The Shinty Preview – Saturday 24 March 2012 | |
22 March 2012 The 2012 shinty season’s first cup tie takes place on Saturday 24 March 2012.
Co-operative MacTavish Cup – First Round Fort William v Caberfeidh Fort William and Caberfeidh meet in in the Co-operative MacTavish Cup first round at the Black Parks. The game has been brought forward a week as the Fort’s Neil Robertson gets married next weekend when his club has a free Saturday. Fort manager Peter McIntyre has introduced a new centre line of Alex Duncan and brothers Niall and Arran MacPhee and they will have a key role to play in this one. Former Ballachulish player Scott Henderson notched a double from a substitute appearance last week so he may have played his way into his managers starting twelve. Cabers had the influential Ally MacLennan back in their side last weekend and he popped up in the final minute with the equalising goal against Beauly.
Orion Group Premiership Inveraray v Newtonmore Inveraray have home advantage against Newtonmore. Several of the home players enjoyed a Benidorm break last weekend for Andrew McMurdo’s stag party. Inveraray effectively deployed Garry MacPherson in the wing-back role against Glenurquhart a fortnight ago and manager John Smylie will consider a similar switch against the champions. Neil Campbell is missing for the home side. Newtonmore were boosted by the inclusion of Danny MacRae and Fraser MacKintosh in their starting line-up for last week’s win over Kinlochshiel. Lovat v Bute Lovat and Bute meet at Balgate. The home side has made a super start to the season but their momentum was interrupted when they had no game last week. Greg Matheson has been grabbing the headlines and Lorne MacKay has been very effective in midfield. Bute’s Brian Liddell is out with an ankle injury. Throw up is at the earlier time of 1pm. Kyles Athletic v Kingussie Kyles Athletic and Kingussie meet for the second time this season. The Kings came out on top in the first clash at the Dell but both sides’ fortunes were reversed last weekend. Dunkie Kerr returns to the Kyles squad. The match has been switched to Col Glen’s Ormadale pitch as Tighnabruaich is still not available. Throw up will be at the earlier time of 12.30pm. Glenurquhart v Kinlochshiel Glenurquhart were to make the trip to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel but an unplayable field has meant a switch to Blairbeg with a 12 noon throw up. The Glen will be keen to recover from the disappointment of last week’s 6-1 home defeat against Kyles Athletic. Co-managers Fraser MacKenzie and Drew McNeil will have decisions to make. Neale Reid has been sidelined with an injury whilst Liam Girvan also picked up a knock last weekend. Visiting boss Johnston Gill saw two-goal Keith MacRae and captain Gordie Macdonald pick up knocks against Newtonmore last weekend but both should make this one.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Beauly v Strathglass League leaders Beauly play Strathglass at Braeview Park. Beauly should be along usual lines and they start as favourites. Strathglass were under-strength against Skye last weekend with player / manager Robert Geddes having no substitutes. He will hope to have a couple of players back for this one. Skye Camanachd v Inverness Skye Camanachd welcome Inverness to Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Iain Nicolson should return for Skye after work commitments ruled him out of the win over Strathglass. The visiting Inverness side will include a couple of familiar faces as ex-Skye players Somhairle MacDonald and Dougie Rankin should line-up for the Capital side. However they will be without James Cameron who is suspended and the injured David Higham. Lochaber v Lochcarron Lochaber and Lochcarron meet for the second time this season. The sides drew 1-1 at Battery Park on the opening day of the season. The visitors had Michael MacMillan return in goal in the draw with Inverness last week which allowed Kenny Ross to start in midfield. Throw up is at 3pm.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Oban Camanachd v Glasgow Mid Argyll League Leaders Oban Camanachd will be out to maintain their 100% record when they play Glasgow Mid Argyll at Mossfield. This should be a tough test for the home side as they face the team who finished in second place last season. The Oban side seem to be building up a head of steam this season and few would bet against them equaling Bute and Glenorchy’s 100% league record during the last couple of seasons. Mid Argyll suffered a shock defeat against Aberdour last week. Taynuilt v Glenorchy Taynuilt prop up the table but they have home advantage in their derby meeting with Glenorchy. Glenorchy gave an improved second half performance in the win over Strachur. Manager Allan MacKechnie has seen his side win their opening two games of the season and this is just the type of match they need to win if they are to be title contenders. Kilmory v Strachur Kilmory play newly promoted Strachur. The visitors are in search of their first points of the season. Aberdour v Oban Celtic Aberdour and Oban Celtic meet in Fife. The home side will be buoyed from last week’s win over GMA whilst Oban Celtic had a Saturday off.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Newtonmore v Glengarry The match of the day in this division is the meeting between the top two Newtonmore and Glengarry at the Eilan. Both sides have a 100% record so far. Chris Sellar scored twice when Newtonmore won 4-2 in the corresponding fixture last season but ’Garry had two players sent of that day. Kingussie v Skye Camanachd Just three miles down the road from the meeting between the top two, third place Skye Camanachd will face a stiff test against Kingussie at the Dell. Paul MacKinnon should return for Skye. Aberdeen University v Fort William Aberdeen University have home advantage against Fort William. Both sides have picked up a couple of points this season. Glenurquhart v Kinlochshiel The Glenurquhart and Kinlochshiel second string meet at Blairbeg. Glenurquhart’s Ewan Fraser and Jack Hosie both picked up knocks last week. The visitors should have Iain Cameron back in goal. Lochaber v Lovat Spean Bridge is the venue for the meeting between Lochaber and Lovat. Lochaber have picked up a couple of points this season whilst Lovat are at the foot of the table with no points. Throw up is at 12 noon.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Col Glen v Aberdour Col Glen play Aberdour, who finished bottom of the table last season, at Ormadale. Col Glen are one of five teams - half the table - who are on four points. Lochside Rovers v Tayforth Lochside Rovers and Tayforth meet in Oban. Lochside Rovers and Ballachulish are the only two sides in the league with a 100% record with each having played two games, with Lochside also having a walk-over against Bute. Throw up is at the earlier time of 1.30pm. Ardnamurchan v Inveraray Ardnamurchan are at home to Inveraray. The home side picked up their first points of the season last week when they put seven goals past GMA. Bute v Glasgow Mid Argyll Bute and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet on Rothesay. Both sides occupy the bottom two places in the league with each looking for their first point of the season.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Strathspey Camanachd v Beauly Strathspey Camanachd will be in for a tough test when league leaders Beauly visit Freuchie Park. Beauly have won three out of three this season whilst the home side, who are home for the fourth time in a row, go in search of their first point in their fledgling season. Strathglass v Lochbroom Strathglass welcome Lochbroom to Cannich. Strathglass have taken three points from their opening three games. Lochbroom are the only side other than Beauly with a 100% record in the league after three games. Kilmallie v Lewis Camanachd Kilmallie will be keen to get back on the rails following their heavy defeat against Lochcarron last week. They play Lewis Camanachd at the Canal Parks. Kilmallie were eight players short when they lost to Lochcarron but they should have a bigger pool of players this week as their first team does not have a game. Lewis are on the road for the fourth consecutive match as was the case at the start of last season. Boleskine v Lochcarron Third place Boleskine and Lochcarron do battle at Farr. Boleskine’s Lewis Smith scored five in the win over Strathspey Camanachd last week. However Lochcarron’s Gregor Cushnie netted four times in their victory over Kilmallie so the visitors will hope he isn’t called up for first team duty. Inverness v Caberfeidh Ally MacLeod’s Inverness side has home advantage against Caberfeidh in this Bught Park meeting. |