The Shinty Preview – Saturday 14 May 2011. | |
16 May 2011 There is a feast of shinty in Badenoch on Saturday 14 May 2011 where both Co-operative MacTavish Cup semi-finals take place whilst in the south; four teams compete for a place in the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final. Co-operative MacTavish Cup Semi Finals Kingussie and Kilmallie meet in the first semi final at the Dell. Kingussie manager Stevie Borthwick has Iain Borthwick back and he also hopes Paul Gow will return following a few weeks on the sidelines with a leg injury. Throw up is at 12.30pm and match referee Billy Wotherspoon will be assisted by goal judges Russell Ross and Gus Campbell. The second semi final takes place at the Eilan where Newtonmore and Fort William meet for the second successive Saturday. Newtonmore welcomed Fraser MacKintosh back into their squad last weekend after injury and he scored the only goal of the game against Fort William at An Aird. The Fort’s Alex Duncan misses this one through suspension as he was sent off last week. Colin MacDonald has been appointed referee for this 3pm throw up and Lovat stalwarts Ron Millican and Allan MacPherson will be goal judges. Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Semi Finals Taynuilt will be boosted from their Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup win over Inverness last weekend and they take on Oban Camanachd. Taynuilt’s Stuart Scott has scored a hat-trick in each of his last two outings. Oban Camanachd manager Diarmid MacMillan will hope to have ace marksman Aidan MacIntyre back in his line-up. Graham Cameron is the match referee whilst Brian Davies and Angus MacFadyen are the goal judges. Inveraray and Kyles Athletic meet at the Winterton in a repeat of last year’s final. This will be a stern test for a Kyles side that can do no wrong this season. The Winterton is a difficult venue to visit and Inveraray forwards Russell MacKinlay, Garry MacPherson and Neil Campbell are a handful for any team. Kyles are also potent in attack but whilst their forwards have been grabbing the headlines, veteran keeper Kenny MacDonald’s contribution has not gone unnoticed either. This tie throws up a 3pm and Deek Cameron is the man in the middle assisted by goal judges Willie Anderson and John Crawford. Balliemore Cup Quarter Finals Holders Kinlochshiel face a difficult tie against Caberfeidh at Castle Leod. Caberfeidh will be hoping to bounce back from a shock Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup exit at home to Taynuilt last weekend. ‘Shiel will be without Scotland international Finlay MacRae who is on a two week charity trip to Guatemala. The sides occupy first and second place in Marine Harvest North Division 1. 2008 winners Skye Camanachd head for Braeview Park to play Beauly. The home side ran Kinlochshiel close in last weekend’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup tie when manager Stephen MacLean had a full squad to pick from. Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald will be without brothers Steven Morrison and Danny Morrison and Darryl Macintosh who has a broken finger and Robbie MacDougall who has a groin strain. Paul MacKinnon could be set for his first team debut. Bute and Ballachulish met on Rothesay. The sides have had contrasting league form as Bute sit to of the pack with six wins out of six whilst Ballachulish are mid-table having won half of their six games. There is a 3pm throw up at Spean Bridge where last year’s beaten finalists Lochaber and Lochcarron clash. Lochaber’s Neil MacDonald remains out with a broken bone in his leg. Lochcarron should be boosted by the return of trio Ross Matheson, Andrew Slaughter and Ian MacKenzie. Scottish Hydro Premier Division There is just one match in shinty’s top division as Glenurquhart play bottom side Glenorchy at Blairbeg. Glenurquhart manager Jim Barr, who was re-elected as a Camanachd Association Director at the recent AGM, should have his son John Barr available for selection once again. A win for the Glen would lift them level on points with third place Newtonmore. Glenorchy have not had their injury problems to seek this season with significant absentees including Allan MacKechnie and Alex MacPherson Marine Harvest South Division 1 There is a 3pm throw up in Fife where Aberdour host Glasgow Mid Argyll. The visitors should be favourites with Fulton Ross and Craig Anderson amongst the goals but after some difficult matches at the start of their league campaign, Aberdour beat Kyles Athletic for their first win of the season and only lost by the odd goal in five to Ballachulish last weekend. Lochside Rovers and Kyles Athletic meet in Oban. Lochside hold a one point advantage over their opponents in the league but they have played a game more. Kilmory are at home to Oban Celtic. Oban Celtic manager Davy Hamilton will be without forward Kenny Wotherspoon as he serves the second game of a two match ban. However he hopes to have Garry McKerracher back and the youngster was recently selected for Scotland U17 side which tours Ireland in the summer. Marine Harvest North Division 2 League leaders Glengarry meet reigning champions Glenurquhart for the third time in four weeks. It’s currently one win each after Glenurquhart won a fiery Aberdeen Considine Sutherland Cup meeting between the sides in Invergarry last weekend. This avenged Glengarry’s 4-0 win at Blairbeg in the league at the same venue a fortnight earlier. Third place Fort William, with full forward Jack Fraser starting to regularly find the net, and second place Newtonmore clash in what should be an entertaining game at An Aird. Bottom side Kilmallie welcome third bottom Kinlochshiel to the Canal Parks. Both sides have put in some good performances this season without getting much reward. The points will be at a premium as both teams look to avoid getting sucked into a relegation battle. There is a 12 noon throw up at Spean Bridge where fifth place Lochaber meet fourth place Kingussie. The sides are separated by two points and both teams include a healthy number of their youth players. Lovat take on Skye Camanachd at Balgate. Skye will be without Ally MacLeod who suffered a double fracture to his thumb in the midweek U17 clash between the sides at Balgate which Skye won 5-0. Jordan Murchison and Paul MacKinnon will be on first team duty but Ally MacDonald returns to the side. Marine Harvest South Division 2 Table toppers Strachur are at home to fifth place Ballachulish. Strachur have lost only once in the league this season whilst the visitors had a good 4-0 win over Aberdour last week. Aberdour and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet in another 12 noon throw up, this time in Fife. The match of the day in this division would have been second place Tayforth at home to third place Bute but the match has been postponed because of an unplayable field. The 12 noon throw up between Inveraray and Col Glen has been postponed as the Winterton is unplayable. Marine Harvest North Division 3 There will be an historic match at Shawbost as Lewis Camanachd play their first home match against Lochbroom. Eoghan Stewart should play despite a rib injury whilst Paul Duke will hopefully have recovered from celebrating the birth of his son in Glasgow during the week. This game will be refereed by John MacLeod from Skye. League leaders Aberdeen University will start as favourites when Inverness come to visit. A win for the Students will see them complete the first half of their league programme with a 100% record. Beauly head for Cannich to play Strathglass and the visitors should come out on top. Lochcarron have been unable to raise a team for the second successive Saturday. Therefore the points are awarded to opponents Boleskine. |