The 2017 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw was made live on Oban FM on Saturday 17 December 2016.
Shinty supporters from across the country tuned in to hear Macaulay Association stalwarts Davie Hamilton and Gussie Campbell make the draw.
The top eight placed teams in the North and the top eight sides from the South at the end of the previous season’s league campaigns took their places in the regional draw; a unique format which guarantees a North versus South final.
This year, the competing teams in both the North and the South remained the same as in 2016.
Kinlochshiel are the current holders having beaten Inveraray 5-3 in the 2016 final at Mossfield.
The South section of the first round draw kept apart what are traditionally viewed as the top four teams – Glasgow Mid Argyll, Inveraray, Kyles Athletic and Oban Camanachd.
Oban Celtic are muscling their way into that grouping and they were drawn against Inveraray at the Winterton. Both sides will play in the Marine Harvest National Division next season following Oban Celtic’s promotion. There are likely to be one or two changes at Inveraray with a couple of the older players expected to hang up their camans. These changes, coupled with Oban Celtic’s zest following a successful 2016, should make for what should be an interesting tie.
Oban Camanachd were hugely disappointed to fall at the first hurdle in this tournament last season when they lost 3-2 to Inveraray at Mossfield. However, even minus captain James MacMillan who has moved abroad for 12 months, they should prove too strong for Marine Harvest South Division 1 side Ballachulish with the teams drawn to play at Mossfield, The winners will travel to take on the victors from the tie between Inveraray and Oban Celtic which raises the possibility of an Oban derby in the quarter finals.
Glasgow Mid Argyll head for Silver Sands to face Aberdour in their first round tie. With GMA newly promoted to the Premiership and Aberdour two leagues below, the Glasgow side should be firm favourites. However Aberdour continue to progress as was evidenced by their second place finish in Marine Harvest South Division 1 last season.
A second spot finish in the 2016 Marine Harvest Premiership makes Kyles Athletic one of the favourites for the 2017 Macaulay Cup. They crashed out to Inveraray at the semi-final stage last year and they should be too strong for neighbours Bute in their tie at the Meadows. The sides met in the 2016 Gregor Cameron Glasgow Celtic Society Cup with Kyles running out convincing 12-0 winners. The winners will have home advantage against Aberdour or Glasgow Mid Argyll in the quarter finals.
In the North half of the draw, holders Kinlochshiel have been given a home tie with 2015 Camanachd Cup winners Lovat, who are yet to appoint a new manager, the visitors. The sides met at the semi-final stage last year with ‘Shiel winning through 3-0 against their understrength opponents. It’s not clear as yet as to whether this tie will be played at Kirkton or at Kinlochshiel’s new pitch at Balmacara which is nearing completion.
Kingussie and Lochaber are no strangers having met last season in the Camanachd and RBS MacTavish Cups as well as their double-header in the league. Lochaber won two of these games, Kingussie, who are another club still to confirm their new management team, won once whilst the other game was a draw. This is a reflection on just how close their tie at the Dell could be. Whoever comes out on top will have home advantage against Kinlochshiel or Lovat in the next round.
Newtonmore went down to a shock 2-1 defeat to Lovat in the 2016 last-eight of the competition. They open this year with a trip to Portree to play Skye. The sides met four times last season – twice in the league and also in the Camanachd and RBS MacTavish Cups. ’More won all four games with Skye running them closest in the Camanachd Cup tie before going down 4-2 at the Eilan. It would be a major surprise if Newtonmore didn’t progress against their Marine Harvest National Division opponents and the game will be a very good test for new Skye co-managers Willie Cowie and Peter Gordon and their charges.
The other North tie brings together Marine Harvest National Division side Fort William and Glenurquhart from the Marine Harvest Premiership at An Aird. New Glenurquhart boss Iain MacLeod will know that although the Glen won both league matches in 2016, they were by narrow margins – 3-1 at Blairbeg and 2-1 at An Aird. Both sides will be keen to make a good start to their respective league campaigns and Fort William, like Skye, will compete in four cup competitions this coming season – the Camanachd Cup, Artemis MacAulay Cup, RBS MacTavish Cup and Balliemore Cup. The team which wins the An Aird tie will travel to play Skye or Newtonmore in the quarter finals.
2017 Artemis MacAulay Cup Draw:
Artemis Macaulay Cup (South) – First Round
Oban Camanachd v Ballachulish
Inveraray v Oban Celtic
Aberdour v Glasgow Mid Argyll
Bute v Kyles Athletic
Artemis Macaulay Cup (North) - First Round
Kingussie v Lochaber
Skye Camanachd v Newtonmore
Fort William v Glenurquhart
Kinlochshiel v Lovat
Artemis Macaulay Cup (South) – Quarter Final
Inveraray / Oban Celtic v Oban Camanachd / Ballachulish
Bute / Kyles Athletic v Aberdour / Glasgow Mid Argyll
Artemis Macaulay Cup (North) – Quarter Final
Skye Camanachd / Newtonmore v Fort William / Glenurquhart
Kingussie / Lochaber v Kinlochshiel / Lovat
Artemis Macaulay Cup (South) – Semi Final
Inveraray / Oban Celtic / Oban Camanachd / Ballachulish v
Bute / Kyles Athletic / Aberdour / Glasgow Mid Argyll
Artemis Macaulay Cup (North) – Semi Final
Skye Camanachd / Newtonmore / Fort William / Glenurquhart v
Kingussie / Lochaber / Kinlochshiel / Lovat
The 2017 Artemis Macaulay Cup Final will take place at Mossfield, Oban on Saturday 19 August 2017.