The shinty card is dominated by senior and junior cup action on Saturday 21 May 2011.
Artemis Macaulay Cup - First Round
North Draw
Artemis Macaulay Cup holders Kingussie open the defence of their trophy with a trip to Blairbeg to play Glenurquhart. The Glen have been climbing steadily up the league table this season and they sit in fourth place behind Newtonmore on goal difference. King’s manager Stevie Borthwick has a concern over defender Iain Borthwick who limped out of last week’s Co-operative MacTavish Cup semi final win over Kilmallie at half time. The sides met in both the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup and Co-operative MacTavish Cups last season so there was a sense of inevitability that they would be drawn together in this year’s Artemis Macaulay Cup This tie has a 3pm throw up.
Newtonmore dropped out of the Co-operative MacTavish Cup last weekend so they will be keen to avoid the same fate in this competition when they head west to play Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. ‘Shiel are notoriously difficult opponents on their own ground but they will have to face last season’s top division champions without star forward Finlay MacRae.
Local rivalries are resumed once again at Spean Bridge where Lochaber welcome Kilmallie. Lochaber manager Michael Delaney will have been pleased with his son Ben Delaney’s performances in recent weeks as the young striker has amassed 16 goals so far this season. Kilmallie have a potent goal threat of their own, especially John Stewart and Liam MacDonald so the tie could rest on which defence deals better with their opponents. Lochaber’s Neil MacDonald remains on the injured list and Kilmallie hope to be at full strength. The sides played out a tight contest in Marine Harvest North Division 1 last season before Kilmallie were eventually crowned champions. They have also had a Co-operative MacTavish Cup meeting already this season with Kilmallie winning 2-1 at the Canal Parks thanks to goals from Fraser Massie and Liam MacDonald.
Fort William head for Kiltarlity to play Lovat at Balgate for the second time this season. Lovat bosses James Gallagher and John MacRitchie continue to be minus injured defenders Drew Howie and Lorne MacKay. Peter MacIntyre’s Fort William side will be well aware that they were unable to break down a stubborn Lovat rear-guard whilst on league duty and they had to settle for a share of the points following a goalless draw. The Fort’s John MacDonald, who was Marine Harvest Player of the Year in 2008, is returning to form following a period of suspension and injury. Lovat had a day off last Saturday whilst Fort confidence will be riding high after beating Newtonmore at the Eilan. Fort William will be without influential forward Gary Innes.
South Draw
The South part of the draw sees 2010 runners up Inveraray host Islanders Bute at the Winterton. Russell MacKinlay will provide the main goal threat for the home side whilst Bute’ Robert Walker has found the back of the net 16 times this season. Inveraray will be without play-maker Garry MacPherson who is suspended following his sending off against Kyles Athletic last weekend.
The length of the Scottish Hydro Premier Division separates Glenorchy and Kyles Athletic so the Tighnabruaich men should be too strong when they visit Mart Park, Dalmally. The sides have already played twice in the league this season with Kyles winning both 8-0 and 7-1. Kyles will be without defender Andrew King who is suspended.
Glasgow Mid Argyll and Oban Celtic meet at Yoker. The sides have also met twice already this season with Mid Argyll winning bot their league and Glasgow Celtic Society Cup encounters by 4-3.
Kilmory host Oban Camanachd who will start as favourites for this one, especially if they can come to terms with their opponents’ tight pitch. Aidan MacIntyre has scored 7 goals in his last three outings this season for Diarmid MacMillan’s side. Kilmory will likely be missing top marksman Hal Jones whilst Oban Camanachd will be without keeper Gavin Stobbart and influential defender Andrew Pearson.
Strathdearn Cup - Second Round
Strathdearn Cup holders Glenurquhart have an interesting tie against runaway Marine Harvest North Division 3 league leaders Aberdeen University at Blairbeg. Glenurquhart may well have former player Kelvin MacKenzie back in their side once he finishes the football season with Inverness City. This game throws up at 12 noon.
Fort William and Kinlochshiel meet at An Aird. Victor Smith’s side went out of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup to a west coast side when they lost to Skye Camanachd in Portree so they will be keen to avoid a similar outcome against Colin Fraser’s Kinlochshiel side.
The first of six meetings between sides in Marine Harvest North Divisions 2 and 3 takes place at the Eilan where Newtonmore welcome Inverness. Newtonmore have been in good form this season so this will be a real test for the team from the capital.
2010 runners up Lovat play Lochcarron at Balgate. The home side have been cup specialists in recent seasons and they have a real goal threat in Steven Cameron. Lochcarron have had team raising difficulties over the last couple of weeks as players have been called up to cover for the first team absentees. However with no first team fixtures this weekend, the Battery Park outfit should be along usual lines with the influential David MacCuish included and Gregor Cushnie the focus of their attack. This tie is another with a 12 noon throw up.
Glengarry will be formidable opponents for Beauly at Invergarry. ‘Garry suffered disappointment when they went out of the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup to Glenurquhart and they will be determined to win this one and retain a cup interest this season.
The Kingussie reserve side heads for Ullapool where they should be too strong for home team Lochbroom.
Skye Camanachd have a tricky tie at Farr against Boleskine. The home side may be a league below but the beat the Islanders in a pre-season friendly at the same venue.
Kilmallie and Caberfeidh clash at the Canal Parks. Kilmallie have only picked up one point in Marine Harvest North Division 2 this season so Cabers, who sit mid table a league below, will fancy their chances.
Bullough Cup – First Round
Bute welcome Marine Harvest South Division 2 leaders Strachur on Rothesay. The Islanders reserve side sits in third place in the table.
There is an all-Marine Harvest South Division 1 clash when Aberdour and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet in Fife.
Lochside Rovers, who sit third in Marine Harvest South Division 1, and a Kilmory second team which has been assembled for cup competitions, meet in Oban.
The Kyles Athletic and Inveraray reserve sides meet at Tighnabruaich. The home side will be without the suspended Sandy MacKenzie.
Forces side The Scots play Ballachulish at Musselburgh.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Skye Camanachd’s only league win of the season came at home to Inverness and this time the sides meet at the Bught Park. Inverness will be without Jamie Matheson who has re-signed for former club Lovat. The Islanders hope to have Steven Morrison back in their line up and Robbie MacDougall should return from injury.
Strathglass and Beauly meet at Cannich. The home side will want to get the disappointment of last week’s Balliemore Cup defeat to Glasgow Mid Argyll out of their system and boss Brian MacKay hopes to have Garry Reid back in his side. The visiting forward line shared eight goals between them against Skye Camanachd last weekend so they will not be short on confidence.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Ballachulish and Taynuilt play at Jubilee Park. Ballachulish were 4-3 winners when they met on the opening day of the shinty season at Taynuilt. The home side continue to miss the influence of skipper Darren Sutherland but they have signed former Fort William player Mark Lawrie.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Fourth place Col Glen are at home to second place Tayforth. Both sides had a free Saturday last weekend because of unplayable pitches.
Marine Harvest North Division 3
Lewis Camanachd play their second home league match of the season at Shawbost with Ardnamurchan the visitors. The home side will hope for a large crowd similar to the one that celebrated their historic opening home league match against Lochbroom last weekend.