The 2018 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw was made live on Oban FM’s Sports Show on Saturday 9 December 2017.
Shinty supporters from across the country tuned in to hear Oban Camanachd manager Iain Hay and Oban Celtic boss Kenny Wotherspoon make the draw with Davie Hamilton and Les Kinvig from the Macaulay Association also in attendance.
Eligibility has changed slightly this year with participation no longer solely based on the previous year’s league placing. The Macaulay Association will now take year-by-year consideration of club’s cup participation and decided that Kilmallie, who finished bottom of the Premiership last season and would normally have taken part, be replaced by Caberfeidh, who finished second in the National Division last term.
This means that Caberfeidh will now compete in the Camanachd, MacTavish and Macaulay cup competitions whilst Kilmallie will play in the Camanachd, MacTavish and Balliemore tournaments.
There was a late change to the participating South teams as Kilmory opted not to take part so their place was taken by Ballachulish with Tayforth also declining an invite.
This tournament is the only cup format in senior shinty to be played on a regional basis and so guarantees a final between a North and South side.
Kyles Athletic are the current holders having beaten Newtonmore 7-4 in the 2017 final at Mossfield.
The South were represented by: Aberdour, Ballachulish, Bute, Glasgow Mid Argyll, Inveraray, Kyles Athletic, Oban Camanachd and Oban Celtic.
The North were represented by: Caberfeidh, Glenurquhart, Kingussie, Kinlochshiel, Lochaber, Lovat, Newtonmore and Skye Camanachd.
When the draw got underway, the Oban teams were kept apart with both given home ties against lower league opposition; Oban Celtic against Bute and Oban Camanachd against Glasgow Mid Argyll.
They were also kept apart in the second round with Oban Celtic, if they beat Bute, given the tougher task against the winners of the tie between Kyles Athletic and Inveraray.
Oban Camanachd’s reward should they beat GMA would be a home tie against South 1 opposition in Ballachulish or Aberdour who clash at Jubilee Park.
The pick of the ties is the North meeting between Kinlochshiel and Newtonmore on the west coast. The winners will meet whoever comes out on top in the tie between Kingussie and Skye Camanachd at the Dell so there are the possibilities of either west coast or Badenoch derbies in the quarter-finals.
Lovat welcome Lochaber to Balgate and the prize for the victors is home advantage against Glenurquhart or Caberfeidh who meet at Blairbeg.
2018 Artemis MacAulay Cup Draw:
Artemis Macaulay Cup (South) – First Round – Saturday 5 May 2018
Oban Celtic v Bute
Kyles Athletic v Inveraray
Ballachulish v Aberdour
Oban Camanachd v Glasgow Mid Argyll
Artemis Macaulay Cup (North) - First Round - Saturday 5 May 2018
Kinlochshiel v Newtonmore
Lovat v Lochaber
Glenurquhart v Caberfeidh
Kingussie v Skye Camanachd
Artemis Macaulay Cup (South) – Quarter Final – Saturday 16 June 2018
Oban Camanachd / Glasgow Mid Argyll v Ballachulish / Aberdour
Oban Celtic / Bute v Kyles Athletic / Inveraray
Artemis Macaulay Cup (North) – Quarter Final - Saturday 30 June 2018
Lovat / Lochaber v Glenurquhart / Caberfeidh
Kinlochshiel / Newtonmore v Kingussie / Skye Camanachd
Artemis Macaulay Cup (South) – Semi Final – Saturday 21 July 2018
Oban Camanachd / Glasgow Mid Argyll / Ballachulish / Aberdour v
Oban Celtic / Bute / Kyles Athletic / Inveraray
Artemis Macaulay Cup (North) – Semi Final – Saturday 21 July 2018
Lovat / Lochaber / Glenurquhart / Caberfeidh v
Kinlochshiel / Newtonmore / Kingussie / Skye Camanachd
The 2018 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final will take place at Mossfield, Oban on Saturday 18 August 2018.