The Shinty Preview – Saturday 17 April 2010. | |
14 April 2010 Scottish Hydro Premier Division leaders Newtonmore await the visit of old adversaries Kyles Athletic to the Eilan. With just one point dropped so far this season - a draw in their opening day fixture at Glenurquhart - the home side comes into this game in a confident mood. Fourth place Kyles have picked up 5 points from their opening 5 matches.
Second place Fort William host newly promoted Lovat at An Aird. Fort William will have to do without the services of the influential Gary Innes who is playing at a festival in the USA. The teams have differing priorities with Fort William serious title contenders whilst Lovat have made a steady start to the season with 4 points from their 4 matches played.
Third place Inveraray have won all 3 of their home matches this season but they have lost twice on the road. They should be too strong for bottom club Glasgow Mid Argyll who have yet to pick up a league point. Russell MacKinlay has been in prolific form for Inveraray and he will be their main danger-man.
Kingussie head for Rothesay in what will be a difficult fixture against Bute. The sides are level in the league on 4 points although Bute have played a game more. King’s manager Stevie Borthwick will carry out injury checks on Ally MacLeod, James Hutchison and Ian Borthwick ahead of this one and he will be heartened by a good win at Oban last weekend. Five goals from Kingussie’s Kevin Thain in last week’s second team victory over Boleskine should see him pushing for a place in the squad. After 2 victories in their opening 2 games against newly promoted Glasgow Mid Argyll and Lovat, Bute have lost their next 3 games so they will be keen to get back on the winning way.
Oban Camanachd and Glenurquhart meet at Mossfield. Oban sit second bottom on 3 points and although Glenurquhart are in fifth place, they are only 2 points better off. This illustrated the tight nature of the middle of the table with only 2 points separating 6 sides in the 10 team league.
In Marine Harvest North Division 1, the match of the day could be at Kirkton where Kinlochshiel play Kilmallie. Shiel’s Finlay MacRae has returned to the side with a bang, scoring a hat-trick in last weekend’s Balliemore Cup win over Strathglass. However Kilmallie are undefeated this season and they will have an increased squad to pick from this weekend.
League leaders Caberfeidh should be too strong for bottom side Inverness when the teams meet at Castle Leod.
Lochaber host Lochcarron at Spean Bridge. The sides also meet at the same venue next month in the Balliemore Cup quarter finals following victories in the first round last weekend.
Skye Camanachd’s injury worries are easing and manager Aonghas MacDonald should have close to a full squad to choose from for Strathglass visit to Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. This will be the Islanders first home match since the shinty season started on 6 March 2010. Holders Strathglass went out of the Balliemore Cup in the first round last weekend which is ironically the same fate Skye suffered after winning the famous trophy in 2008.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 leaders Glenorchy will be out to make it 5 wins out of 5 when they head for Oban to play Oban Celtic.
It’s back to league action for a Kilmory side that has gone out 3 cup competitions in the last 3 weeks. Bottom side Inveraray make the short distance to Lochgilphead and this local derby should provide the home side, who sit in second place in the table, with the ideal opportunity to bounce back.
Newly promoted Taynuilt are at home to reigning champions Lochside Rovers who sit a point above them in the table.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 leaders Glengarry are at home to Fort William for the second successive Saturday. It took a late James Cameron goal to separate the sides in Fort William’s favour last week and there’s nothing to suggest that this one won’t be just as close.
Kilmallie and Kinlochshiel also meet for the second week in a row however this time the fixture is at Canal Parks. Shiel won 2-1 in their Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup win last weekend so Kilmallie will be out for revenge.
Glenurquhart welcome Skye Camanachd to Blairbeg. The reigning champions won 3-0 when the sides met at the same venue last season.
Kingussie and Lovat meet in come together in what should be an entertaining match at the Dell. Lovat had a convincing win over the King’s Badenoch rivals Newtonmore last weekend whilst the home side also won well against Boleskine.
Beauly and Newtonmore meet at Braeview Park. The home side were idle last weekend whilst Newtonmore will hope that their selection woes against Lovat have eased ahead of this game.
In Marine Harvest South Division 2, Aberdour and Strachur meet in Fife.
Tayforth travel west to play Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker.
League leaders Kyles Athletic and bottom side Bute meet at Tighnabruaich.
Marine Harvest Division 3 table toppers Aberdeen University travel to Farr to play Boleskine. The Students will be well aware that Boleskine won the corresponding match 2-1 last season.
Ardnamurchan are at home to Lochbroom. This is the second long trek for the Ullapool side after being in Fife last weekend to play Aberdour.
Free-scoring Lochaber head for Battery Park to play Lochcarron. The home side will be out to blot out the threat of Lochaber veteran Angus Morrison who scored 6 times last weekend.
Strathglass and Inverness meet in what could be considered a derby match at Cannich. |