The Shinty Preview – Saturday 18 June 2011. | |
17 June 2011 The first piece of shinty silverware of the season is up for grabs on Saturday 18 June 2011 as Kingussie and Fort William meet to contest the Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final. Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final Kingussie v Fort William Kingussie and Fort William go head to head for the first piece of silverware of the season at the Bught Park, Inverness. Holders Kingussie will have defender Lee Bain back after he missed last weekend’s Macaulay Cup win over Lovat. Ally MacLeod should also return to the side, having been out of action for the last four weeks with a hamstring problem. Fort William should also be along familiar lines with Gordie MacKinnon expected to recover from a foot knock. Manager Peter McIntyre put faith in striker Daniel Stewart last weekend and he repaid his manager’s faith by scoring a hat-trick in the 9-0 win over Glenorchy and this could win him another starting place. Graham Cameron is the match referee. MacTavish Juvenile Cup Final Skye Camanachd U17 v Lochaber U17 The Skye Camanachd and Lochaber juvenile sides meet at the Bught Park, Inverness ahead of the senior final. Click on the following link to read a full match preview Skye Camanachd U17 v Lochaber U17 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Second Round (Replay) Lovat v Glenorchy Lovat and Glenorchy will do battle at Balgate for the final Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup quarter final place. Two goals in the first 60 seconds meant the sides drew 1-1 at Dalmally which forced the replay. Lovat ran out 6-0 winners when the sides met at the same venue on league duty. However Glenorchy will have a stronger side for this one whilst Lovat were boosted by Lorne MacKay’s return last week. A trip to the Canal Parks to play Kilmallie awaits the victors. Artemis Macaulay Cup - Second Round Kyles Athletic v Bute Kyles Athletic and Bute meet at Tighnabruaich for a place in the Artemis Macaulay Cup semi final. This tie pits together the leaders in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division and Marine Harvest South Division 1 but the home side have been rampant this season and will start as favourites. Oban Camanachd v Glasgow Mid Argyll The second south semi final also brings together sides from the Scottish Hydro Premier Division and Marine Harvest South Division 1 as Oban Camanachd and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet at Mossfield. This clash throws up at 4.30pm. Bullough Cup - Quarter Final Aberdour v Kyles Athletic Aberdour are at home to Kyles Athletic as they vie for a semi final spot. This tie will be the highlight of Aberdour’s tenth anniversary celebrations. Click on the following link to read about the planned celebrations Aberdour Scottish Hydro Premier Division Glenurquhart v Newtonmore The meeting between Glenurquhart and Newtonmore is one of a number of games in the Inverness-shire area which throws up at 12 noon to allow players and spectators the chance to head for the Bught Park afterwards to watch the Co-operative Cup Final. Glenurquhart will be without Eddie Tembo which Newtonmore will play their game in hand on their title rivals. Last season’s Blairbeg meeting between the sides finished goalless whilst Glenurquhart have already won at the Eilan this season. Inveraray v Kilmallie Kilmallie head south to meet Inveraray at the Winterton. Doubles from Liam MacDonald and John Stewart helped Kilmallie to a 5-2 win when the sides met at the Canal Parks earlier in the season. Inveraray should be along usual lines whilst Kilmallie were without forwards Liam MacDonald and Michael Rodger last week. Rodger is still missing this week but MacDonald will return. However work commitments rule out Euan Stoddart for the next fortnight. Marine Harvest North Division 1 Caberfeidh v Kinlochshiel There is a 12 noon throw at Castle Leod for the clash between third place Caberfeidh and Kinlochshiel. A victory for league leaders ‘Shiel would go a long way to reinforcing their status as title favourites however they will be aware that they were knocked out of the Balliemore Cup at the same venue earlier in the season. Caberfeidh forward Kevin Bartlett has been in irresistible form this season and he provides the home side’s main goal threat. ‘Shiel manager Johnston Gill has a doubt over keeper Graham Kennedy who has a groin injury. Iain Cameron will deputise if Kennedy misses out. Skye Camanachd v Strathglass The bottom two sides in the division meet in Portree. Both sides have players missing. Skye will be without Steven Morrison, Iain Murray and Robbie MacDougall because of work commitments. Strathglass have injuries to Scott Douglas and Les Fraser whilst Michael Stokes will not be available until later in the season. The lower part of this league is so tight that a win for either side will elevate them into fourth place. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Fort William v Kingussie Fort William and Kingussie have brought their match forward to Friday 17 June 2011 to allow their players and officials to attend the Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final the following day. Fort William will go into the game without Daniel Stewart who will be on first team duty. Kingussie will be without the suspended Greg MacRae. This is only Fort William’s second game since the middle of May and throw up is at 7.30pm. Marine Harvest South Division 1 Ballachulish v Taynuilt Ballachulish found leaders Bute too hot to handle in the league last weekend but they will start as favourites against Taynuilt at Jubilee Park. However the home side will have to do it without Grant MacKenzie who is suspended. Kilmory v Lochside Rovers Third top Lochside Rovers hold a five point advantage over third bottom Kilmory but the Oban visitors have a couple of games in hand over their rivals. Kilmory beat Taynuilt 4-1 last weekend with several of their young players shining. Lochside found Marine Harvest South Division 2 leaders Strachur to be determined opponents in the Bullough Cup last week before the Oban side eventually ran out 3-2 winners thanks to a Malcolm Clark goal. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Kinlochshiel v Glengarry Glengarry make the short trip to Kirkton to play Kinlochshiel. ‘Garry will be without the suspended Michael Brady whilst ‘Shiel may be without keeper Iain Cameron as he could be on first team duty. Kilmallie v Lovat Bottom side Kilmallie welcome Lovat to the Canal Parks. The sides met earlier in the month at Balgate when a Graeme MacMillan double helped Lovat to a 3-2 win. Newtonmore v Glenurquhart League leaders Newtonmore take on Glenurquhart at the Eilan. This will be a tough test for ‘More as the Glen have beaten them in the league and the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup already this season. Marine Harvest South Division 2 Ballachulish v Tayforth There is a 12 noon throw up at Jubilee Park as Ballachulish host Tayforth. Both sides won last weekend and so will go into this meeting with confidence. Glasgow Mid Argyll v Inveraray The Glasgow Mid Argyll and Inveraray reserve sides meet at Yoker. Both sides are near the bottom of the league and although Mid Argyll have a one point advantage, Inveraray have three games in hand. Col Glen v Strachur Col Glen are at home to Strachur. Ross MacDonald and Angus Campbell each scored twice as Strachur ran out 5-0 winners in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season. The visitors gave a good account of themselves against Lochside Rovers last week before losing out to the odd goal in five. Marine Harvest North Division 3 Aberdeen University v Caberfeidh Table toppers Aberdeen University have yet to slip up in the league this season and they welcome Caberfeidh to the Granite City. The Students will have gone two thirds of the season with a 100% record if they win against the team in fourth place. Ardnamurchan v Lochbroom Ardnamurchan are at home to Lochbroom. The sides were due to meet in Ullapool on the opening day of the shinty season but Ardnamurchan were unable to raise a team. Lewis Camanachd v Beauly Lewis Camanachd celebrated their first league victory last weekend when they beat Ardnamurchan at Shawbost. However they have a tougher challenge this weekend as Beauly are the visitors. Strathglass v Lochcarron There is a 12 noon throw up at Cannich for the match between Strathglass and Lochcarron. The visitors will hope to that forward Gregor Cushnie has recovered from a back injury as the veteran grabbed a hat-trick when Lochcarron were 4-1 winners when the sides met in the corresponding fixture on the first day of the season. |