The Shinty Preview – Saturday 30 April 2011. | |
28 April 2011 It’s back to league action in all divisions on Saturday 30 April 2011. Scottish Hydro Premier Division League leaders Kyles Athletic welcome third place Glenurquhart to Tighnabruaich. This is exactly the sort of games that Kyles need to win if they are to have aspirations of clinching the title. Indeed they have two games coming up against the Glen and Kilmallie before the clubs return break for cup action and they will be keen to preserve their four point lead at the top of the table. Kyles boss Norman MacDonald will be well aware that third place Glenurquhart took both points from their meeting with reigning champions Newtonmore at the Eilan and with the exception of last week’s defeat to Lovat, the Glen have enjoyed a run of good results. There will be a cracking local derby at An Aird where Fort William meet Kilmallie. This will be Fort William’s fifth home match out of six league fixtures this season. Their only away game has been against Lovat although they did have their visit to Glenorchy postponed. With this in mind, the Fort will not want to drop any more points before they embark on a series of away fixtures when An Aird will be closed for repair work. Fort William may be without Gary Innes who is playing at a festival with his band Mànran. Kilmallie beat their great rivals in the Co-operative MacTavish Cup semi finals last season so they know what it takes to win at An Aird. This is the first of a difficult away double-header for Kilmallie as they travel to Tighnabruaich to play leaders Kyles Athletic next week. Newtonmore head off to Oban to play Oban Camanachd as Mossfield Park. Newtonmore’s title challenge has taken a bit of a wobble having only taken two points from the last six but they have midfielder Paul MacArthur back from suspension from this one. Oban Camanachd’s confidence will be high after successive home wins over Glenorchy in which they have scored ten goals without reply. Kingussie meet Glenorchy at the Dell. The King’s had talisman Ronald Ross back in their line-up last week and he made the difference in the Co-operative MacTavish Cup win over Kinlochshiel. However manager Stevie Borthwick will do fitness checks on Paul Gow and Iain Borthwick. The latter started last week but had to be withdrawn in what has been a frustrating and injury-plagued time for him. Eighth place Inveraray and seventh place Lovat clash at the Winterton. Lovat hold a single point lead over their rivals in the league although Inveraray have a game in hand so even at this early stage in the season, this could be a crucial encounter. Lovat managers John MacRitchie and James Gallagher have Euan Ferguson available for selection after he missed the win over Glenurquhart. Teenage striker Greg Matheson has been in great scoring form, having netted nine of his team’s twelve goals in their six league outings so far this season. Marine Harvest North Division 1 The outstanding tie in this division sees the top two sides Kinlochshiel meet Lochaber at Kirkton. These teams already look to be amongst the title contenders and Shiel were 4-3 winners when they met at Kirkton last season. The game was finely poised at 3-3 when Lochaber were awarded a penalty just 4 minutes from time. Shiel keeper Graham Kennedy saved the spot hit and Shiel raced up the park where Keith MacRae scored the winner. It was that close and this one is likely to be the same. Lochcarron and Beauly do battle at Battery Park. The home side picked up their first win of the season against Skye Camanachd last weekend whilst Beauly have an opening day victory over Lochaber to their name. Lochcarron hope to have defender Ben Dalgety back although there still is a doubt over Dickie MacKenzie’s fitness. Beauly’s Jack MacDonald will likely miss out for with an arm injury. Skye Camanachd are still looking for their first league point and thy play Inverness at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye Camanachd boss Aonghas MacDonald welcomes Steven Morrison, Robbie MacDougall and Somhairle MacDonald back into his squad although Danny Morrison and Kerr Gibb will be missing for what is a must win game for the Islanders. Inverness were some-what of a bogey team for Skye last season taking three point out of four from their two meetings. Strathglass take on Caberfeidh at Cannich. Cabers’ Martin MacDonald had a broken thumb. Goals from Robert Geddes and Iain MacColl ensured the sides drew 1-1 at the same venue last season. Marine Harvest South Division 1 League leaders Bute are at home to Ballachulish. Bute have scored 31 goals in their five games this season, conceding only once. Title challengers second place Lochside Rovers and fourth place Glasgow Mid Argyll meet in Oban. Leaders Bute can only benefit as points will be dropped in this one. Aberdour host third place Kyles Athletic. This match throws up at 3pm. Fourth place Taynuilt welcome second bottom Oban Celtic. Marine Harvest North Division 2 League leaders Newtonmore play Skye Camanachd for the second successive Saturday. Newtonmore hope to have David Wilde back whilst Jordan Murchison, Ally MacDonald and Stewart Grant will be added to the Skye squad. Second place Glengarry play Kingussie at Invergarry. Key veterans Steven Cameron of Glengarry and Kingussie’s Kevin Thain will take centre stage in this clash. The reserve derby between Kilmallie and Fort William takes place at the Canal Parks. The sides had looked at an early throw up to allow the players and supporters to watch the senior clash between the sides later in the day but they were unable to agree on arrangements. Lovat and Lochaber meet at Balgate. Lovat have won two of their four matches this season whilst Lochaber have won three of their six games. Glenurquhart and Kinlochshiel met at U17 level through the week with the Glen running out 2-0 winners. Many of the players will renew acquaintances as their reserve sides clash at Blairbeg. Marine Harvest South Division 2 Table toppers Strachur head for Fife to play Aberdour in a 12 noon throw up. Strachur start as firm favourites having lost only once - against Tayforth - this season. Seventh place Ballachulish and fourth place Col Glen meet at Jubilee Park. Glasgow Mid Argyll take on second top Bute at Yoker. Third place Tayforth host fifth place Inveraray. Marine Harvest North Division 3 The top two meet as second place Boleskine play Aberdeen University at Farr. The Students have beaten all before them this season, scoring 41 goals. This makes them shinty’s top scorers. There should be a good match at Castle Leod where third places fifth as Caberfeidh and Lochcarron meet. Beauly play Lochbroom at Braeview Park. There is a 1pm throw up at the Bught Park when Inverness take on Lewis Camanachd. Eoghan Stewart hopes to feature for Lewis despite a rib injury. Strathglass head west to play Ardnamurchan. Theses sides, along with Inverness and Lewis, seem to be having their own battle at the bottom of the table. |