The Shinty Preview – Saturday 14 March 2009. | |
11 March 2009 The second weekend of shinty fixtures on Saturday throws up some interesting fixtures. The game of the day in the Marine Harvest Premier League is the local derby between Lochaber and Newtonmore dealt Premier League newcomers Glenurquhart a 5-0 defeat last weekend, and they now face the second promoted side Glenorchy this week. More know that this is exactly the type of match that they need to win if they wish to be serious title contenders this season. Glenorchy will likely find Newtonmore’s free-scoring style difficult to deal with and David Cheyne will be a particular threat. Kingussie will be favourites to take maximum points from the visit of Kyles Athletic to the Dell. Talisman Ronald Ross is homing in on 1,000 senior goals and his quadruple against Lochaber shows that he remains the main threat to the Kyles. Glenurquhart have the chance to put last week’s defeat at the Eilan behind them when The top division’s final match is an all south class between Oban Camanachd and Inveraray. Neither side played last weekend and this game is a difficult one to call. There are two notable local derbies in Marine Harvest North Division 1. At Kirkton, Kinlochshiel host Lochcarron in a West Coast battle for supremacy. Shiel had to settle for a share of the points at Beauly last weekend but they will be encouraged by the good form of Gordy MacDonald. Lochcarron’s game against Strathglass didn’t go ahead. This game is always keenly contested and hopefully repairs carried out on the Kirkton pitch during the close season will have progressed satisfactorily to allow the match to go ahead. There will be no quarter asked or given at The other side relegated from last season’s Marine Harvest Premier League were Strathglass. Their opening league match fell foul of the weather and with new player / manager Garry Reid at the helm; they will be looking to make a good start to the season against Caberfeidh at Cannich. Kilmallie had a strong finish to the 2008 season, and they’ll be keen to follow up last week’s impressive 3-1 win at Caberfeidh when they visit the With nine teams in the league, it’s Skye Camanachd’s turn to have a free weekend. However the Islanders, who had a disrupted pre-season, have take the opportunity to arrange a match in In Marine Harvest South Division 1, Ballachulish will be keen to follow up their win over Tayforth with a home match against Oban Celtic. Kilmory will look to recovery from last week’s defeat to Glasgow Mid Argyll as they entertain Oban Camanachd reserve side Lochside Rovers. Tayforth have a home match against the Inveraray second team. In Marine Harvest North Division 2, 2008 champions Glenurquhart make the short journey to Balgate to play Lovat. Both sides won last weekend so this one should be a cracker. Caberfeidh host Newtonmore and Kingussie travel to face Invergarry whilst Kilmallie and Kinlochshiel meet at In Marine Harvest South Division 2, Col Glen, who were unable to raise a team last week, host Marine Harvest North Division 3 was the only league to play a full programme last week. Lochcarron and Ardnamurchan both won their opening matches and their game at Battery Park will not be for the faint hearted. Lochbroom and Strathglass also won their opening fixtures and they meet to see who can preserve their 100% record. Lochaber make the journey east to face |