2015 Shinty Season - Preview | |
06 March 2015 With the start of the 2015 shinty season almost upon us, club’s look forward 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 will be without Kieran Murray who returns to Lochcarron but Kenny Cushnie moves east in the opposite direction. Aberdour – Aberdour continue to give youth a chance and the club were especially pleased with the performance of young Finlay Williamson last weekend as he stuck well to the task of marking Scotland international Roddy MacDonald in their friendly meeting with Kyles Athletic. U17 players Brian Toal, Ruaraidh Reid and Jack Mitchell have stepped up from the Aberdour second string to boost the first team pool although Toal and Reid could be out for a bit through injury. Ballachulish – Ballachulish have made the step up from Marine Harvest South Division 1 to the Marine Harvest National Division despite losing to Skye Camanachd in the 2014 play-off match. The additional slot became available following the decision to restore the Marine Harvest Premiership to ten teams. Balla’ have given youth it’s chance during the pre-season as manager Donald Wilson rewards the commitment shown at training. The Balla’ boss intends giving the youngsters the opportunity to gain first team experience this coming season as part of a long term plan at the Jubilee Park club. Cain MacPhee and John MacDonald miss the start of the season through suspension. Boleskine – Boleskine will start the Marine Harvest North Division 2 season without former Glengarry player Matthew Ross who serves a ban. Beauly – Beauly will be one of the favourites for the Marine Harvest National Division title. Roger Cormack remains in charge of the first team and Conor Cormack and David MacLean add quality to the squad whilst former Uist Camanachd player Ewan Campbell has established himself in the first team squad. Bute – Bute have passed up the offer to stay in shinty’s Marine Harvest National Division and they will instead play in Marine Harvest South Division 1. Camanachd Association Director and former shinty referee Ted MacDonald takes over first team management duties and he will have his son, Scottish international Iain MacDonald, back in the fold after a spell with Kyles Athletic. Caberfeidh – Stuart MacLennan has stepped down as Caberfeidh first team manager with Lee Nicol taking over in his place. The side will be a mixture of youth and experience with young Ewan Pilcher retaining his place in goal after a run in the side towards the end of last season. Ally MacLennan will once again be their talisman in the season ahead. Col Glen – The Glendaruel side open the season against Oban Lorne at Glendaruel. The MacVicar clan will feature strongly in their line-up. Fort William – Victor Smith and Adam Robertson start the season without the experience of Gary Innes, Chris Bamber and Neil Robertson who have all retired. Jack Fraser is recovering after having surgery on a knee injury and he will miss the first part of the season. Bryan Simpson and Stevie Stewart miss the start of the season through suspension. However 2014 Player of the Year Gordie MacKinnon will lead the attack which includes Scotland U21 cap Arran MacPhee. Promising youngsters Alexander MacMillan and Calum Shepherd will also feature. Paul MacKay is one of the top keepers in the division. Glasgow Mid Argyll – George Hay’s side have had their usual thorough preparation ahead of the start of the 2015 shinty season. Former Kinlochshiel player John Don MacKenzie is expected to continue at wing centre whilst former Caberfeidh player Ewen Murray has put his injury problems behind him. Finlay MacMillan and Ryan Harrison will be key in defence whilst GMA will rely on the prolific Craig Anderson in attack. Glengarry – The Craigard side were boosted by the inclusion of a Kincraig contingent in their squad last season. They have opted to play in Marine Harvest North Division 2 despite being eligible to play in the league above. Glenorchy – Glenorchy have decided to play in Marine Harvest South Division 1 rather than the Marine Harvest National Division so that they can rebuild their squad. They are without a number of players from last season including Scott MacKillop who has switched to Marine Harvest Premiership side Oban Camanachd. The club introduced a second team into the Marine Harvest South Division 2 last season and they continue to compete in this league. Glenurquhart – Co-managers Dave Menzies and Billy MacLean remain in charge of the first team at Blairbeg. Former Glengarry player Ewan Brady is back in their plans after missing most of last season. Ally MacKintosh is fit again after missing a large part of last season through injury. Andrew Corrigan will captain the first team squad but John Barr misses the first match of the new season as he serves a one match ban for a points accumulation. Inveraray – Co-player / managers Graham MacPherson and Garry MacPherson will have to replace former Kilmallie forward Peter McIntyre who has moved abroad. Wing centre Davie MacPherson will miss the opening part of the season as he trains to take part in a charity marathon. Inverness – There are major changes at the Bught Park with former Scotland and Fort William manager Drew McNeill managing the first team. He has defender Fraser Stoddart available again whilst Davie Glass has rejoined from Kinlochshiel. Former Skye Camanachd player Somhairle MacDonald will also figure in his plans. Kilmallie – The Canal Parks side are another who are under new management with Mark MacPherson replacing Duncan Kelly. Former Scotland forward John Stewart should be more available this season but Martin Graham will be out for some time as he recovers from an operation on his knee. The influential Peter Carmichael misses the opening matches through injury and he is just one of a number of injury concerns for MacPherson to contend with. Kilmory – The MacRae Park side’s resources will be stretched as Ewen Carmichael and Mark Robertson miss the start of the campaign through suspension. Kingussie – Co-managers Russell Jones and Davie Anderson were able to call on the services of Ronald Ross towards the end