The Shinty Preview – Saturday 19 June 2010. | |
18 June 2010 The first senior cup final of the season takes place on Saturday 19 June 2010 as Kilmallie and Kingussie meet in the Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final at the Bught Park, Inverness. Kilmallie and Kingussie both have the chance to get their hands on the first piece of silverware of the season when they meet at the Bught Park, Inverness in the Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final. Kilmallie have a full squad to pick from which will be pleasing for their management team of Peter Jackson, Lachie Innes and John Morrison who have had suspension and player unavailability to contend with in recent games. Kevin Toye continues in goal and he has done well since coming in for Neil MacNiven who has been missing through work commitments and injury. Kilmallie insist they have not just been giving thought this week as to how they can stop the threat of Kingussie’s Ronald Ross. They are also focusing on how to cut off the supply to the Kingussie talisman. It will be interesting to see what they come up with and it could be something quite innovative. Kingussie will be without defender Greg MacRae who suffered a fractured cheekbone in last weekend’s win over Newtonmore. Lee Bain started on the bench last weekend because of a muscle problem whilst Louis Munro suffered a leg gash last week and he will be given every chance to prove his fitness. Ally MacLeod misses out with a broken thumb. There is a local derby with plenty at stake at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree where Skye Camanachd and Kinlochshiel meet in the first semi final of the Balliemore Cup. Skye will be missing injured duo Shockie MacLennan and Jamie MacDonald but Allan MacKinnon returns from the second team. Shiel are concerned about the fitness of forward Neil Fraser who missed last week’s win over Strathglass. However Fraser MacVicar came on as a substitute last week and showed no ill effects from his recent groin strain. Lochaber and Kilmallie meet in the second semi final on Saturday 3 July 2010. Kyles Athletic and Skye Camanachd meet in the last Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup semi final at Tighnabruaich. Kyles to Marine Harvest North Division 2 and they will be looking to make home advantage count in this one. Skye will give last minute fitness tests to David Grant and Scott Martin but forward Jordan Murchison is a real doubt with a hand injury. Scottish Hydro Premier Division leaders Newtonmore will be looking to bounce back from their Artemis Macaulay Cup semi final defeat to Kingussie when Glenurquhart visit the Eilan. ‘More’s Danny MacRae had his plaster removed last week and it remains to be seen if he will be fit for this one. Glenurquhart are struggling for form at the moment so this is not the easiest fixture they could have been given. This match has a 12 noon throw up. Lovat and second place Fort William meet at Balgate for the second consecutive Saturday. The Fort were 6-0 winners against an under-strength Lovat last week. Fort William will still be without injured defenders John MacLeod and Duncan Rodgers but forwards Victor Smith and Drew Ferguson should return. Lovat will have several players back after their squad was depleted last weekend because of the RockNess Music Festival. This match has a 4pm throw up. Bute and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet at the Meadows, Rothesay. Bute were 4-0 winners when the sides met at Yoker on the opening day of the season. There is another all south meeting at Mossfield where second bottom Oban Camanachd will hope that Inveraray’s poor results away from home continue. The sides met at the same venue in the semi final of the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup with Inveraray running out 3-2 winners thanks to an extra time winner from Grant Griffin. Caberfeidh have the chance to close the gap on Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders Kinlochshiel when they travel to Cannich to play bottom club Strathglass. This match has a 5pm throw up. The match between Beauly and Lochcarron has been brought forward to Friday 8 June 2010 with a 7.30pm throw up. Marine Harvest South Division 1 leaders Glenorchy are moving ever closer to a return to shinty’s top flight. They have the chance to extent their perfect league record of 8 wins out of 8 when they travel to Jubilee Park top play Ballachulish. There is an Oban derby when second place Oban Celtic meet third place Lochside Rovers. Lochside were convincing 3-0 winners when the sides met in March. Fourth place Kilmory host fifth place Taynuilt. Kilmory won 3-0 when the sides met in the league earlier in the season. Marine Harvest North Division 2 front-runners Glengarry meet Lovat at Glengarry. Glengarry have been a revelation this season and their tough style makes it difficult for opponents. Daniel MacLennan is a quality full back whilst Steven Cameron is their main source of creativity. Fort William welcome bottom club Beauly to An Aird. The Fort had experienced defender Liam McIntyre in their line-up last week and they will be favourites to pick up both points. Kinlochshiel travel to the Eilan to play Newtonmore. Newtonmore were 4-0 winners when the sides met at Kirkton at the end of March. There are two matches in Marine Harvest South Division 2. Second bottom Tayforth and second top Glasgow Mid Argyll meet in Perth. Strachur and Aberdour meet at Home Farm. Strachur lead their opponents by a point but Aberdour have 4 games in hand. Marine Harvest North Division 3 pace-setters Aberdeen University have the chance to increase their lead at the top of the table as second place Lochaber are not in action. The Students travel to Cannich to play a Strathglass side who have done extremely well to keep going this season despite chronic player shortages. This match throws up at 3pm. Lochcarron and Caberfeidh meet at Battery Park. This match will be refereed by former Camanachd Association Youth Director Graeme MacMillan who is a welcome addition to the refereeing fraternity. |