The Shinty Preview. | |
17 April 2009 The Camanachd Cup first round takes centre stage on The Premier League sides don’t join the competition until the second round so Saturday provides the opportunity for the sides from both North and South Division 1 to join the big boys. The tie of the round sees Kilmallie visit Portree to take on Skye Camanachd in a repeat of the 2008 Balliemore Cup Final. Skye have made a good start to their league campaign and top North Division 1 with Somhairle MacDonald pulling the strings. However Kilmallie are second equal and hit man John Stewart will be the main danger in their forward line. Both the sides relegated from the 2008 National Premier League meet at Balgate when Lovat host Strathglass. Strathglass have a 100% record in the league and their mixture of youth and experience in the forward line with Marc McLaughlin and Robert Geddes will test the Lovat defence. Lovat are no slouches up front either with Calum MacAulay their main playmaker and 15 year old Greg Matheson, Raymond Rennie and Martin Bain providing their goal threat. This match could be decided on how the defences cope with their opposing forward lines. The sides played out a 15 goal thriller in the league a few weeks ago with Lovat coming out on top. They surely couldn’t repeat the same feat – could they? Lochcarron travel south to play Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker. A lack of match practice could be Lochcarron’s main problem. They have only played one competitive match this season – a defeat to Kilmory are another side with a long journey ahead of them as they travel north to play Caberfeidh at Castle Leod. Ballachullish play Beauly at Inverness and Kinlochshiel meet at the Highland capital meaning a “home” match for Shiel’s The match of the day in the Premier League will undoubtedly be the repeat of the 2008 Camanachd Cup Final between Kingussie and Two Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup ties are carried forward from last week. Glenorchy host Lochcarron for the right to play Caberfeidh in the second round and two of the games newer sides, Lewis Camanachd and Aberdour play for the right to host Fort William. Lochaber play Glenurquhart in what should also be a good match at Oban Camanachd and Newtonmore both have accumulated four points from three matches in the league so far and their clash at Mossfield will be keenly contested. ‘More will be without the suspended David Campbell. The bottom two sides meet at Dalmally and Glenorchy and Kyles Athletic, with Tom Whyte in fine form, will look to continue their good start to the season when they host Inveraray. |