The Shinty Preview – Saturday 5 March 2011 | |
03 March 2011 The new shinty season throws up on Saturday 5 March 2011. Scottish Hydro Premier Division Scottish Hydro Premier Division champions Newtonmore open the defence of their title with a tricky trip to the Winterton to play Inveraray. Only Newtonmore and Fort William took points from Inveraray on their own pitch last season so this match will put Norman MacArthur’s men to the test. However they were convincing winners in the corresponding fixture last season when a Danny MacRae hat-trick helped them to a 4-0 win. Newtonmore have a strong squad to choose from this term with Fraser MacKintosh returning to the fold after missing most of last season. They have also warmed up for the season with convincing wins over Lochaber and Beauly. Inveraray will have to do without the services of keeper Graeme MacPherson who has moved abroad but the inclusion of David MacPherson, who returned at the end of last season following illness; will give the side a boost. 2010 runners-up Fort William host Glenurquhart at An Aird. Peter McIntyre’s side will be keen to get as many games as possible played at An Aird in the early part of the season before the pitch closes for some major maintenance work. MacIntyre will not be able to call on the services of Victor Smith who is managing the Fort second string however youngster Ryan Campbell has impressed in attack during the pre-season. Glenurquhart add a couple of players to their first team squad with promising youngsters Fraser Heath and Liam Girvan joining from Inverness. However another youngster, Ewan Brady, who was on the fringes of the first team last season, has opted to play for Glengarry where his father plays. Top division new boys Kilmallie start off the season with a home match at Canal Parks against Oban Camanachd. Kilmallie still retain half the squad which took them to the 2005 Camanachd Cup Final and they have shown plenty skill to get out of what was a tough Marine Harvest North Division 1 last season as well as narrowly losing out to Kingussie in the Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final. Kilmallie’s forward line, which was prolific last season, will be a handful for any defence in the league. The Oban side battled relegation for most of last season and, like Kilmallie, they will be keen to make a good start to this year’s campaign. Fellow new-comers Glenorchy play the division’s only all-south match when they head for Tighnabruaich to play Kyles Athletic. Glenorchy’s chances of success this season may rest on how many players from last season’s team are prepared to commit to the rigours of national division shinty. Kyles are strengthened by the return of Donald Irvine and David Zavaroni. Kingussie went through a transitional season in 2010 but still secured the Artemis Macaulay Cup and Co-operative MacTavish Cup as well as reaching the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final. This period of transition is likely to continue into 2011 with last season’s captain Barrie Dallas moving abroad and James MacLean also unavailable. The King’s will also have to do without captain Ronald Ross for the early part of the season as recovers from severe ankle ligament damage sustained in the shinty / hurling international against Ireland at the end of last season. The cup competitions may be their best bet again this season. Lovat will be without full back Martin Bell who has opted for second team shinty at Balgate and Calum Macaulay’s involvement is uncertain. Fraser Gallagher is another who has opted for second team shinty. However their squad is boosted by the inclusion of Skye Camanachd Scotland U21 cap Iain Nicolson whilst Scotland U21 international forward James MacPherson has demonstrated his commitment by confirming that he will commute from London to play. Marine Harvest North Division 1 Marine Harvest North Division 1 will be an eight team league with Kilmallie promoted from last season’s league and no north relegation from the top division. There was also no relegation from North Division 1 in 2010 whilst nether Glenurquhart or Glengarry wished to join from Marine Harvest North Division 2. Therefore several teams in this league will view the 2011 season as a good opportunity to win the division. These teams include 2011 runners-up Lochaber who open the season with a meeting with Beauly at Spean Bridge. Both sides will likely be along similar lines although Lochaber will miss Iain Love. However there are young players to look out for in both sides including Danny Delaney and Stuart Callison at Lochaber and Dougie Blaine and Jack MacDonald at Beauly. Kinlochshiel - with Johnston Gill in sole charge following co-manager Keith Loades decision to step down - welcome a Caberfeidh side to Kirkton which has been training hard during the pre-season. Shiel may have Calum MacLean available again after his year abroad but only if he can make travel arrangements to play in their games. Crisdean MacRae remains a long-term injury casualty. The MacRae brothers – Finlay, Keith and John – will provide Shiel’s main threat once again. Kinlochshiel’s 2010 title chances took a severe dent when injury, player availability and suspension contributed to them losing their first 3 league games. They have no such problems this year and will be keen to get off to a good start. Strathglass and Skye Camanachd start the season in the same way as they ended 2010 – with a meeting at Cannich. Strathglass will be determined to improve on last season’s bottom place finish and boss Brian MacKay will hope for an easing of the injury list and improved player availability to allow more consistency in selection this term. Les Fraser’s return on a more regular basis will boost their side. There are several changes at Skye as boss Aonghas MacDonald starts the season without the services of Iain Nicolson who has joined Lovat and Kenny Campbell who has moved abroad. Former Scotland squad keeper Jamie Gannon has opted to make football his priority this season so promising keeper