The Shinty Preview – Saturday 5 June 2010. | |
04 June 2010 The last Balliemore Cup semi finalists will be known on Saturday 5 June 2010. Kinlochshiel and Beauly meet at Kirkton in the last Balliemore Cup quarter final with a last four against Skye Camanachd awaiting the winners. The match had been called off earlier in the season as the Beauly players opted for a free Saturday to cheer on Ross County in the Scottish Cup Final. Shiel will be without John MacRae who is serving the second game of a 2 match suspension. The also have a doubt over striker Neil Fraser who picked up a hamstring injury in the closing minutes of the win over Skye Camanachd last weekend. Beauly were boosted by the return of Innes Simpson in last week’s defeat against Kingussie. The other semi final is between Kilmallie and Lochaber. There is a Bullough Cup first round tie between Marine Harvest South Division 2 sides Glasgow Mid Argyll and Tayforth at Yoker. Mid Argyll were narrow 2-1 winners when the sides met at the same venue in April. This match has a 12 noon throw up. There are also 3 Bullough Cup quarter final ties fixtured. Kyles Athletic, who lead Marine Harvest South Division 2 host fourth place Aberdour. The army side The SCOTS play Marine Harvest South Division 2 bottom side Bute at Jubilee Park, Ballachulish. However the tie between London and Lochside Rovers at Ganavan does not go ahead as the visitors cannot raise a team. This gives Lochside Rovers the first semi final spot. League leaders Newtonmore meet Lovat at the Eilan. This will be the second consecutive Saturday that the sides have met with Newtonmore running out 4-0 winners at Balgate last weekend. It would be a surprise if ‘More did not retain their top spot following the weekend fixtures. The match of the day in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division will be at Tighnabruaich where Kyles Athletic host Kingussie. The Kings hope to have Louis Munro back in the side which would leave them at full strength. The sides are only separated by a single point in the table. There should be another cracker at An Aird where Fort William entertain Inveraray. Fort William will be without influential defender Duncan Rodger who could be out for the rest of the season with possible cruciate damage to his knee. Garry Innes is also an absentee as he is playing his accordion at the Epsom races. Defender Adam Robertson should return although the match might come too soon for James Clark. Inveraray’s chances will once again likely depend on which players travel to An Aird as they have been notably weakened on the road this season. Glenurquhart will view their trip to Yoker to play Glasgow Mid Argyll as a chance to win 2 much needed points. The Glen have not been able to reproduce their successful form of last season although their cause has not been help by selection problems. Oban Camanachd play Bute at Mossfield. The home side will be without the suspended Gareth Evans. An Oban win will see the sides draw level on points in the league. The top game in Marine Harvest North Division 1 will likely be in Portree where Skye Camanachd and Lochaber clash. Skye will give late fitness tests to Iain Nicolson, Shockie MacLennan and Kenny Campbell as all picked up injuries in the defeat to Kinlochshiel last weekend. Striker Ally MacLennan is available for selection for the first time this season. Lochaber were boosted by Lachlan Campbell’s return to the side last weekend after recovering from a broken thumb. Lochcarron take on Inverness at Battery Park. The home side will be at full strength whilst Inverness will be boosted by last weekend’s win over Strathglass at Cannich. Inverness will be without the suspended David Higham and boss Stevie Munro has a decision to make over his own selection. He stood in at full forward last week and scored twice! Strathglass and Kilmallie do battle at Cannich. Bottom club Strathglass will be without Gordie Fraser following his red card against Inverness last weekend. Peter Carmichael is available again for Kilmallie following suspension. Marine Harvest South Division 1 leaders Glenorchy are on the road as they travel to play Kilmory. With the league at the half-way stage, Glenorchy have a 100% record in the league with 6 wins out of 6 and they have only lost 2 goals in the process. Bottom side Inveraray and second top Oban Celtic meet at the Winterton. Celtic were 2-0 winners when the sides met on the opening day of the season thanks to goals from Alan Miller and Neil Carmichael. Taynuilt host Ballachulish. The sides are level on 4 points each in the lower half of the league. Fort William sit top of Marine Harvest North Division 2 and they were to play Kinlochshiel at An Aird. However the points will go to the home side as Shiel cannot raise a team. The bottom two clubs meet at Braeview Park as Beauly host Skye Camanachd. Beauly will do late checks on injured youngsters Jack MacDonald and Scott MacLeod. Skye captain David Grant remains an absentee as is keeper Ross Graham. Darryl MacIntosh returns to the side after being cup tied for last week’s Strathdearn Cup defeat to Lovat. Glenurquhart play Newtonmore at Blairbeg in a dress rehearsal for their Strathdearn Cup meeting at the same venue on Wednesday. There should be another good match at Invergarry where Glengarry play Lovat. Kingussie and Kilmallie meet at the Dell. Marine Harvest South Division 2 table toppers Kyles Athletic have a 12 noon throw up against Aberdour at Tighnabruaich. Strachur and Col Glen play at Home Farm. Marine Harvest North Division 3 leaders Lochaber are not in action so Aberdeen University have the chance to top of the table when they host Lochcarron. Strathglass travel to Farr to play Boleskine. The Cannich side are boosted following last weekend’s late show which gave them a win over Ardnamurchan. Inverness and Ardnamurchan meet at the Bught Park. Graham MacMillan is in good goal scoring form for the capital side as he has grabbed 4 goals in his last 2 games. |