The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 25 September 2010. | |
24 September 2010 There are some crucial league fixtures throughout the shinty programme on Saturday 25 September 2010. All eyes will be on the Dell where Fort William visit to play Kingussie in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division. A Kingussie win will all but secure the title for Newtonmore because of their superior goal difference. Any other result will take the title destination to the final game of the season between Fort William and Newtonmore at An Aird. Norman MacArthur and his players will no doubt make the short journey to the Dell and whilst they might not watch the game with red and blue scarves wrapped around their necks, they will most certainly be hoping for a Kingussie win. Ricky Grant should be fit after playing through the pain barrier in the cup final last weekend. Kingussie defender Lee Bain is unavailable for this one and the injured Paul Gow is unlikely to make it. There are also serious doubts over defenders Iain Borthwick and Ally MacLeod so Ronald Ross could be asked to play in defence. Fort William will be without defender Neil Robertson who is on holiday. Oban Camanachd have a must win game at home to bottom side Glasgow Mid Argyll. With Mid Argyll already relegated, the second drop spot will be contested between Oban Camanachd and Bute and anything other than 2 points for the Mossfield side would spell disaster to their chances of retaining their place in shinty’s top division. With 2 games remaining, Bute currently hold a 3 point lead over their rivals with the sides still having to meet at the Meadows, Rothesay. Third place Kyles Athletic and fifth place Inveraray meet at Tighnabruaich. There is little for either side to play for so they may take the opportunity to introduce players with next season in mind. There is another crucial fixture in Marine Harvest North Division 1 where title contenders Lochaber and Kilmallie meet at Spean Bridge. Forwards Shaun Nicolson of Lochaber and Kilmallie’s John Stewart will be key players in this clash. Lochaber currently hold a one point lead over their rivals and a win will ensure their immediate return to shinty’s top flight. The sides drew 1-1 at Canal Parks and this one should be equally close. There is no respite for Camanachd Cup Final referee Billy Wotherspoon who takes charge of this one. Kinlochshiel and Beauly will attempt to replay their league match at Kirkton which was abandoned a few weeks ago after 75 minutes with Shiel leading 3-1. Strathglass and Skye Camanachd meet at Cannich in what will be both sides’ final games of the season. Skye are continuing to field younger players with next year’s league campaign in mind and 7 of their 2009 U17 London Shield winning side are included in the squad. The final fixture in Marine Harvest South Division 1 takes place when Ballachulish and Lochside Rovers clash at Jubilee Park. A win for the home side would lift them above their rivals into fifth place in the league. Marine Harvest North Division 2 reigning champions Glenurquhart host Kinlochshiel at Blairbeg. A win for the home side will take them top of the table on goal difference with a game in hand over second place Glengarry. Skye Camanachd and Kingussie meet at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Both teams are likely to field youngsters with U14 aces Will Cowie of Skye Camanachd and Savio Genini of Kingussie likely to catch the eye. The Marine Harvest North Division 3 play off between Aberdeen University and Lochaber takes place at Castle Leod. The sides finished level at the top of the table and although Lochaber have the better goal difference, this is not a deciding factor in this league. Bothe teams have a win apiece in their league meetings this season and the Students haven’t played since they beat Lochaber in mid-August. There will be extra time and penalties to separate the sides if necessary. |