The Shinty Preview – Saturday 7 May 2011. | |
06 May 2011 The first round of shinty’s premier competition the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup takes place on Saturday 7 May 2011. Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – First Round The teams from the regional leagues meet to win a place against the big boys in the second round of shinty’s top competition. There is a battle of the Islanders on Rothesay where Bute and Skye Camanachd meet. Bute have been in impressive league form this season and they sit top of Marine Harvest South Division 1 with six wins out of six. Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald will be without Steven Morrison, Iain Murray and Iain Nicolson because of work commitments. The injured Robbie MacDougall also misses out as does fellow forward Alan Palmer who has university exams. Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders Kinlochshiel have an all-north tie against Beauly at Kirkton. Shiel defender John Don MacKenzie missed the win over Lochaber last weekend and David Falconer will again likely deputise should he misses this one. This match will be Finlay MacRae’s last appearance for ‘Shiel for a fortnight as the Scottish internationals heads for Guatemala on charity trip which helps build sustainable houses for third world countries. Stephen MacLean’s Beauly side should be at full strength. The sides met at the same venue in mid March in league action when a Neil Fraser double earned ‘Shiel a 2-0 win. This match throws up at 3pm. Lochcarron had to travel south to play Taynuilt in the Balliemore Cup and they have another long journey in this competition as they head off to play Kilmory. Lochcarron manager Murdo John Fraser will run an injury check on Peter MacKenzie. Inverness and Taynuilt vie for a place in the next round when they meet at the Bught Park. Taynuilt’s Ewen MacCorquodale misses out through suspension. Taynuilt are the only south team making a journey north. Glasgow Mid Argyll and Strathglass have a 3pm throw up at Yoker. GMA are in third place in Marine Harvest South Division 1 and Strathglass hold up Marine Harvest North Division 1. Youngster Craig Anderson has been in good scoring form for the home side who will find ‘Glass to be tough opponents. Marine Harvest South Division 1 bottom side Oban Celtic are at home to Marine Harvest North Division 1 title contenders Lochaber. The home side will be without the suspended Kenny Wotherspoon who was sent off in the Taynuilt defeat last weekend. Lochaber’s Neil MacDonald will miss out after sustaining a leg injury against Kinlochshiel last week. Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup – Second Round There is a west coast derby at Kirkton where Kinlochshiel play Skye Camanachd. This match has a 12 noon throw up. ‘Shiel’s Iain Cameron should return in goal whilst Skye will have Allan MacKinnon back. There is another derby at Balgate where Marine Harvest North Division 2 side Lovat play Beauly from Marine Harvest North Division 3. Aberdeen University have a long journey to the Winterton to play Inveraray. The Students have a 100% record in Marine Harvest North Division 3 this season whilst Inveraray lie sixth in Marine Harvest North Division 2. The home side may have Russell MacKinlay in their ranks. Caberfeidh and Tayforth meet at Castle Leod. Cabers are in third place in Marine Harvest North Division 3 whilst their visitors are third in Marine Harvest South Division 2. There is an all-south meeting at Yoker where Glasgow Mid Argyll play Kyles Athletic. This tie throws up at 12 noon. The battle of the Glens takes place at Invergarry where Glengarry host Glenurquhart. Doubles from Steven Cameron and Ewan Brady helped Glengarry to a 4-0 win when the sides met at the same venue a fortnight ago. Kingussie and Lochside Rovers had an exciting encounter in Oban in last year’s competition. The King’s eventually ran out 8-6 winners in their quarter final clash. The sides meet at the Dell in a 12 noon throw up. There is an all-north clash at Spean Bridge between Marine Harvest North Division 2 side Lochaber and Strathglass from Marine Harvest North Division 3. Scottish Hydro Premier Division The match of the day should be the 3pm throw up at An Aird between 2010 runners up Fort William and reigning champions Newtonmore. Fort William were boosted by John MacDonald’s return from injury last week and manager Peter McIntyre has no other injury concerns. ‘More’s Fraser MacKintosh made a scoring appearance for the second team against Skye Camanachd last week following his return from injury and his availability increases manager Norman MacArthur’s options. League leaders Kyles Athletic play newly promoted Kilmallie at Tighnabruaich. The home side has only dropped a single point in the league this season. Their attack has been in impressive form whilst their defence is playing with confidence in front of veteran keeper Kenny MacDonald who is having a fine season. Kilmallie will be buoyed by their win over Fort William. Kilmallie will be without influential defender Peter Carmichael. Kingussie and Inveraray meet at the Dell. Kingussie boss Stevie Borthwick will do fitness checks on Iain Borthwick and Paul Gow but Andrew Borthwick should return in goal following his holiday. Inveraray’s Chris Crawford made a scoring return for the second team last Saturday so he could have played his way into contention. The prolific Russell MacKinlay is unlikely to travel north. This game throws up at 3pm. Points will be at a premium when Oban Camanachd and Lovat do battle at Mossfield. Oban Camanachd are in fifth place in the table whilst Lovat are second bottom. However the sides are only separated by two points. Defender Lorne MacKay was an injury absentee for Lovat last weekend. Aidan MacIntyre has been in good scoring form for the home- side whilst Greg Matheson has done like-wise for Lovat. Marine Harvest South Division 1 Ballachulish play Aberdour in a 3pm throw up at Jubilee Park. Ballachulish hold a two point lead over their rivals. The teams reserve sides also meet in an early throw up. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Fort William and Kilmallie meet for the second successive Saturday. The sides drew 3-3 in an entertaining meeting at the Canal Parks last week. This meeting at An Aird has a 12 noon throw up. Marine Harvest South Division 2 The bottom two sides Ballachulish entertain Aberdour at Jubilee Park. Throw up is at 12.30pm. Fourth place Col Glen host Islanders Bute who sit in second place. Marine Harvest North Division 3 There is a local derby at the Bught Park where Inverness host second place Boleskine. An Ian Grant double gave Boleskine a 2-0 win when the sides met at Farr on the opening day of the shinty season. This game throws up at 12.30pm. Neighbours Lochbroom and Lochcarron also meet. The sides drew 3-3 in a thrilling encounter at Battery Park just three weeks ago. |