2014 Shinty Season - Preview | |
27 February 2014 The countdown to the 2014 shinty season is underway as club’s look with optimism to the start of the new campaign. Aberdeen University – Former Skye Camanachd player Jamie Beaton continues as the Students’ first team manager. He has added former Kinlochshiel player Iain Fraser and Greg Tillman from Beauly to his squad. However Aberdeen University stalwart Steven MacKenzie, who was 20 years as a player, manager and chairman at different times at the club, has left Aberdeen and moved back to Beauly. Aberdour – The silver Sands side has been one of the busiest clubs this pre-season. As well as regular training sessions, their first and second teams have played friendly matches most weekends since the last Saturday in January. John MacLennan has relocated from Edinburgh to Inverness so his goals will be a loss for Aberdour. Angus Thorburn misses the opening day through suspension.. Ballachulish – Craig Munro and Donald Wilson will look after first team affairs at Ballachulish this season. They are boosted by Grant MacKenzie’s return after a spell with Kilmallie and the free-scoring forward has already been amongst the goals this pre-season. However talisman John MacDonald has an early season suspension to serve. Balla’ have taken their reserve team into the league and they will compete in Marine Harvest South Division 2. Boleskine – Forward Raymond Robertson has returned to Glenurquhart, where is he originally from. His goals will be a big miss for Boleskine as they compete in Marine Harvest North Division 2. Matthew Ross has signed from Glengarry. Beauly – Roger Cormack takes over from co-managers Stephen MacLean and Ian Morrison and he will have been boosted by Scott MacLeod’s return from an injury which sidelined him for the latter part of the 2013 season. David Groat has moved abroad and work commitments will limit Dougie Blaine’s appearances for the James Cameron misses the start of the season through suspension. Braeview Park side. Iain Morrison is likely to be involved with the Beauly second team. Bute – Scotland U21 player Leighton Reid has moved to Kyles Athletic and full international Iain MacDonald will not be available for the early part of the season which are blows to manager Barry Martin’s National Division plans. However former SCOTs player James Dunn has returned to the squad. Forward James Craig is suspended for the opening game of the season. Caberfeidh – Stuart MacLennan and Graham MacGregor will co-manage the Cabers first team in the Marine Harvest National Division. Liam Mutch returns to Castle Leod after a spell with Beauly and former Cabers youth player Neil Rose is also back at Castle Leod. Liam Symonds has also moved from Beauly to Caberfeidh and he will likely start in the second team squad. Col Glen – The Glendaruel side have an opening day fixture switch. Their game against Tayforth has been reversed to Musselburgh as the Glendaruel pitch is waterlogged. Fort William – Victor Smith and Adam Robertson have Gary Innes available again which helps their chances of a speedy return to shinty’s top flight. Youngsters Jamie Cruickshank and a fit again Arran MacPhee also look set to feature on a regular basis. Glasgow Mid Argyll – George Hay’s side would have been preparing for life back in the Orion Group Premiership had it not been for league reconstruction. They have had a busy pre-season and their squad is similar to last year. However former Caberfeidh player Ewan Murray is sidelined after he dislocated his shoulder kayaking and Andy Mathie could miss the opening month of the season through work commitments. Glengarry – The Craigard side went on a recruiting drive ahead of the start of the season in an attempt to increase their squad. Matthew Ross has signed for Boleskine and Michael Brady’s move to Glenurquhart reduces their options and the influential Daniel MacLennan has a one match suspension carried forward from the end of last season. Glenorchy – Glenorchy will look to the players who did so well last season as they compete in the Marine Harvest National Division. They have introduced a second team into the Marine Harvest South Division 2. Glenurquhart – Co-managers Dave Menzies and Billy MacLean are back in the hot-seat at Glenurquhart with Iain MacLeod remaining in charge of the reserve side. Liam Girvan has moved back to Inverness but Michael Brady joins from Glengarry as does Raymond Robertson from Boleskine. Inveraray – Co-player / managers Graham MacPherson and Garry MacPherson have retained the services of former Kilmallie forward Peter McIntyre and he has proved to be a great addition to the team both on the park and off it. David Robertson is back in contention after being out for most of last season with a torn hamstring. Christopher Crawford has returned from a nasty hand injury sustained in the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final. Added to that, Grant Griffin returned to shinty action at the very end of last season after two years in Australia which will all ensure competition for places at the Winterton. Inverness – The capital side have secured a number of new recruits including former Aberdour and Lochcarron forward John MacLennan. Liam Girvan rejoins the club from Glenurquhart and former Kinlochshiel player Zander Grant has also been signed up. The club has had an active pre-season but it has come at a cost as injury is likely to rule Mark Sproule out of the opening couple of games of the season whilst Zander Grant will be on the sidelines for long with a broken ankle and a fractured rib. Conor Golabeck required stitches to a