The Shinty Preview. | |
06 March 2009 The talking ends and the action is about to start as all but one match throw up at 2.30pm as the 2009 shinty season gets underway. Marine Harvest National Premier League Champions Kingussie open the defence of their title with a trip to face Lochaber at Ben Delaney has already made the breakthrough into the first team and he is likely to be joined in the first team by his younger brother Danny. There is a chance that this match could be switched to the Dell if the pitch at Kingussie have lost the services of Fraser Inglis but Ali Borthwick makes a welcome return to the forward line. There has been much speculation as to whether Kings manager Jimmy Gow will introduce some younger players such as Ryan Borthwick into the side this season but there is no doubt that the older guard will be ready for the challenges ahead. Camanachd Cup winners Newtonmore host Premier League newcomers Glenurquhart at the Eilan. The Glen certainly deserve their place in shinty’s top division but their ability to score goals at the top level could ultimately decide their fate. They will miss the skills of energetic Scottish international Eddie Tembo who will not be available until May. More finished runners up last season and they would dearly love to go one better this year. They had an emphatic pre-season will over an under-strength Beauly and they will hope to put the discipline difficulties of lat season behind them. The match between the leagues’s other newcomers Glenorchy and Kyles Athletic has already fallen victim to the weather. Inveraray host Marine Harvest North Division 1 could be the most competitive of all the divisions. With Lovat and Strathglass relegated from the top flight last season, the nine team league is wide open. Strathglass, managed by Camanachd Association Development manager Garry Reid and assistants Dave Balharry and fitness coach Matt Jones, were due to travel to Battery Park to face Lochcarron but the pitch is unplayable. The match was due to be switched to Cannich but the pitch cannot take two games and the second team Marine Harvest North Division 3 match against Lochaber bizarrely takes precedent. Therefore Reid must wait another week for his competitive managerial debut. 2008 Balliemore Cup winners Skye Camanachd travel to the Highland capital to take on Caberfeidh finished bottom of the league last season and they will be keen to avoid a similar fate this season as promotion from North Division 3 is now allowed. Cabers host Kilmallie in what will be a tough test for them. Beauly host Kinlochshiel and this will be a keenly contested affair. Shiel will have a fit again Gordy MacDonald in their ranks whilst Beauly will be want to improve on what was a disappointing 2008 season. Marine Harvest North Division 2 has added spice this season with the winners guaranteed promotion to North Division 2 – even if they are a second team. This will be of particular interest to Skye Camanachd’s visit to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel has fallen to the weather so the match has been switched to Portree. Only one point separated the sides last season so this will be an important game for both sides. Kilmallie host Caberfeidh in a reversal of their senior fixture and veteran referee John Sloggie is the man in the middle as a reserve Badenoch derby takes place at the Dell between Kingussie and Newtonmore. Lovat host Glengarry in the division’s final match. Three matches take place in Marine Harvest South Division 1. Former Skye Camanachd defender David Nicolson plays for Glasgow Mid Argyll against Kilmory. Oban Camanachd second team Lochside Rovers host Inveraray second team in the games only noon start. Tayforth host Ballachulish. Aberdour have been awarded a walk-over against Col Glen in Marine Harvest North Division 2. Taynuilt host Glenorchy whilst Kyles Athletic cross the water to face The newly formed Ballachulish second team host the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team. |