The Artemis Macaulay Cup finalists will be known following the semi final ties on Saturday 16 July 2011 whilst Fort William have the chance to take advantage of Kyles Athletic’s inactivity in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division.
Artemis Macaulay Cup - Semi Final
Newtonmore v Kingussie
Newtonmore won the toss of the coin and so have home advantage for their Artemis Macaulay Cup semi final tie against deadly rivals Newtonmore at the Eilan. Newtonmore still have injury concerns over talisman Danny MacRae but he did make a substitute appearance in the win against Glenorchy last week. Holders Kingussie have been under-strength the last couple of Saturdays but they should have re-enforcements back for the clash with their deadly rivals. Amongst those expected to return to top team action are James Hutchison and Craig Dawson. Kevin Thain should be restored to the attack after scoring four times last week to see the second team into the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final and their might also be a place for Martin Dallas. Throw up has been brought forward an hour to 1.30pm.
Oban Camanachd v Kyles Athletic
The South representatives in this regional tournament will be decided at Mossfield Park where home side Oban Camanachd meet Kyles Athletic. This is a repeat of the recent Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final which Kyles narrowly won 2-1. Oban Camanachd will be without the suspended Daniel Cameron but they should have Aidan MacIntyre back. Oban Camanachd will have taken heart from Inveraray’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup victory over the league leaders. Donald Irvine returns for Kyles Athletic after serving a two match ban and they will hope Grant Irvine can maintain the form he showed in the 2-0 win over Lovat last Saturday.
Bullough Cup Quarter Final
Col Glen v The Scots
Col Glen welcome army side The Scots for this Bullough Cup quarter final tie. The Marine Harvest South Division 2 side will find the forces outfit to be difficult opponents. Referee Euan Pearson was amongst the scorers when The SCOTS ran out 3-0 winners against Ballachulish in the first round. Col Glen received an opening round bye.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division
Fort William v Lovat
Fort William play their last home match of their season when Lovat visit An Aird. The Fort have been able to play their home fixtures early in the season as their pitch will shortly close for repair work. Fort William boss Peter McIntyre should have a strong squad to choose from with John MacDonald back from suspension. Lovat will be without Calum Cruden who was sent off against Kyles last weekend and Lorne MacKay who is suspended because of a points accumulation. The match at throws up at 2.30pm and not 3pm as was previously advertised.
Inveraray v Glenurquhart
Inveraray and Glenurquhart meet at the Winterton. The home side find themselves in the unusual position of second bottom in the table and manager John Smylie knows his side could do with picking up some points. Glenurquhart will likely be the only side to beat both Kingussie and Newtonmore on their own turf this season and they have won their last two league fixtures. Manager Jim Barr will be without suspended Scottish international Andrew Corrigan. Throw up is at 3pm.
Kilmallie v Glenorchy
Kilmallie will go into their meeting with Glenorchy at the Canal Parks knowing that anything less than a win will be a blow to their chances of staying in shinty’s top flight. Kilmallie were not in action last week and they will have full centre Ross Lavin back after he missed the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup win over Lovat. Glenorchy have shown signs of improvement and have only lost by two goal margins to Newtonmore and Fort William in recent weeks. Throw up is at 3pm.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Kinlochshiel v Inverness
Having beaten Inverness 11-0 at the Bught last weekend, league leaders Kinlochshiel will be hot favourites when the sides meet again at Kirkton. The ‘Shiel forwards were ruthless at the Bught with brothers Finlay MacRae and Keith MacRae each scoring four times each. ‘Shiel only have five league fixtures to go after this game but their boss Johnston Gill is at pains to point out that these matches include tricky trips to Beauly, Skye and Strathglass as well as a visit to Spean Bridge to play title challengers Lochaber. They will have one home match remaining and that is a local derby with Lochcarron which is never easy. Inverness missed Davie Glass’ presence in defence last week but he is back from suspension for this one. Craig Nicolson remains suspended though.
Beauly v Skye Camanachd
Beauly play Skye Camanachd at Braeview Park. Beauly were not in action last week as manager Stephen MacLean celebrated his daughter’s wedding. His side have beaten Skye Camanachd twice already this season - 3-1 in Portree in the league and 8-0 at Braeview Park in the Balliemore Cup. Ross Cowie will take the Skye side and he will be two forwards down as Somhairle MacDonald is missing for the next month and Alan Palmer injured his back in the defeat to Lochaber last weekend. However Danny Morrison returns after being on holiday. Throw up is at 3pm.
Caberfeidh v Lochaber
Two of the sides chasing leaders Kinlochshiel, Caberfeidh and Lochaber, meet in a 3pm throw up at Castle Leod. Caberfeidh duo Martin MacDonald and Liam Mutch serve the second game of their two match bans which will at least leave them eligible to play in next weekend’s Balliemore Cup Final against Bute. Lochaber fielded a strong side against Skye last weekend without the services of Andrew “Fleck” MacDonald and Scott Paterson and their boss Michael Delaney knows his team cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to catch Kinlochshiel at the top of the table.
