The Shinty Preview – Saturday 20 March 2010. | |
17 March 2010 The match of the day on Saturday 20 March 2010 is likely to be at the Eilan where championship contenders Newtonmore and Fort William meet.
The Eilan will be no place for the feint-hearted as Scottish Hydro Premier Division championship contenders Newtonmore and Fort William do battle for 2 priceless points. The visitors will still be without defender John MacLeod but John MacDonald is nearing a first team return after an impressive outing for the Fort seconds last weekend – ironically against Newtonmore reserves. ‘More forwards David Cheyne, Danny MacRae and Glen MacKintosh all hit the goal trail last weekend and along with Steven MacDonald, they provide a potent goal threat. The Fort’s Garry Innes has also started the season well with 3 goals in his opening 2 games.
League leaders Bute host Glenurquhart at the Meadows with the knowledge that a win will give them their best start to a top flight season. Glenurquhart have hit form in patches this season and will be hoping for more consistency.
Inveraray also have 4 points from their opening 2 games. They travel to Balgate to play newly promoted Lovat. It remains to be seen whether Inveraray’s Scottish international Russell MacKinlay will be available for this away trip.
Kingussie head for Glasgow to take on Mid Argyll at Yoker. George Hay’s side has lost their opening 2 fixtures and the Kings also went down to a defeat to Inveraray in their only league match so far. Kingussie talisman Ronald Ross is suffering from an ankle injury and may not be risked for this game.
Oban Camanachd and Kyles Athletic meet in what should be a good game at Mossfield. The home side will be without the suspended Liam MacIntyre.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders Beauly take on Skye Camanachd at Braeview Park. The Islanders have injury problems ahead of what is their first competitive match of the season. Beauly have taken 3 points from their opening 2 matches.
Kinlochshiel go in search of their first points of the season when they travel to Castle Leod to play Caberfeidh. Shiel ran Lochaber close last weekend and Cabers beat Strathglass so this should be another good game.
Kilmallie and Lochcarron meet at Canal Parks. Lochcarron will be without Kenny Ross who will be missing for several weeks with a hand injury.
There is a local derby at the Bught Park, where Inverness play Strathglass with both sides looking for their first win.
Lochaber have a free weekend in this 9 team league.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 pace-setters Oban Celtic and Kilmory both face tricky matches. Kilmory travel to play newly promoted Taynuilt. Kilmory’s Ian Robertson and Taynuilt’s Kenny Wotherspoon will be players to watch.
There is an Oban derby for supporters of Lochside Rovers and Oban Celtic to look forward too. Rovers may have had the upper hand last season but this year’s meeting between the sides looks to be a closer affair with Celtic having made the better start to the season.
Glenorchy had a convincing win over Lochside Rovers last weekend and they will look to take this form into their home match with Ballachulish.
Both Skye Camanachd and Newtonmore lost their opening games in Marine Harvest North Division 2 and the sides have the chance to make amends when the meet at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The sides drew 2-2 in an entertaining match in Portree last season and this game should provide more of the same.
Fort William and Lovat met 4 times last season including the finals of both the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup and the Strathdearn Cup. They meet again this weekend at An Aird.
Beauly and Kinlochshiel meet at Braeview Park. The home side made a good start to their league campaign following promotion with a win over Kilmallie last weekend. This match throws up at the earlier time of 12 noon.
There should be another interesting meeting at Blairbeg where reigning champions Glenurquhart meet Kingussie.
There is a local derby as Invergarry as Kilmallie travel to play Glengarry. The home side will be without Mathew Ross who was ordered off in last weekend’s match against Skye Camanachd.
Bute have an early start in Marine Harvest South Division 2 as they travel east to play Tayforth in Perth. Tayforth’s Stuart Ferrier is shinty’s top scorer this season with 6 goals in his side’s opening 2 games and he will be the home side’s main goal threat again.
Col Glen host Kyles Athletic. Both sides won last weekend.
Aberdour are at home to Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Ballachulish and Strachur meet at Jubilee Park.
In Marine Harvest North Division 3, Aberdeen University make the long journey west to play Lochcarron. The students have started the season well winning both their opening games and former Skye Camanachd forward Kenny MacLeod is in particularly good goal-scoring form as he has found the back of the net 4 times over both games. A Sean MacCuish double helped Lochcarron to an opening day win over Boleskine.
Inverness travel west to play Ardnamurchan. Allan MacLeod’s side has lost both their opening games but this should be a closer encounter.
Strathglass will hope to put their team raising difficulties of last weekend as they take on Boleskine at Cannich.
Lochbroom and Caberfeidh meet in Ullapool. |