Michael Nicolson takes his place between the sticks. Defender Jamie MacDonald is not quite ready for a return from injury and fellow defender Allan MacLeod will play reserve team shinty. Iain Murray is a welcome addition from Glasgow Mid Argyll and the side will relay on several of their younger players, including Martin Bruce, Stewart Grant, Shaun Hedley and Jordan Murchison, who were introduced into the side during the second half of last season. They will join fellow 2009 London Shield winners Danny Morrison and Neil MacVicar in a youthful Skye first team squad. Inverness and Lochcarron meet at the Bught Park, Inverness. Steve Munro is without two of his forwards from last season as Fraser Heath and Liam Girvan have signed for Glenurquhart. However he wasted no time in brining in Fort William forward James Cameron who could be a valuable addition to the side. Murdo John Fraser’s Lochcarron side made huge strides last season but they will be without Kenny Ross who has yet to recover from a hand injury and influential defender Angus MacKay may not be available each week. However Peter MacKenzie returns after an absence and Arran Matheson re-joins from Lochbroom. Youngsters such as David MacCuish are expected to come into the side on a more regular basis. Marine Harvest South Division 1 Marine Harvest South Division 1 looks set to be a more competitive league this season compared to last when Glenorchy maintained a 100% record to take the title. Glasgow Mid Argyll, who are not in action this week, and Bute were relegated from the top flight. Bute start against Aberdour in Fife. Kyles Athletic were promoted from last year’s Marine Harvest North Division 2 and they open away to Oban Celtic. Oban Camanachd reserve side Lochside Rovers host Kilmory in Oban. Kilmory won a thrilling game between the sides 6-4 last season. Taynuilt are at home to Ballachulish. Both sides finished on 10 points last season. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Glenurquhart will be out to make it three titles in a row but they have a difficult start to the season at home to Victor Smith’s Fort William side. Glenurquhart will be out to add even more of their talented youngsters to their squad. Their pre-season form has been indifferent with victory over Strathglass, a draw with Boleskine and defeat to Caberfeidh. Victor Smith also has plenty young to choose from and it is his intention to manage from the touchline, along with his assistant Dave Stafford, rather than play. However it remains to be seen if he can keep this pledge as the season progresses. Glengarry had a good 2010 season and they will be delighted that Ewan Brady has opted to play for them. They don’t have the biggest squad but they are a difficult side to beat. Kinlochshiel manager Colin Fraser will look to continue to bring through the west coast’s side’ excellent batch of younger players with Donald Nixon, Jordan Fraser, Conall Fraser, Ewan Falconer and Oliver MacRae all set to feature. Skye Camanachd start the season against Kilmallie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The Islanders’ manager Davie MacVicar is hoping that the injury and player availability problems which dogged the squad over the last couple of seasons ease. Over 40 players were used in 2010 and a more consistent selection is the manager’s greatest wish. Will Cowie appeared for the team at the end of last season and we can expect to see more of the 14 year old this year. Newly promoted Lochaber have a difficult start against Newtonmore at the Eilan. The Newtonmore reserve side will likely benefit from the large number of players attending training at the club each week and they could be dark horses this season. Lochaber have been the dominant force at U17 level over the last couple of seasons and these youngsters will play an important role as Lochaber look to establish themselves in the league. Lovat and Kilmallie meet at Balgate. The experienced Martin Bell and Fraser Gallagher will be a good addition to a Lovat side which has had a terrific recent record in the cup competitions. Kingussie will also look to their youth with Darren Hanlon and Hamish Anderson amongst their promising youths. Marine Harvest South Division 2 The new Ballachulish second string have a home match against Strachur at Jubilee Park. Tayforth travel west to the home of Islanders Bute. Glasgow Mid Argyll and league newcomers Aberdour meet at Yoker. Col Glen host Inveraray who were relegated from Marine Harvest South Division 1 at the end of last term. Marine Harvest North Division 3 The “will they, won’t they” talk is over and Lewis Camanachd will play their first ever league game against Beauly at Braeview Park. It’s a tough start against the team which was narrowly relegated from Marine Harvest North Division 2 last season. Lewis include Eoghan Stewart who has re-signed following a stint with Skye Camanachd and Donald Lamont who joins from Aberdeen University. Committing to the league is a massive under-taking from everyone involved in the Island side. There is a lot of goodwill for them from throughout the shinty fraternity but the best way clubs can show their support is to ensure they undertake their away trip to play Lewis later in the season. There is a local derby at Farr where Boleskine host Inverness. Boleskine have been impressive during the pre-season with a draw against Glenurquhart and a win over Skye Camanachd. The experienced Lewis Smith and Raymond Robertson will lead their attack. Lochcarron open the season against Strathglass at Battery Park. The sides played last week for the John Stirling Cup with Lochcarron coming out on top. Lochbroom and Ardnamurchan meet in Ullapool. Both had good pre-season wins against Lewis Camanachd and development side Strathspey respectively. Two of the title favourites, Caberfeidh and Aberdeen University, meet at Castle Leod. The Students will miss Donald Lamont who has joined Lewis Camanachd and they will be captained by former Skye Camanachd player Kieran Roberts as they celebrate their 150th year. |