head knock pre-season but he misses the start of the new shinty season through suspension. Allan MacLeod continues in charge of the first team whilst Gus Fraser takes over the Inverness reserve side. Kilmallie – The Canal Parks side are another who would have been set for shinty’s top flight had it not been for the new league structure. The Blues used the preseason to give U17 players Shane Gillies and Craig MacIsaac some first team experience. Gillies could start the season in goal as Kevin Toye has decided not to play. There are also injury concerns for manager Duncan Kelly over Scotland forward John Stewart and Martin Graham but Grant MacKenzie has returned to Ballachulish. Kilmory – An unplayable pitch at MacRae Park has seen Kilmory’s opening day fixture against Strachur transferred to Strachurmore. Kingussie – A serious pre-season injury will rule Paul Gow out for the majority of the season which is a blow for co-managers Russell Jones and Davie Anderson. The Kings opening day fixture against Inveraray has been moved to the Dell as the Winterton is unplayable. Louis Munro will miss out through suspension. The Kingussie second team match Glenurquhart will now be played at Dunbarry. Kinlochshiel – Colin Fraser makes the step up from second team manager to look after the first team. Keith MacRae will miss the opening day clash against Glenurquhart following a heria operation. An ongoing knee injury means Fraser MacVicar is also sidelined and will remain so for several weeks. He will be assisted by first team keeper Scott Kennedy. Willie MacRae replaces Fraser in charge of the ‘Shiel second team. Neil Fraser is back at Kirkton after a spell with Lochbroom. Kyles Athletic – Kyles will look to the same squad as last season although they have added Leighton Reid to their ranks as he joins the club from Bute. Lewis Camanachd – Iain Sinclair remains in charge and he will be assisted by club captain Duncan MacIntyre. Keeper Conor MacDonald is the club coach whilst Kenny Murray has joined from Lochcarron. Lochaber – With Robert Johnstone’s appointment as first team manager made permanent, Lochaber will be looking to start the 2014 shinty season the way they ended last season’s campaign. They travel to champions Newtonmore on the opening day of the season without suspended duo Brenan MacDonald and Zanz Ferguson. Shaun Nicolson may also be missing. Lochbroom – The Inverlael side will be without forward Neil Fraser who has returned to Kinlochshiel. Lochcarron – Ross Brown takes over the Battery Park manager’s role from Kenneth Murray, who has since signed for Lewis Camanachd, as Lochcarron start life in Marine Harvest North Division 2. Daniel MacRae is back following a spell abroad. Lochside Rovers – Lochside have lost some of their promising youngsters to the Oban Camanachd squad with other younger players sure to get a chance in their place. Lovat – Lovat will be largely unchanged from last season as manager Allan MacRae looks to build on a second place finish in the Orion Group Premiership and MacTavish Cup success. Martin Mainland may miss the start of the season through injury and Duncan Davidson is just a matter of weeks away from returning from a period working abroad. Former Skye Camanachd player Iain Nicolson will be pushing for a regular first team start. Alan MacPherson will miss the start of the season because of suspension. Newtonmore – First team manager Paul John MacKintosh will have a largely unchanged squad as his side bids to win five consecutive Orion Group Premiership titles, not to mention the cup competitions. Evan Menzies return from a spell abroad will certainly boost his team’s attacking options. Rory Kennedy is still injured but Chris Sellar returned to action during the pre-season. There have been a couple of interesting additions to the ‘More reserve side with former Lochcarron player and Scotland Assistant Head Coach Kenny Ross coming in between the sticks and former Kinlochshiel player Allan MacDiarmid joining the attack. John MacKenzie’s appearances are likely to be restricted to the second team because of work commitments whilst youngster Cameron McNiven is a first day absentee through suspension. Oban Camanachd – Manager Iain Campbell will be assisted by Fraser Inglis and Ian Hay this season and they have fielded a couple of experimental line ups this pre-season with Daniel Cameron shining at full central. Oban Celtic – Daniel Madej in defence, Gary McKerrachar in midfield and Kenny Wotherspoon in attack will be key to the youthful Oban side’s chances this season. Youth will, as ever, be given every opportunity to shine. Strathglass – Strathglass have dropped to one club for the 2014 shinty season. Manager Callum Duff is boosted by Sam Todd’s return to the club. Strathspey Camanachd – Strathspey will play at their new home, Grantown Grammar School Field, this coming season after two years at Freuchie Park. Skye Camanachd – All Skye Camanachd’s personnel changes have been off the park with the most notable being John MacLeod’s appointment as first team manager. The club will enforce a “No Train – No Play” policy for their first team players as they look to rebuild the team’s fortunes. Strachur – Brian Dickie and John Montgomery take over the managerial responsibilities from club stalwart Donald MacDonald. Tayforth – A waterlogged pitch at Glendaruel has meant that Tayforth’s opening game of the season against Tayforth will now be player at Musselburgh. Taynuilt – This will be a transitional season for Davie Thomson’s side who have the benefit of a new Clubhouse at the Play Field following its completion last season. |