The Shinty Preview – Saturday 7 July 2012 | |
06 July 2012 The Artemis Macaulay Cup finalists and the last Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter-finalist will be known following the shinty fixtures on Saturday 7 July 2012.
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Second Round Kyles Athletic v Glasgow Mid Argyll The last place in the quarter finals of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup is up for grabs when Kyles Athletic and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet at Tighnabruaich. Kyles hope to have David Zavaroni back after he missed last week’s win over Lovat. They also have Donald Irvine available although his work commitments mean that he will likely miss the crucial league clash with Newtonmore on 21 July 2012. Three of the players on show – Zack Coley from Kyles and GMA pair Finlay MacMillan and Craig Anderson – were named in the Scotland U17 squad which will tour Ireland later this month.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – Semi Finals Oban Camanachd v Inveraray Oban Camanachd and Inveraray have a noon meeting at Mossfield. Oban Camanachd could be short of a couple of regulars as they, like many clubs, are affected by this weekend’s T in the Park Music Festival. Oban Camanachd’s Scott MacMillan serves a one match ban whilst Garry Lord is nearing a return from injury. Inveraray go into the tie on the back of a record AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup win last weekend in which their forwards looked particularly potent. Graham Cameron is the match referee. Fort William v Glenurquhart Fort William and Glenurquhart meet at the Bught Park, Inverness in what is the biggest game of the season so far for both clubs. The sides met in the league two weeks ago with Fort William coming out 3-1 winners. Fort William beat Kinlochshiel last weekend without Alex Duncan, Liam McIntyre and Bryan Simpson and manager Peter McIntyre will hope to have at least two of the three back for this one. However Kyle Grant is an injury doubt. Glenurquhart co-managers Fraser MacKenzie and Drew Mcneil did not have a game last weekend which will have allowed time for any niggling injuries to clear. Colin MacDonald is the match referee and this tie will be filmed for the Camanachd Association’s YouTube archive.
Orion Group Premiership Kinlochshiel v Newtonmore With league leaders Kyles in cup action, Newtonmore have the chance to return to the top of the Orion Group Premiership when they travel to Kirkton for a noon clash with Kinlochshiel. However ‘Shiel put ‘More out of the Artemis Macaulay Cup at the same venue earlier in the season. This could turn-out to be a tactical battle between managers Johnstone Gill and Norman MacArthur and it will be interesting to see how key players such as Finlay MacRae and Danny MacRae are deployed. Bute v Lovat Lovat will be keen to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Kyles Athletic when they visit Rothesay to play Bute at the Meadows. Bute have not played since their Macaulay Cup defeat to Oban Camanachd in the middle of June. Lorne MacKay is Lovat’s injury concern and he is unlikely to play. Kilmallie v Kingussie Kilmallie and Kingussie meet for the second successive Saturday when they do battle at the Canal Parks. Kingussie came from a goal down to win 3-1 last weekend thanks to a Ronald Ross hat-trick. Neither side will be at full strength. Kilmallie have absentees because of T in the Park for what is a crucial match in their fight against relegation given that they only have three league games remaining after this one. Martin Stewart is available for the home side before he starts a two match ban for a points accumulation. Kingussie will be without captain Craig Dawson who suffered a broken wrist in last week’s game and he joins Louis Munro on the injury list. Lee Bain is also a doubt after receiving a burst nose during that match.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Beauly P Skye Camanachd P The match between Beauly and Skye Camanachd at Braeview Park has been postponed at Skye’s request because of a bereavement. Lochaber v Caberfeidh Third place Lochaber have a Spean Bridge meeting with second place Caberfeidh. Lochaber were missing Shaun Nicolson, Stuart Callison and Danny Delaney last week and boss Michael Delaney will hope to have at least two of the three back in his squad. However work commitments rule out Donald MacRae. Manager Stewart MacLennan will be pleased to have defender Liam Mutch free from suspension for Cabers after serving a one match ban last week when his side threw away a two goal lead to go down 3-2 to Inverness. Throw up is at 3pm. Lochcarron v Strathglass There is a Battery Park meeting between Lochcarron and Strathglass. Throw up is at noon and the club’s reserve side’s meet later in the afternoon at the same venue with the possibility that some players will turn out in both matches.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Aberdour v Glenorchy Aberdour meet Glenorchy in Fife. With Oban Camanachd in cup action, Glenorchy have the chance to go two points clear at the top of the table although the Mossfield men will have three games in hand. Alex MacPherson returns from suspension for Glenorchy. Oban Celtic v Kilmory Oban Celtic face Kilmory in Oban. Oban Celtic are likely to be without former Oban Camanachd keeper Gavin Stobbart who they have been deploying in attack. Oban Celtic’s Gary McKerracher was this week named Scotland U17 captain for this month’s Ireland tour. Kilmory will be without the suspended John Strachan but Mark Robertson returns after missing last week’s Balliemore Cup semi-final defeat to Beauly because of a points accumulation. Throw up is at 3pm.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Newtonmore v Fort William League leaders Newtonmore play Fort William at the Eilan. A double from Fort’s Neil Clark inflicted one of only two league defeats for ‘More when the sides met at the Black Parks in early May. Kinlochshiel v Glenurquhart Kinlochshiel at Glenurquhart meet at Kirkton. The sides met in the Strathdearn Cup quarter finals a fortnight ago when the Glen ran out 3-1 winners at Blairbeg. Throw up is at 3pm. Skye Camanachd v Kingussie Skye Camanachd face Kingussie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Neil John Campbell is still injured for the Islanders who will also be without keeper and assistant manager John MacLeod. Lovat v Lochaber Lovat’s win over Skye Camanachd last weekend took them off the bottom of the table at Lochaber’s expense and the sides meet at Balgate. The home side had Fraser Gallacher in fine form last week and he will be the Lovat danger-man if he plays.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Ballachulish v Kyles Athletic Third place Ballachulish take on second place Kyles Athletic. Ballachulish trail their rivals by a point but have two games in hand so there is everything to play for. Darren Sutherland for Ballachulish and Roddy MacColl for Kyles will be key men. Jubilee Park is still out of action so this game will take place at the Black Parks, Fort William. Col Glen v Inveraray Col Glen are at home to Inveraray. The sides sit mid-table but a home win will see Col Glen leap-frog their rivals. Inveraray’s Gordon Watt is suspended for a points accumulation. Ardnamurchan v Bute Ardnamurchan have home advantage against Bute. Ardnamurchan’s Liam Thornton starts a two match ban. Bute have nine league points from nine games, the fewest number of games played in the division.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Boleskine v Caberfeidh Boleskine welcome Caberfeidh to Farr. Caberfeidh’ Ruairidh McCreadie is now free of suspension. Boleskine were 3-1 winners when the sides met earlier in the season at Castle Leod. Beauly v Lochbroom League leaders Beauly and Lochbroom clash at Braeview Park. The home side looks unstoppable in the league this season with twelve straight wins, seventy goals scored and only ten conceded. The visitors new signing Neil Fraser has scored six goals in his two outings for the Ullapool side. Throw up is at 1pm Lochcarron v Strathglass The home side are on a good run of late having won their last three consecutive league games. Throw up is at 2.30pm as this match follows the clash between the club’s senior sides. Lewis Camanachd v Inverness Inverness head for Shawbost play Lewis Camanachd. The sides occupy the bottom two places in the league with Lewis having a one point advantage. |