The Shinty Preview - Saturday 8 May 2010. | |
05 May 2010 The first round of the Artemis Macaulay Cup takes place on Saturday 8 May 2010.
The opening round of the Artemis Macaulay Cup sees 2009 winners Inveraray head for Ganavan to play Marine Harvest North Division 1 side Oban Celtic. Inveraray have been in devastating form at home this season as Oban Celtic found out last weekend when they lost 9-0 at the Winterton in the Celtic Society Cup. However the reigning champions have not been so successful away from home, mainly due to a lack of player availability. Russell MacKinlay scooped a double hat-trick for Inveraray last weekend and they should progress to the next round with a bit to spare.
Bute beat Marine Harvest South Division 1 opposition in Ballachulish last weekend and they should be too strong for visitors Kilmory who play in the same South league. Kilmory have gone out of all cup competitions at the first time of asking this season.
There will be an interesting tussle at Yoker where the sides promoted to and relegated from last season’s top flight meet as Glasgow Mid Argyll host Glenorchy.
The top match in the South half of the draw should be at Tighnabruaich where Kyles Athletic play Oban Camanachd. Second half goals from Scott MacMillan and Grant Irvine meant the sides drew one each when they met at Mossfield earlier in the season.
In the North section of the draw, the match of the day should be the all-Scottish Hydro Premier Division clash between Glenurquhart and Fort William at Blairbeg. Goals from Bryan Simpson, Victor Smith and Gary Innes gave Fort William a 3-1 win when the sides met at the same venue in the league earlier in the season. The Glen have struggled to recapture their form of last season and injuries have contributed towards this. The Fort will hope to have John MacDonald back after he missed last weekend’s win on Skye.
Another tie worth watching will be at Spean Bridge where Lochaber welcome Scottish Hydro Premier Division leaders Newtonmore. Lochaber will be looking to get last weekend’s 5-0 defeat at Kilmallie out of their systems and they will be without the suspended Danny Delaney. The visitors will likely be without defender Andy MacKintosh and forward Danny MacRae – both have hand injuries.
Kingussie set off for Canal Parks to play Marine Harvest North Division 1 hopefuls Kilmallie. The Kings will be on a high after last weekend’s extra time triumph over Newtonmore. Kilmallie themselves have been in good form this season, suffering just one defeat. Kilmallie will be without the suspended Michael Rodger. Defender Ally MacLeod has been a long term absentee for Kingussie whilst fellow defender Ian Borthwick is also a doubt.
The final tie in the North is at Balgate where Lovat meet Skye Camanachd. The sides drew 1-1 when they met at the same venue in Marine Harvest South Division 1 last season. Skye should have defender Jamie MacDonald back for this one.
It took a Keith MacRae strike 5 minutes from time to give Kinlochshiel had a narrow win over Inverness in Marine Harvest North Division 1 last Saturday and the sides meet again on league duty this weekend. This match takes place at Kirkton and Shiel know that a win will lift them into at least third place in the table.
Beauly had an impressive win over Caberfeidh last weekend with hit-man Jamie MacLennan bagging a hat-trick. The green and whites make the short journey to Cannich to play second bottom Strathglass.
Caberfeidh have struggled after a good start to the season and they travel west to play a rejuvenated Lochcarron side at Battery Park. A Lochcarron win would take them to within a point of their opponents with a game in hand.
In the only fixture in Marine Harvest South Division 1, brings together the bottom two sides in the league as foot of the table Inveraray play second bottom Taynuilt at the Winterton.
There is a full programme in Marine Harvest North Division 2. Leaders Glenurquhart travel to Canal Parks to play Kilmallie. The home side had a good derby win over Fort William last weekend. This match has a 12 noon throw up.
Kingussie will still be smarting from last weekend’s Strathdearn Cup exit to Kinlochshiel given they looked a decent bet for a good cup run. This weekend the Kings welcome Beauly to the Dell. The visitors on the other hand will be on a high after they came from behind to clinch a derby win over the Lovat second string last weekend.
Fort William and Skye Camanachd meet at An Aird. The home side’s title chances took a blow last weekend when a Josh McGhee double still wasn’t enough to give them anything from the game against Kilmallie. Skye are rooted to the bottom of the league although they will have gained confidence from last weekend’s haul of goals in their Strathdearn Cup win over Lewis Camanachd.
The match between second place Lovat and Newtonmore at Balgate was brought forward to Wednesday 5 May 2010. A win will put Lovat tops, even if it is just for a few days.
Kinlochshiel make the short journey to Invergarry to play Glengarry.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 leaders Kyles Athletic take on Strachur in the 12 noon throw up at Tighnabruaich. The sides drew 0-0 when they met earlier in the season.
Col Glen are at home to Glasgow Mid Argyll. Mid Argyll romped to a 6-1 win when the sides met earlier in the season.
Tayforth and Aberdour meet in Perth. A Doug Newsom double helped Aberdour to an away win when the sides met in Fife earlier in the season.
It’s top v bottom in Marine Harvest North Division 3 as leaders Lochaber head for Ardnamurchan. The Spean Bridge side haven’t found goals too hard to come by this season and this could be a testing match for Ardnamurchan.
Caberfeidh have wobbled in recent weeks after a good start to the season and they will be tested when Aberdeen University visit Castle Leod. Cabers demolished their old shed clubhouse this week in favour of a new changing room complex which will be used by the sides.
There is a 12 noon throw up at Battery Park where near neighbours Lochcarron and Lochbroom meet.
There is another derby at the Bught Park where Inverness and Boleskine lock horns. |