The Shinty Preview – Saturday 21 July 2012 - UPDATED. | |
19 July 2012 The Balliemore Cup Final takes centre stage and the top two sides in the Orion Group Premiership clash on Saturday 21 July 2012.
Balliemore Cup Final Beauly v Lochaber Beauly and Lochaber meet in the Balliemore Cup Final at Castle Leod. Beauly beat Inverness in the league last week whilst Lochaber did not have a game because of a bereavement. Ryan Tillman is an injury doubt for Beauly but Conor Ross could return. Lochaber should be along usual lines. The sides met in early April at Braeview Park when a Shaun Nicolson hat-trick helped Lochaber to a 5-0 win. Beauly beat Glenorchy, Inverness and Kilmory to reach the final whilst Lochaber had a tougher route against Caberfeidh, Oban Camanachd and Glasgow Mid Argyll. Beauly are out to win the intermediate cup for the first time whilst Lochaber’s enjoyed success in both 1987 and 1994. Admission for the final is £10, with concessions at £5 and free entry for all U12s accompanied by an adult. Throw up is at 2.30pm and Evan MacRae is the match referee. The match will be filmed for the Camanachd Association’s YouTube archive.
Orion Group Premiership Kyles Athletic v Newtonmore The top two sides in the division clash at Tighnabruaich where Kyles Athletic host Newtonmore. The sides drew 3-3 at the Eilan earlier in the season and this one is likely to be just as close. Kyles full back Donald Irvine will miss out unless he can rearrange his work commitments. Kyles playmaker Roddy MacDonald was substituted 20 minutes from the end of last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup win on Skye when he picked up a leg knock but he is expected to make it. Newtonmore were not in action last week and manager Norman MacArthur had a full squad to choose from against Kinlochshiel a fortnight earlier when his substitutes’ bench of Chris Sellar, Blair MacKintosh and Scott Chisholm emphasised the strength of the champions’ squad. However a booking for captain John MacKenzie in that game means that he has to sit this one out for a points accumulation. Inveraray v Kilmallie The games are running out for Kilmallie in their fight to beat the drop and they head for the Winterton to play Inveraray in their third last fixture. Kilmallie will have to do without Martin Stewart who serves the second game of a two match ban. Kilmallie’s John Stewart suffered a head knock in last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup defeat to Inveraray but he should play. Lovat v Fort William Lovat entertain Fort William at Balgate. The Fort edged an Artemis Macaulay Cup tie between the sides by the odd goal in seven earlier in the season although Lovat came out on top in their league encounter at the Black Parks. Lovat manager Allan MacRae will consider whether to make changes to his starting line-up which were disappointing against Kinlochshiel last week and he has several options as his bench that day included Lorne MacKay, Calum Macaulay and Fraser Gallacher. One player sure to start is Greg Matheson who has hit 18 goals for the Balgate men already this season. Fort William were not in action last week and Gary Innes is likely to be missing for this one because of musical commitments and Alex Duncan starts a three . Throw up is at 3pm. Kinlochshiel v Glenurquhart Newly promoted Kinlochshiel could all but cement their place in shinty’s top flight with a win over Glenurquhart at Kirkton. ‘Shiel defender John Don MacKenzie missed last week’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter-final win at Lovat but he has a chance of making this game. Calum MacLean picked up a knock in that tie and had to be substituted along with Oliver MacRae who had a tight hamstring. However both are expected to return for the Glen’s visit. Home captain Gordie MacDonald is playing with a knee injury in what could be a memorable season for the club. Glenurquhart’s Ruairidh Cameron misses out. Kingussie v Bute Kingussie play Bute at the Dell. Kingussie’s were 2-0 winners at the Meadows in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season. Louis Munro and Craig Dawson remain on the Kings’ injury list and Dawson had an operation on his broken wrist this week. Bute’s Iain MacDonald has a broken toe and the Islanders have yet to record a win in the league this season.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass 1 Lochcarron 4 Lochcarron continued their run of good midweek results when they came from a goal down to secure a 4-1 Marine Harvest North Division 1 victory over Strathglass at Cannich. The match was brought forward to Tuesday 17 July 2012 as Lochcarron have their annual Highland Games at the weekend. There were two new faces in the Strathglass camp with Callum Duff on the touchline assisting manager Robert Geddes and former Beauly player Innes Simpson, making his debut at full centre. Strathglass opened well and they took the lead after just 4 minutes. Robbie Stokes got on the end of a sweeping move started by Robert Geddes on the left, and whilst Stokes missed his first shooting opportunity, he quickly gathered possession before dribbling through the visiting defence and rolling the ball low past Lochaber keeper Douglas MacKenzie into the net. Lochcarron started to come more into the game but any attacks were dealt with by the home defence with Ally MacAdams looking assured at full back. However Lochcarron got back on level terms on 20 minutes when Gregor Cushnie turned a David MacCuish cross from the right into