The Shinty Preview – Saturday 30 June 2012 | |
29 June 2012 The AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final between Inveraray and Taynuilt is shinty’s main event at the second attempt on Saturday 30 June 2012.
AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final Inveraray v Taynuilt The first piece of silverware for the south teams is up for grabs as Inveraray and Taynuilt meet in the rearranged AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final at the Strachurmore Sports Centre. The heavy rain deemed the pitch unplayable last weekend and the weather has only improved slightly since. Inveraray boss John Smylie will be have Euan MacMurdo available this week. The forward would have missed last week’s game as he was attending his brother’s wedding. David MacPherson should also return. Inveraray have unrivaled experience in their ranks as victory will give captain Scott Roberson and brothers Garry and Graeme MacPherson, 41 winners medals between them. Taynuilt captain Stuart Scott on the other and leads his Marine Harvest South Division 1 side into their first major final. However Taynuilt manager Davie Thomson is an experienced campaigner and he will be well aware where Inveraray’s strengths lie. Stopping the Winterton side in their tracks will be another matter though. The heavy rain in the South means that there will be a Saturday morning pitch inspection. Throw up is at 4pm and Robert Baxter, who works for sponsors AJG Parcels, is the match referee. The match will not be televised live on BBC Alba as it would have been had last week’s meeting gone ahead.
Sutherland Cup – Semi Finals Fort William v Kingussie Fort William meet Kingussie at Spean Bridge. The Fort have shown the better recent form I the league. A Scott Knox goal in the final minute gave Kingussie a 2-1 win when the sides met in league action at the Dell earlier in the season. Match highlights will be filmed for the Camanachd Association’s YouTube archive. Glenurquhart v Newtonmore The tie between Glenurquhart and Newtonmore goes ahead at the Bught Park, Inverness. Brothers Ben and Jack Hosie will provide the main goal threat for a Glenurquhart side which recently beat Newtonmore at Blairbeg in the league. Newtonmore have Scott Chisholm back after suspension and their ace in the pack is reserve shinty’s top scorer, Evan Menzies. Match highlights will be filmed for the Camanachd Association’s YouTube archive.
Balliemore Cup – Semi Finals Lochaber v Glasgow Mid Argyll The tie between Lochaber and Glasgow Mid Argyll takes place at the Winterton. Lochaber have become cup specialists this season, reaching the final of the Co-operative MacTavish Cup and they are in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter-finals. Work commitments rule out Lochaber defender Donald MacRae. GMA will have Finlay MacMillan and Craig Anderson back after they missed the team’s last outing which was the 6-1 win over Taynuilt a fortnight ago. Throw up is at 1pm. Beauly v Kilmory Beauly meet Kilmory at Taynuilt in the second semi-final with a place in next month’s final at Castle Leod at stake. It took extra time for Beauly to get past Marine Harvest South Division 1 opponents before they finally ousted Glenorchy 3-2 in the Balliemore Cup. Teenage forward Jack MacDonald is missing for the home side as he is abroad on holiday. Kilmory will be without the suspended Mark Robertson and John Strachan who both miss out because of a points accumulation. Throw up is at 1pm.
Bullough Cup – Quarter Finals Ballachulish v Ardnamurchan Ballachulish face Ardnamurchan with a place in the last four at stake. Ballachulish are currently in third place in Marine Harvest North Division 2 whilst Ardnamurchan are second bottom. This tie will take place at Strontian as Ballachulish’s Jubilee Park is undergoing improvement works at present.