of their successful 2014 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup run. However he has now stepped down from first team shinty but will feature for the reserves. Savio Genini scored twice in last year’s Scottish Final and he will be a key player for the Kings this term. Kinlochshiel – Colin Fraser remains first team boss in what is likely to be Kinlochshiel’s last season at Kirkton before moving to their new purpose-built pitch a few miles down the road. Scott Kennedy has agreed to remain in goal for another season whilst Calum MacLean should also feature more in the senior squad. Davie Glass has returned to Inverness but Zander Grant is back at Kirkton following a spell with the Highland Capital side whilst Allan MacDiarmid in back after a stint with the Newtonmore reserves whilst Kenneth Loades has also signed from Inverness. Duncan “Ach” MacRae will miss the start of the season with a broken thumb. Kyles Athletic – Kyles Athletic will be minus Iain MacDonald who has returned to Bute and Leighton Reid who has moved abroad. There could be a chance for 2014 Marine Harvest South Division 2 Player of the Year Innes MacDonald to step up from the reserves and join his dad Kenny MacDonald and brother Roddy MacDonald in the first team squad. A fit again Andrew King is a boost to the squad as is Thomas Whyte’s return from injury but David Zavaroni can’t play in the first match of the season against Newtonmore as he is banned for a points accumulation. Lewis Camanachd – Boss Iain Sinclair will miss the experience of former Glengarry player Duncan MacIntyre. The Islanders have been working hard on their youth network. Lewis will start the season with their usual run of away matches. Lochaber – With Ally Ferguson back at the reigns, Lochaber have had a good pre-season with wins over Fort William and Beauly. Zanz Ferguson is back in the first team squad after missing most of last year whilst Neil MacDonald will his part after an injury-plagued 2014. Kevin Ferguson will step up from the second team. Brian MacDonald misses the league opener as he serves a one match ban for a points accumulation. Lochcarron – Ross Brown continues in charge at Battery Park and he will be assisted by David MacCuish. Kenny Cushnie moves to Aberdeen University as he is studying in the Granite City. However Kieran Murray returns to Lochcarron after a spell with the Students. Lochside Rovers – Lochside Rovers will be managed by Gareth Evans and David MacCuish this season which will give the Oban Camanachd reserves some stability. Both Evan and MacCuish have spent time in charge of the Oban Camanachd youth sides so expect many of the club’s promising youngsters to feature during their watch. Lovat – John MacRitchie takes over from Allan MacRae in the Lovat hot-seat. Craig Mainland and Graeme MacMillan are sidelined through injury. Duncan Davidson has not featured pre-season whilst Calum Macaulay has moved abroad. Midfielder Owen Ferguson might have limited availability. However there is still the nucleus of a strong squad with brothers Greg and Jamie Matheson joining Lorne MacKay and Kevin Bartlett to form what looks like a prolific attack. However Lorne MacKay and Martin Bell miss the start of the season through suspension. Newtonmore – First team manager Paul John MacKintosh is boosted by Rory Kennedy’s return to action and he is expected to start the season in attack. It is a timely boost for ‘More as talisman Danny MacRae will miss the start of the campaign with a calf injury. Cammy MacDonald takes sole charge of the Newtonmore reserves after co-managing the team for a number of years with Glen Tonkin. Oban Camanachd – Manager Iain Campbell aims to consolidate a place in shinty’s top flight following his side’s promotion at the end of last season. He has added former Glenorchy player Scott MacKillop to his squad and he will feature in defence. Gavin Stobbart has moved abroad whilst James MacMillan is suspended for the season opening. Craig MacDougall captained Lochside Rovers last year and he will get his chance for the seniors. Oban Celtic – Oban Celtic finished high up the table last season and they know that they will have to be at their best again this term again as the addition of Bute and Glenorchy makes Marine Harvest South Division 1 a tough league. Oban Lorne – Oban Lorne make a welcome return to senior shinty and they have been active in the pre-season with forward David Martin looking particularly sharp. Former Oban Celtic manager Jocky Martin will manage the side and David MacInnes will add quality to the side. Strathglass – New manager David Balharry will undertake a rebuilding job at Cannich. The side turned down the chance to move up to the Marine Harvest National Division when Bute’s place became available so that they could concentrate on youth. Keeper Stevie MacLachlan and Darren Reid will provide experience for the side. Strathspey Camanachd – Badenoch & Strathspey’s third club have been building up a useful squad of players and they will look to continue their progression this season. However they have suffered a blow with the news that Andy Hay has moved abroad. Former Newtonmore player Mark MacDonald is a key player for the Grantown Grammar School side. Skye Camanachd – Skye Camanachd start life in the Marine Harvest National Division without injured keeper Jamie Gannon so Iain MacLeod continues in goal after stepping up to the senior squad at the end of last season. Defender Chris Rose is unlikely to be available but Allan MacKinnon has made a speedier than expected return from a hand injury. The Skye Camanachd first team management team will also run the reserves with David Pringle taking a lead role. Strachur – Managers Brian Dickie and John Montgomery start the season without the banned Ian MacLennan. Tayforth – Tayforth have been training hard at Peffermill ahead of the new season and they open their league programme with a match against the Bute reserves at Musselburgh. Taynuilt – Manager Davie Thomson suffered a pre-season blow as Taynuilt talisman Willie Neilson picked up a pre-season injury which will likely keep him out of the new season opening fixtures. |