The Shinty Preview – Saturday 4 August 2012 | |
03 August 2012 The pick of the shinty action this weekend is the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi-final between Kinlochshiel and Inveraray on Saturday 4 August 2012.
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Semi Final Kinlochshiel v Inveraray Kinlochshiel and Inveraray take the field at the recently refurbished An Aird with a place in the 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final at stake. Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill leads his team into their biggest match ever bar none and he had decisions to make ahead of the tie. Defender John Don MacKenzie injured a thigh muscle in the recent defeat to Newtonmore. The young defender had to leave the field after an accidental clash with ‘More’s Glen MacKintosh and whilst it was initially hoped that he might only be missing for a couple of weeks, the muscle damage to his leg is worse than initially estimated and he will likely miss the rest of the season. David Falconer will continue to deputise and he has played well for the west coast side this season. Graham Kennedy is the other big miss for Gill following the keeper’s red card against Glenurquhart in their last outing. Scott Kennedy, who is coincidently Graham’s brother, has stood in before as has second team keeper Iain Cameron. This has been a difficult decision for the ‘Shiel boss and Scott Kennedy is likely to get the nod. Inveraray were missing captain Scott Robertson and forward Euan McMurdo last weekend whilst Davie MacPherson was rested as they beat Lovat 4-1. However manager John Smylie will have all three back for this one and his side should be along usual lines with Garry MacPherson, Chris Crawford, Euan McMurdo and Russell MacKinlay providing a real goal threat in attack. Throw up is at 4.05pm and the whole match will be shown LIVE on BBC Alba. Billy Wotherspoon is the match referee.
Orion Group Premiership Fort William v Kyles Athletic The match between Fort William and Kyles Athletic will go ahead at Black Park despite An Aird opening for the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi-final tie between Kinlochshiel and Inveraray. Last week’s Fort William squad, which drew 1-1 on Bute, featured three brothers – Kyle, Mark and Cameron Grant. However Kyle Grant breaks up the partnership as he is suspend for this one. The Fort will again be without Gary Innes whilst Alex Duncan is also banned. Captain Bryan Simpson should return. Kyles will want to take the opportunity to top the Orion Group Premiership as leaders Newtonmore do not have a game. Defender Zac Coley remains side-lined with a hand injury. Throw up is at noon and a big crowd is expected before they head for the later game at An Aird. Kingussie v Glenurquhart Kingussie meet Glenurquhart at the Dell. Russell Jones’ side can equal Kyles’ points total if they win both their games in hand so this is a big game for them. Kingussie’s Rory Borthwick serves a one match ban for a points accumulation whilst Louis Munro and Craig Dawson are longer term injury absentees. Work commitments rule out the Glen’s Scottish international defender Andrew Corrigan but Ruairidh Cameron may return from injury. Throw up is at 2pm.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Skye Camanachd v Lochaber Title contenders Skye Camanachd and Lochaber clash at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The sides have already met twice this season with Lochaber coming out on top on both occasions. Allan MacKinnon returns for Skye but Iain Nicolson is working and Danny Morrison is on holiday. Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Jamie MacDonald and Iain Morrison are longer-term absentees. Skye have Shaun Hedley available but he will miss next week’s game against Beauly as a serves a one match ban for a points accumulation. Lochaber will be without injured defender Brian MacDonald. James MacRae will likely take his place. Throw up is at 1pm. Inverness v Caberfeidh Inverness play Caberfeidh at the Bught Park with the visitors hoping to capitalise on any dropped points from the meeting between Skye and Lochaber. Inverness will still be without the suspended James Cameron and Somhairle MacDonald who is on holiday. However Davie Glass marked his return to the side last week end by scoring two goals in a 3-2 win over Strathglass. Caberfeidh were without veteran defender Brian MacDonald and Graham MacGregor last weekend when they collected a valuable point on Skye. Throw up is at 2pm.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Oban Camanachd v Taynuilt Oban Camanachd could take another step towards the title if they beat Taynuilt at Mossfield. However they will have to do it without Gareth Evans who is suspended. Throw up is at 3pm. Aberdour v Glenorchy Aberdour meet Glenorchy in Fife. The visitors will look to bounce back from last week’s shock defeat against Taynuilt. Throw up is at 1pm. Oban Celtic v Glasgow Mid Argyll Oban Celtic have home advantage against third place Glasgow Mid Argyll. Oban Celtic’s Kieran Gallagher serves a one match ban. Garry Luke remains out injured for the visitors. Throw up is at noon.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lovat 5 Glenurquhart 3 Lovat and Glenurquhart brought their match forward to Wednesday 1 August 2012 with a 7pm throw up. Click on the following match to read the match report in full http://www.skyecamanachd.com/news/lovat-5-glenurquhart-3.htm Skye Camanachd v Fort William Skye Camanachd meet Fort William at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye will be without Jack Latton who suffered a broken hand in the win over Aberdeen University last weekend. Fort defender Cameron Grant is likely to be on first team duty for the Strathdearn Cup finalists. Throw up is at 3.30pm. Glengarry v Kinlochshiel Glengarry play Kinlochshiel at Craigard. ‘Garry have agreed to ‘Shiel’s request to bring the throw up forward to 1pm. This will allow the visiting side’s players and supporters to head for An Aird afterwards to watch the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi-final tie between Kinlochshiel and Inveraray. Matthew Ross is available for the home side before he serves a one match ban for a points accumulation in his side’s next outing. ‘Shiel will be without either Scott Kennedy or Iain Cameron depending on who gets called up to take over in goal for the first team. Lochaber P Kingussie P Lochaber and Kingussie have agreed to put back their league meeting to Wednesday 8 August 2012. Throw up at Spean Bridge will be at 7pm.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Tayforth v Lochside Rovers Lochside Rovers just need a point from their trip to play Tayforth to clinch the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title. However they will only move up a league if their first team, Oban Camanachd, win the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title and promotion to the Orion Group Premiership. Throw up is at 2pm. Kyles Athletic v Ballachulish Second place Kyles Athletic host third place Ballachulish at Tighnabruaich. The sides both trail leaders Lochside Rovers by 10 points with each having a couple of games in hand. A draw would hand Lochside the title regardless of their result at Tayforth. Throw up is at 2pm. Glasgow Mid Argyll v Bute Glasgow Mid Argyll meet Bute at Yoker. Mid Argyll are just a point above bottom side Aberdour and Bute are two points better off than the basement side. However the Glasgow club has played a game more than Aberdour and six games more than Bute. GMA only have one match remaining after this one. Throw up is at 2pm. |