the break during last week’s Balliemore Cup semi final defeat against Lochaber. The match between Lochcarron and Strathglass at Battery Park is off as the visitors have requested a free weekend as they have several players attending a wedding. Marine Harvest South Division 1 leaders Glenorchy would have been champions if they had picked up just a point against Lochside Rovers but the game has been postponed. Fourth place Kilmory await the visit of sixth place Ballachulish. Ballachulish beat Kilmory 3-2 when the sides met at the end of May. Fifth place Taynuilt and bottom side Inveraray meet in Fife. Taynuilt were 2-1 winners when the sides met in early May. Glengarry are surprise leaders in Marine Harvest North Division 2 but they will have to wait to add to their points tally as their match against Beauly at Braeview Park has been postponed. The match between third place Newtonmore and sixth place Lovat at the Eilan is also postponed. There is a 12 noon throw up at Kirkton where Kinlochshiel play Kilmallie. The visitors trail Shiel by 3 points in the league but they have a game in hand. Kinlochshiel were 2-1 winners when the sides met at the same venue in this season’s Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Skye Camanachd and Fort William clash at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Sixth place Tayforth and fifth place Col Glen meet in Perth in Marine Harvest South Division 2. Col Glen were 3-1 winners when the sides met in March. Third place Strachur host Islanders Bute who prop up the table. Bute won 3-2 when the sides met earlier in the season and they have games in hand over most of their opponents. Lochaber await the arrival of Lochcarron at Spean Bridge in Marine Harvest North Division 3. Lochaber have the chance to close the gap on leaders Aberdeen University as the students are not in action. Lochaber currently trail Aberdeen University by 4 points but have 3 games in hand. This match has a 12 noon throw up. There is a local derby at Farr where Boleskine take on Inverness. The sides are level on 10 points in the league but Boleskine have a game in hand. This match also throws up at noon. Caberfeidh and Strathglass meet at Castle Leod. Caberfeidh cannot afford any more slip up if they are to have senior title aspirations. Lochbroom and Ardnamurchan meet in Ullapool. Lochbroom have only played 7 matches in the league this season and seem sure to rise up the table. |