There are several implications affecting the regional shinty leagues for the Camanachd Association to consider once the final outcomes from the 2011 shinty season are known.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division
Regardless of whether Oban Camanachd or Inveraray eventually join Glenorchy in the relegation positions, shinty’s top division will contain seven North teams next season, with only Kyles Athletic, newly promoted Bute and either Inveraray or Oban Camanachd included in the game’s top ten clubs. This imbalance will have an effect the North and South regional leagues which sit below the top flight.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
This league could contain as few as seven clubs next season. This is because Kinlochshiel have won promotion from the current eight team league and none of the sides which finished at the top of Marine Harvest North Division 2 are likely to take up the offer of promotion. Both Marine Harvest North Division 2 champions Newtonmore and second place Fort William are believed to be of the view that their younger players will benefit more from remaining in the North shinty’s second flight. Third place Glengarry are a single team club but they passed up the opportunity of promotion last season and whilst they have several players who are more than capable of playing at a higher level within their ranks, they would find it a challenge to gather a pool of players big enough to compete in Marine Harvest North Divison 1.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
This is currently a nine team league. Bute leave Marine Harvest South Division 1 as champions and Strachur make the step up from Marine Harvest North Division 2. Relegation from this League is unclear though as Aberdour finished bottom of the table but the Aberdour second team already plays in Marine Harvest North Division 2 and league rules prevent a club to having two teams in the same division. Kilmory finished second bottom but teams in this position are not normally relegated. However as Glenorchy drop into this league from the top division and with either Inveraray or Oban Camanachd set to join them, league numbers could swell to as high as to eleven teams next season. The league make-up will be ten teams if Oban Camanachd are relegated as their second team, Lochside Rovers, will be forced to drop to Marine Harvest South Division 2 as league rules which do not permit a club to have two teams in the same division. This league has been won by Glasgow Mid Argyll and Glenorchy in the last two seasons, yet both sides have suffered immediate relegation the following season after struggling in the top flight. Therefore there must be concerns whether there is sufficient competition in this league to prepare teams for life in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
With Aberdeen University taking the place of relegated Kilmallie, Marine Harvest North Division 2 is likely to remain a ten team league for the 2012 shinty season.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
This was an eight team league in 2011. Aberdour would normally drop into this league after finishing bottom of Marine Harvest South Division 1. However the Aberdour second team already plays in Marine Harvest North Division 2 and league rules prevent a club to having two teams in the same division. 2011 league winners Strachur are promoted to Marine Harvest South Division 1. Lochside Rovers may drop into this league if their senior side, Oban Camanachd, is relegated from the Scottish Hydro Premier Division to Marine Harvest South Division 1.
Marine Harvest North Division 3
This was a ten team league in 2011 and Kilmallie will slot into the place of champions Aberdeen University who are promoted. Lewis Camanachd are also likely to have their place in the league confirmed after fulfilling all their 2011 league fixtures – both home and away. However two or three clubs in this league had team raising difficulties in 2011 and they are considering playing development shinty next season which could yet affect the size of the division.