Now that the 2016 shinty season has come to a close, we know which teams will participate in the 2017 Artemis MacAulay Cup competition.
This tournament is the only format in senior shinty to be played on a regional basis and so guarantees a final between a North and South side.
Eligibility is based on the previous year’s league placing with the top eight clubs in South in one half of the draw and the top eight clubs in the North in the other grouping.
The South teams will be the same as those who competed last season. There are just two South teams from last season’s Marine Harvest Premiership – Kyles Athletic and Oban Camanachd – although they did finish in second and third place respectively so they will be strong contenders.
The full list of teams to represent the South is: Aberdour, Ballachulish, Bute, Glasgow Mid Argyll, Inveraray, Kyles Athletic, Oban Camanachd and Oban Celtic.
It’s also the same again in the North as the eight top division clubs – including relegated Fort William and Skye Camanachd – go into the hat.
The North will be represented by: Fort William, Glenurquhart, Kingussie, Kinlochshiel, Lochaber, Lovat, Newtonmore and Skye Camanachd.
The final at Mossfield is usually televised and Kinlochshiel are the current holders having beaten Inveraray 5-3 in last year’s final.
The 2017 Artemis MacAulay Cup draw will be made live on Oban FM on Saturday 17 December 2016. The draw will start at 6pm on the Sports View programme.