2017 Marine Harvest League Fixtures Released | |
31 January 2017 Shinty clubs across the country have had their league fixtures confirmed for the new season, which starts on Saturday 4 March 2017. Click on the link to see the draft fixture list in full.
Marine Harvest Premiership Newtonmore’s bid to secure an eighth successive title begins with a home match against Lovat. This will be a tough opening test for new Lovat boss Fraser Gallacher although the Balgate side were the only club to beat Paul John MacKintosh’s team last season, winning 2-1 at the Eilan in their Artemis Macaulay Cup tie. Oban Camanachd travel North to play Kinlochshiel at Kirkton in an early meeting between two of Newtonmore’s nearest challengers last term. Lochaber welcome Kyles Athletic to Spean Bridge on the opening day. Kyles won both their league fixtures last season although the Lochaber men came out on top in the Camanachd Cup after a replay. Newly promoted Kilmallie host Glenurquhart at the Canal Parks. Both teams will be keen to gather early points with little to choose between a number of teams in the league, Glasgow Mid Argyll, who also gained promotion from last year’s National, are also at home. Kingussie are the opposition in what will be Dallas Young’s first competitive match as manager.
Marine Harvest National Division The opening match of the day in this league could be the contest between Oban Celtic and Fort William in Oban. Both teams are new to the division with Fort William relegated from Marine Harvest Premiership whilst Oban Celtic secured promotion by winning Marine Harvest South Division 1. Strathglass are another new addition to this league. David Balharry’s side finished second to the Newtonmore reserves in North 1 last season but they made a successful pitch to the Camanachd association to be moved up a division. They start against Caberfeidh at Cannich. Skye Camanachd will be keen to get off to a winning start and they welcome Inverness to Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Inveraray and Bute are two of the three South teams in this league and they meet at the Winterton. Beauly are the free team in this nine team league with a friendly meeting with Ballachulish a possibility as the Jubilee Park side doesn’t have a fixture either.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 League champions Newtonmore reserves begin the defence of their title with a trip to Braeview Park to play the Beauly reserves in this eight team division. Newly promoted Aberdeen University are the only non-reserve team in this league and they are also on the road as they open with a match against the Kingussie colts at the Dell. The Fort William and Skye Camanachd second teams meet at An Aird and there is also a reserve match at Blairbeg where Kinlochshiel are Glenurquhart’s opponents.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Lochside Rovers and Aberdour finished the 2016 shinty season in the league’s top three positions, with Aberdour a point better off in second place, so there will be plenty at stake when the sides meet on the opening day of the 2017 shinty season. Col Glen, who finished fifth last year, have home advantage against newly promoted Tayforth. Kilmory also make the step up from Marine Harvest South Division 2 and they open with a trip to the Taynuilt Sports Hub to play Taynuilt. The Kyles Athletic seconds take on Glenorchy at Tighnabruaich. Ballachulish have no fixture in this nine team division.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 The Lovat seconds, relegated from North 1 last season, open with a game against Boleskine at Balgate. The Caberfeidh and Lochaber second teams finished third and fourth places respectively so their clash at Castle Leod will be a close encounter. Glengarry welcome Lewis Camanachd to Craigard in what is a return to his previous club for Lewis boss Duncan MacIntyre. The Strathglass second team are back in the league and they make the short journey to the Bught Park to play their Inverness counter-parts. Strathspey Camanachd and the Kilmallie second team will take the field at the Grantown Grammar School. Lochcarron finished second in the league at the end of last season and they are without a fixture on the opening day of the season in this eleven team league.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 With Tayforth and Kilmory promoted from last year’s Marine Harvest South Division 2, Oban Lorn, who finished third in 2016, make the journey to Strachurmore to play the returning Strachur side, back in the league after a twelve month absence. With their first teams meeting at the Winterton, the Bute and Inveraray second teams do battle at the Meadows. The Aberdour and Glasgow Mid Argyll second teams start with a league meeting at Silversands having met at the same venue in a pre-season match which the home side won 2-1. Dunoon have no fixture in this seven team league. |