Orion Group Premiership Bute P Newtonmore P Newtonmore returned to the top of the Orion Group Premiership last weekend but their match against Bute has been postponed as the Meadows has been ruled unplayable. Lovat v Kyles Athletic Title contenders Lovat and Kyles Athletic clash at Balgate. With Newtonmore’s game postponed, both sides have the chance to be top of the table on Saturday evening. Lovat manager Allan MacRae will make a late decision on Lorne MacKay who has a hernia problem with the player keen to play. Fort William v Kinlochshiel Fort William and Kinlochshiel meet at the Black Parks for the second time this season. Fort William have Neil Robertson and Mark Grant free of suspension and Duncan Rodger may also return. Gary Innes will be given every opportunity to show that he has recovered from an injured ankle. Kinlochshiel will be without Steven Callander who indicated that he has stopped playing ahead of last week’s win over Kingussie because of work commitments. Fraser MacVicar has also missed a large part of ‘Shiel’s season because of work commitments which has allowed both Duncan “Ach” MacRae and Oliver MacRae to break into the senior side where they have performed very well indeed. Kingussie v Kilmallie Kingussie play Kilmallie at the Dell with both sides keen to pick up the points. Kingussie are currently two points better off than their rivals but defeat could suck them into the relegation battle. Louis Munro is out for Kingussie because of a broken foot sustained in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup defeat to Kinlochshiel last weekend. He has been a major player in the Kings’ midfield this season and his absence is a blow for boss Russell Jones.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Caberfeidh v Inverness League leaders Caberfeidh play Inverness at Castle Leod. Liam Mutch is suspended for the home side because of a points accumulation. Davie Glass is still missing for the visitors as he serves the second game of a two match ban. Inverness boss Calum McLeod will also be without keeper Adam MacMaster and Somhairle MacDonald. Throw up is at 3pm. Strathglass v Skye Camanachd Strathglass welcome Skye Camanachd to Cannich. The home side added Callum Duff to their backroom team this week but he will not take up his new role until next week because of a prior commitment with Beauly. Skye should be along usual lines although striker Danny Morrison is missing, as they try to keep the pressure on the sides at the top of the table.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Glenorchy v Oban Camanachd Oban Camanachd can take a giant step towards a quick return to shinty’s top flight when they travel to Dalmally to play Glenorchy. The home side tops the league on goal difference but Oban Camanachd have played two games fewer. The meeting is of equal importance to Glenorchy if they are to harbour any title ambitions. Alex MacPherson returns from suspension for Glenorchy. Oban Camanachd’s Scott MacMillan serves a one match ban whilst Garry Lord is nearing a return from injury. Throw up for what is sure to be a keenly fought encounter is at 1pm. Oban Celtic v Aberdour Oban Celtic and Aberdour clash in Oban. A win for the home side lift them out of the relegation zone into mid-table. Aberdour will also feel that they have the chance to get something from the game. Throw up is at 1pm.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lovat v Skye Camanachd Lovat and Skye Camanachd meet for the second consecutive Saturday. It took penalties to separate the sides at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree last week before the Islanders progressed in the Strathdearn Cup. This time Balgate is the venue and throw up is at noon. Forward Jamie Matheson is nearing an outfield return for Lovat following a hamstring problem. However he may again feature in goal as he did against the Islanders as he did last Saturday Skye will be without defenders Ally “Spod” MacLeod who is working and Neil John Campbell who suffered a broken arm in last week’s clash and he will be missing for around six weeks. Glengarry v Lochaber There is a local derby at Craigard where Lochaber make the short journey to play Glengarry. The home side will want to follow up last week’s win in Aberdeen with another victory to avoid slipping into the relegation battle. Lochaber are currently second bottom, a point ahead of bottom side Lovat.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Inveraray 4 Kyles Athletic 2 The derby meeting between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic at the Winterton was brought forward to Friday 29 June 2012 with a 7.30pm throw up. David Martin put the visitors ahead on 25 minutes but Ruairidh Graham levelled 10 minutes later. Derek Robertson put the home side ahead 5 minutes into the second half and the same player made it 3-1 on 57 minutes. Kyles’ Roddy MacColl pulled a goal back to make it 3-2 on 70 minutes. Inveraray held on to their one goal advantage until referee Deek Cameron awarded them a penalty 5 minutes from time and Lewis MacNicol converted from the spot. Col Glen v Tayforth Col Glen have home advantage against Tayforth. Tayforth were 6-0 winners in the corresponding fixture in March. Throw up is at 1pm. Bute P Lochside Rovers P The match between Bute and league leaders Lochside Rovers is the second match to be postponed because of an unplayable field at the Meadows. Aberdour P Glasgow Mid Argyll P The match between Aberdour and Glasgow Mid Argyll has been postponed as the pitch in Fife is unplayable.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Lochcarron 2 Caberfeidh 1 The meeting between Lochcarron and Caberfeidh at Battery Park was postponed last weekend at the request of the home side because of a bereavement. The game instead went ahead on Tuesday 26 June 2012 with a 7.30pm throw up. Just when it looked as if the first half would end goalless, a Kenny Cushnie strike a minute before the break put the home side ahead. David Bauermeister added a second a couple of minutes into the second period and although Blair Morrison pulled a goal back 5 minutes from time, Lochcarron took the points with a 2-1 win. The victory means Lochcarron are now just a point behind fourth place Kilmallie in the table. Beauly v Strathspey Camanachd League leaders Beauly play Strathspey Camanachd at Braeview Park. Beauly were 6-0 winners when the sides met at Freuchie Park earlier in the season. Lochbroom v Strathglass Second place Lochbroom will start as favourites against Strathglass in Ullapool. The home side have been boasting by the signing of former Kinlochshiel forward Neil Fraser who bagged a debut brace against Lewis last weekend. Kilmallie v Boleskine Fourth place Kilmallie and third place Boleskine clash at the Canal Parks in what is probably the match of the day in this division. Ewan Fraser grabbed a hat-trick as Boleskine won 7-3 when the sides met at Farr in April. Lewis Camanachd v Lochcarron Lewis Camanachd are at home against as Lochcarron visit Shawbost. Donald Lamont returns from suspension for the home side. The visitors have picked up two points already this week with a win over Caberfeidh. Caberfeidh v Inverness Caberfeidh take on Inverness at Castle Leod. Throw up is at noon. |