The Shinty Preview - Saturday 20 August 2011 | |
19 August 2011 The 2011 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final between Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore takes centre stage on Saturday 20 August 2011. Artemis Macaulay Cup Final Kyles Athletic v Newtonmore Newtonmore and Kyles Athletic renew rivalries as they contest the 2011 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final at Mossfield, Oban. These clubs had many classic Camanachd Cup Final meetings in the sixties and seventies when the final was contested between the North and South finalists and this included six successive meetings between 1975 and 1980. Each side has won the Macaulay Cup nine times however neither club has enjoyed recent success. Kyles last triumph in 1989 whilst ‘More’s last success was in 1986. Kyles had a free weekend last week and they attempt to add the Artemis Macaulay Cup to the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup won earlier in the season. Newtonmore keeper Michael Ritchie is available again after serving a two match ban. However manager Norman MacArthur will have to do without the services of David Cheyne who was red carded in last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final win over Inveraray. The sides only meeting this season came at the Eilan in the league when a late Grant Irvine strike cancelled out Glen MacKintosh’s early penalty in a 1-1 draw. Deek Cameron is the match referee. Scottish Hydro Premier Division Kingussie v Kilmallie Kingussie and Kilmallie meet for the second successive Saturday but this time it’s in league action at the Dell. Suspension deals the clubs different hands this week as Kingussie’s Ronald Ross misses out with a one match ban whilst team mate Fraser Munro is also banned. However Ally MacLeod and Louis Munro are both nearing a return from injury and both will be desperate to prove their fitness ahead of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final against Newtonmore which is only four weeks away. Some of the King’s younger players are also likely to get an outing. Kilmallie are boosted by captain John Stewart’s return after missing the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final defeat. However Peter Carmichael is still suspended as he serves the second match of a three game ban. Marine Harvest North Division 1 Skye Camanachd v Kinlochshiel Kinlochshiel have their first opportunity to seal the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title and promotion to the Scottish Hydro Premier Division when they play Skye Camanachd at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. ‘Shiel need two points from their final three matches to win the league but these final games could scarcely be more difficult as they face trips to Beauly and Lochaber in their final two games. This of course assumes that ‘Shiel’s title rivals, especially Lochaber, pick up maximum points from their remaining games. Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald has had selection problems for most of the season and this game is little different. Iain Murray and Gilleasbuig MacDonald are missing whilst Alan Palmer is a major injury doubt. Lochaber v Caberfeidh There is 3pm throw up at Spean Bridge where Lochaber play Caberfeidh. Michael Delaney’s men need to win to keep the pressure on league leaders Kinlochshiel but they will need to do it without defender James MacRae who is working. A point for Cabers will be enough to wrestle fourth place back from Lochcarron who are not in action. Marine Harvest South Division 1 Bute v Kilmory Bute’s 6-1 win against Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker last weekend sees them installed as titled favourites and leaves them poised for a quick return to the Scottish Hydro Premier Division. A win at home to Kilmory will put them a step closer. The Islanders have a three point lead and a game in hand over second place Glasgow Mid Argyll and Barry Martin’s Balliemore Cup winners have five matches remaining. Taynuilt v Glasgow Mid Argyll Glasgow Mid Argyll know that they must beat Taynuilt in their 12 noon clash at Taynuilt to keep up the pressure on leaders Bute. The home side will do a check on Willie Gillies who has a hand injury. Lochside Rovers v Aberdour There is another 12 noon throw up in Oban where Lochside Rovers meet Aberdour in a rehearsal of this year’s Bullough Cup Final. The home side will be without the suspended Alan Duffy. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Fort William v Glengarry Its second plays third as Fort William play Glengarry. Fort William will be without Euan Campbell who is suspended. Glengarry will be in a confident mood after putting ten goals past Glenurquhart last weekend. Lochaber v Skye Camanachd A win for either Lochaber or Skye Camanachd will help each club’s relegation fight when they meet in a 12 noon throw up at Spean Bridge. Both sides are likely to suffer if their respective first teams are short of players. Kilmallie v Glenurquhart Kilmallie will want to keep their recent good record going when they play Glenurquhart at the Canal Parks. Glenurquhart will be without keeper Gary MacKintosh following his red card in the Strathdearn Cup semi final defeat to Glengarry last weekend. Kinlochshiel v Kingussie Points will also be at a premium when Kinlochshiel meet Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup winners Kingussie at Kirkton. The suspended Colin MacDiarmid is still missing for ‘Shiel whilst Kingussie will be down to the bare bones as their first team are short of players. Marine Harvest South Division 2 Strachur v Tayforth The match of the day in this division is undoubtedly the title shoot-out between the top two sides; Strachur and Tayforth. Both teams are on 23 points and this is their final game of their respective league campaigns. Strachur will be pleased to have home advantage and although Tayforth have a better goal difference, this will not be a determining factor as there will be a title play-off in the event of a draw. Aberdour v Inveraray The bottom two sides also clash as Aberdour and Inveraray meet in Fife. This is Aberdour’s final game of the season whilst Inveraray have two games to go after this one. Marine Harvest North Division 3 Aberdeen University v Strathglass League champions Aberdeen University host Strathglass in the Granite City. It is hard to see past the Students who have taken maximum points from their sixteen games this season. Inverness v Beauly Inverness welcome Beauly to the Bught Park. A win for the visitors will clinch the league’s runners-up spot. Caberfeidh v Ardnamurchan Caberfeidh will look to build on their midweek win against Lochcarron when Ardnamurchan come to Castle Leod. Lochbroom v Lewis Camanachd Lewis Camanachd make the familiar trip to Ullapool to play Lochbroom. Lochcarron v Boleskine Lochcarron play Boleskine at Battery Park and the home side should have in-form Gregor Cushnie in their side. |