The Shinty Preview – Saturday 1 May 2010. | |
30 April 2010 The MacTavish Cup and Glasgow Celtic Society Cup quarter finals are the main events on Saturday 1 May 2010.
There is the first Badenoch derby of the season in the MacTavish Cup as Newtonmore and Kingussie meet at the Eilan in what is a repeat of the 2009 final. Newtonmore edged that one following a thrilling final broadcast live on BBC Alba. Newtonmore have made the better start to the season, dropping just 2 league points, and they are the only unbeaten side from the game’s top flight. However they have suffered a blow ahead of this clash with the news that 18 year old defender Andy MacKintosh misses out with a hand injury. Kingussie are amidst a transitional season where they are employing a strategy of introducing younger players to their first team squad. The Cup competitions offer their best chance of success so they may be tempted to restore some experience to the side for such an important game.
There is another local derby at Canal Parks where Kilmallie host Lochaber. This one comes into the too close to call category. Kilmallie’s only blip this season was a defeat to Kinlochshiel at Kirkton whilst Lochaber have won all their games.
Caberfeidh will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to Braeview Park to play Beauly. After a good start to the season, Cabers have faltered in recent games having two defeats and a draw in their last three outings. The home side has been idle for the last 2 weeks and they will be without the influential Innes Simpson who suffered a broken ankle against Oban Celtic 3 weeks ago.
Skye Camanachd will be put to the test when Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup winners Fort William travel to Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye welcome captain Steven Morrison back into the side but Jamie MacDonald is missing as he has a university exam in Glasgow on the day of the game. The visitors’ options have been increased with the return of Drew Ferguson who had been playing football for Fort William FC. This tie has a 12.30pm throw up.
Glasgow Celtic Society Cup holders Inveraray will be out to do an Oban double this weekend. They beat Oban Camanachd in league action last weekend and they should be should be too strong for Oban Celtic at the Winterton. Oban Celtic found it difficult against an experienced Glenorchy side last week and Inveraray have been in formidable form at home this season winning all 6 games.
Having knocked out Kilmory in the first round, Ballachulish’s reward is a meeting with Bute at Jubilee Park. Ballachulish put up a spirited display against Skye last weekend where speedy forward Andrew Young was always a threat. The visitors will have been boosted by recent draws against Kingussie and Fort William.
There is an all-Premier Division clash at Yoker where Glasgow Mid Argyll play Oban Camanachd. Oban Camanachd will be without the suspended James MacMillan.
Kyles Athletic and Glenorchy meet at Tighnabruaich. The visitors have made a good start to their Marine Harvest South Division 1 campaign but this will be a stern test for them.
Strathdearn Cup ties are normally played midweek but travel distances have lead to three ties being brought forward to this weekend.
There is an historic first meeting between Island sides Skye Camanachd and Lewis Camanachd at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye have struggled in the league this season and they will look to this game to get back on their winning ways. Manager Davie MacVicar has practically a full squad to choose from for the first time this season. The only absentees are defenders Neil John Campbell who is injured and Andrew Banks who has a university exam on Saturday. Lewis are without Kenny Mould, Ally Murray and Ally Lamont. Lewis Camanachd’s Eoghan Stewart plays for Skye when his Camanachd Leòdhais commitments end and he is likely to receive a warm reception from the Skye players. This match has a 2.45pm throw up.
Kinlochshiel and Kingussie meet at Kirkton. Shiel manager Colin Fraser has been introducing promising youngsters Donald Nixon, Jordan Fraser and Duncan James this season and another youngster, David Falconer, has been in recent scoring form. However Kingussie have been fielding an experienced side in recent weeks and they will fancy their chances of junior cup success this season.
There will be an interesting clash at Spean Bridge between Marine Harvest North Division 3 title hopefuls Lochaber and Aberdeen University. The sides currently occupy the top two positions in the league and they are both the division’s top scorers by far so this tie could be a cracker.
There will be one match in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division and it is a derby between Glenurquhart and Lovat at Blairbeg. Both sides have struggled in recent weeks so two important points are up for stake. A win for second bottom Lovat will see them leap-frog Glen in the league. Injury will likely rule out Glenurquhart’s Neale Reid and Davie MacLennan. This match throws up at the earlier time of 1.45pm.
Kinlochshiel will want to continue their recent Marine Harvest North Division 1 revival when they travel to the Highland Capital to play Inverness. Graham Kennedy returned in goal for Shiel last weekend after injury although reserve keeper Ian Cameron proved an able deputy during his absence. The MacRae brothers, Keith, Finlay and John – will provide the goal threat. Kinlochshiel joint managers Keith MacRae and Johnston Gill will be well aware that 2 points will lift them from second bottom to fifth equal with Kilmallie in the table. Former Skye Camanachd player, and Camanachd Cup winner, Ewen MacKinnon has been starring for the Inverness side in recent weeks.
There is also a sole encounter in Marine Harvest South Division 1 where third place Lochside Rovers meet Inveraray, who are bottom, at Ganavan.
There will be a local derby in Marine Harvest North Division 2 at An Aird as Fort William and Kilmallie do battle.
There will be another derby at Balgate where those fiercest of rivals Lovat and Beauly meet. Lovat will look for goals from the experienced Jimmy MacKenzie and Jamie Matheson. Beauly will hope to have Jack MacDonald available after he picked up a knock against Fort William last weekend.
Glengarry and Newtonmore meet at Invergarry. The sides are only separated by goal difference with both having played 5 games.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 leaders Kyles Athletic travel to Yoker to play third place Glasgow Mid Argyll. This match has a 12 noon throw up.
Tayforth and Strachur meet in Perth. A home win would see Tayforth leap-frog their opponents in the table.
Col Glen host bottom side Bute as they look to recover from last weeks 8-0 defeat at Aberdour.
Caberfeidh will look to make up some ground on Marine Harvest North Division 3 leaders Lochaber and Aberdeen University when they play bottom side Strathglass at Cannich. Cabers will still be looking to banish last weekend’s heavy defeat to Lochaber from their memory.
Second bottom Ardnamurchan will hope to put last week’s team raising difficulties behind them when they host a Lochcarron side who have made a decent start to their league season.
Lochbroom will look to make it 3 league wins in a row when they play Boleskine in Ullapool. The home side has had to do without the injured Jamie Stewart in recent weeks. |