the net to make it 1-1. Strathglass suffered a blow on 37 minutes when Innes Simpson was forced to cut his debut short and leave the field with what was later confirmed as an achilles muscle injury. Strathglass almost regained the lead on 48 minutes when a blistering Robert Geddes drive took a wicked deflection but Lochcarron keeper Douglas MacKenzie produced a fantastic reflex save as he palmed the ball away for a corner. Home keeper Steve MacLauchlan was called into action 5 minutes later when he saved well with his feet from a Sean MacCuish snap-shot. Lochcarron took the lead for the first time on 63 minutes when Alan Stewart collected the ball after good play from David Bauermeister, who was excellent through-out, and he lofted the ball goalwards. Keeper MacLauchlan seemed to miss-judge the ball and it crept into the net to put Lochcarron 2-1 ahead. The Lochcarron forwards linked up well on 67 minutes and Gregor Cushnie nipped round the back of the Strathglass defence, before stroking the ball into the net to increase the visitors’ advantage. The scoring was completed when Allan MacKenzie collected a ball into the middle on 85 minutes and he turned before executing a well-hit shot which gave MacLauchlan no chance to make it 4-1. The win takes Lochcarron level on points with fourth place Beauly. Skye Camanachd W/O v Inverness Inverness have been unable to raise a team for their Marine Harvest North Division 1 trip to Pairc nan Laoch, Portree to play Skye Camanachd. Inverness boss Calum McLeod was going to be without up to twelve players from his first team squad including keeper Adam MacMaster, the injured Davie Glass, former Skye player Somhairle MacDonald who is on holiday and the suspended James Cameron who was red carded against Beauly last week. The Inverness second team is in action this weekend and the club will not be fined or docked points for the first team forfeit as this is one of the “third games” on the fixture list. Skye Camanachd have been awarded the points and they go top of Marine Harvest North Division 1.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Oban Camanachd v Strachur Oban Camanachd meet Strachur at Mossfield. The home side sits in second place in the table although their games in hand mean they are title favourites. Scott MacMillan has served his one match ban and he should return for the home side. However on-form forward Andrew MacCuish is suspended which is a blow to Gussie Campbell’s side. Glasgow Mid Argyll v Glenorchy Third place Glasgow Mid Argyll meet league leaders Glenorchy at Yoker. Glenorchy have a two point lead over Oban Camanachd but they have played three games more. GMA are on the same points as the Mossfield met but have played two games more. The only sure thing is that Oban Camanachd will benefit whatever the outcome of this match as neither side can afford to drop points in their quest to prevent the Oban side making a quick-fire return to the Orion Group Premiership. Taynuilt v Kilmory Taynuilt have home advantage against Kilmory. Both sides are in the relegation dog-fight. Taynuilt sit in second bottom position, a couple of points above Aberdour. Kilmory are two points better off than Taynuilt although they have played a game more.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Newtonmore v Aberdeen University Top of the table Newtonmore welcome fifth placed Aberdeen University to the Eilan. Evan Menzies has been racking up the goals for the reigning champions this season whilst the Students main goal threat will come from former Skye Camanachd players Jamie Beaton and Kenny MacLeod. Lovat v Kinlochshiel Second place Kinlochshiel have put together an impressive league run of late and they travel to Balgate to play Lovat. Throw up is at noon. Glenurquhart v Skye Camanachd Glenurquhart and Skye Camanachd clash at Blairbeg. Drew MacLennan remains on the Glen injury list. Skye Camanachd’s Stewart Grant is still on holiday whilst John MacLeod, John Angus MacInnes, David MacInnes and Ally "Cloudy" MacLeod will be also missing because of work commitments. Fort William v Kingussie Fort William play Kingussie at the Black Parks. Both sides have reached cup finals this season and that is where their priorities will lie. Fort William reached the Strathdearn Cup Final last weekend whilst Kingussie play local rivals Newtonmore in the Sutherland Cup Final next weekend.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Tayforth v Glasgow Mid Argyll Tayforth have home advantage against Glasgow Mid Argyll. Tayforth won 4-1 at Yoker when the sides met in early May. Lochside Rovers v Col Glen Col Glen have been unable to raise a team for their trip to Oban to play table toppers Lochside Rovers so the points go to the home side. Ballachulish v Inveraray Inveraray have been unable to raise a team for their meeting with Ballachulish so Ballachulish get the points..
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Boleskine v Lochbroom Third place Boleskine host second place Lochbroom at Farr. Michael Pirie is available for Strathglass following suspension. Both sides had big wins last weekend with Lochbroom’s Neil Fraser and Boleskine’s Iain Grant amongst the goals. Neither side can afford to drop points as Beauly edge closer to the title. Strathspey Camanachd v Inverness Strathspey Camanachd play Inverness at Freuchie Park. Only three points separate the bottom four sides in the league so this game will be a real opportunity for both these teams to add to their tally. |