Strathglass v Lochcarron
Strathglass have agreed to bring forward their match with Lochcarron to Friday 15 July 2011. This is Lochcarron Highland Games weekend and the earlier match will allow the players a free day on the Saturday. An Iain MacKenzie goal 15 minutes from time gave Lochcarron a 2-1 win when the sides met at Battery Park at the end of June. Throw up is at 7.30pm.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Lochside Rovers v Bute
There is a 12 noon meeting in Oban between Lochside Rovers and top of the table Bute. The visitors start as favourites as they go in search of their eighth straight league win. Doubles from Stuart Strathie and Robert Walker gave Bute a 4-1 win when the sides met on Rothesay in April. Bute will then turn their attention to the long trip to Portree and the Balliemore Cup Final against Caberfeidh next week.
Glasgow Mid Argyll v Kyles Athletic
Glasgow Mid Argyll and Aberdein Sutherland Cup finalists Kyles Athletic meet at Yoker. Mid Argyll sit in second place in the league and they cannot afford to drop any more points if they want to keep the pressure on leaders Bute. Kyles have saved their best form for the cup this season as they are only above second bottom Kilmory on goal difference.
Oban Celtic v Aberdour
Oban Celtic play Aberdour at the Ganavan. The home side should start as favourites but an Ally McKerrachar goal 5 minutes from time was all that separated the sides when they met in Fife a fortnight ago. This match has a 3pm. Throw up.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Newtonmore v Kingussie
There should be a decent crowd at the Eilan for the reserve Badenoch derby between Newtonmore and Kingussie at the Eilan with the sides opting for a 7.30pm throw up on Friday 15 July 2011. Much will depend on the team selections with both sides having more than one eye on the Artemis Macaulay Cup semi final meeting between their senior sides the following day. Newtonmore have been the more consistent of the sides so they will start as favourites.
Lovat v Glengarry
Second place Glengarry look to keep up the pressure on league leaders Newtonmore as they head for Balgate to play Lovat. Newtonmore have a whopping 10 point lead over Glengarry although the Craigard men have three games in hand.
Fort William v Kinlochshiel
There is a 12 noon throw up at An Aird where Fort William meet Kinlochshiel. The sides met at the same venue in the Strathdearn Cup this season when a Ewan Campbell double helped the Fort to a 3-0 win. ‘Shiel will need to put last weekend’s heavy 13-2 defeat to Newtonmore last week behind them
Glenurquhart v Lochaber
Glenurquhart and Lochaber meet at Blairbeg. The reigning champions have had a mixed season so far and they will have been particularly disappointed to lose out to Kyles Athletic in the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup last weekend. The Glen only hold a two point lead over Lochaber in a league where just two points separates the four sides above the bottom two teams.
Kilmallie v Skye Camanachd
The match between Kilmallie and Skye Camanachd at the Canal Parks could be crucial when it comes to determining which side will be relegated this season. Kilmallie are currently bottom of the league but second bottom Skye have only a two point lead on their rivals. Kilmallie have given themselves hope by picking up two points from their last three matches whilst they had only picked up one point from the previous eight games. Skye manager Davie MacVicar will look for his side to bounce back from the disappointment of last weekend’s Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup semi final defeat to Kingussie. MacVicar will do a late check on forward Iain MacLellan who missed that game because of injury. Defender Martin Bruce is a doubt because of a groin injury picked up in the Kingussie game. This match throws up at 12 noon.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Strachur v Aberdour
Front-runners Strachur host bottom side Aberdour. Strachur have only dropped 3 points this season where-as Aberdour have only collected two points. The length of the league separates the teams so there should really only be one outcome.
Tayforth v Ballachulish
Tayforth have home advantage against Ballachulish and they need to keep winning to keep the pressure on leaders Strachur. Tayforth may trail the leaders by four points but they have two games in hand.
Inveraray v Bute
There will be a reserve derby at the Winterton as Inveraray play Bute. This match has a 12 noon throw up. The Islanders are in third place in the table and they have had the better league campaign so far.
Marine Harvest North Division 3
Beauly v Inverness
The match between second place Beauly and Inverness at Braeview Park has been rescheduled for the following midweek. Second spot seems Beauly’s most realistic target this season given that Aberdeen University have all but clinched the title. Caberfeidh should be their main rivals and the sides drew last week.
Caberfeidh v Boleskine
There is another noon throw up at Castle Leod where fourth place Caberfeidh play third place Boleskine. Cabers are four points behind their rivals but they have three games in hand.
Lochbroom v Strathglass
Lochbroom and Strathglass meet in Ullapool. The Strathglass seconds benefited from the inclusion of Robert Geddes and Josh Fraser last week as their first team was not in action. Their first team plays on Friday night this week which may ease any potential team raising difficulties for this one.