2018 Shinty Season Preview | |
28 February 2018 The countdown is underway as we preview the new shinty season which, weather permitting, throws up on Saturday 3 March 2018.
Marine Harvest Premiership Kinlochshiel v Glenurquhart Marine Harvest champions Kinlochshiel begin their bid for a second successive title against Glenurquhart at Kirkton. Paul MacRae captains a ‘Shiel side which is largely unchanged from last term although Oliver MacRae misses the season start as he is abroad whilst Donald Nixon has missed the pre-season for the same reason but he will be back in time for this game. ‘Shiel manager Johnston Gill may also be without assistant manager Doe MacRae during the early part of the season through work commitments. Glenurquhart boss Ian MacLeod adds Glen’s 1988 Albert Smith medal winner Ally MacKintosh to his management team. Glen lost Lewis MacLennan and Neale Reid during the course of last season whilst John Barr is awaiting an operation on an injury and he has been left out of the club’s “named ten”. However goalie Stuart MacKintosh is fit again and youngster Finlay Ralston should see more game time. Glen defender Lachie Smith misses the start of the season through suspension. Glenurquhart were the only team to record a league win against Kinlochshiel in their 2017 title winning season.
Oban Camanachd v Skye Camanachd Oban Camanachd’s opening fixture is a home meeting with newly promoted Skye Camanachd at Mossfield. Oban Camanachd manager Ian Hay has a defensive headache for this one. Full back Gary McKerracher has decided to take a season away from the game whilst Garry Lord is on holiday. To make matters worse, Scott MacKillop faces a spell on the sidelines as he recovers from injury. Doctors have ordered MacKillop to rest his knee for 3 months before assessing whether an operation is necessary. Scott MacMillan is suspended. Daniel Cameron and Matt Rippon could feature at the back whilst there could also be a place for Keith MacMillan who has returned from a two-year injury lay-off. John MacLeod returns to the Skye Camanachd managerial hot-seat, replacing Willie Cowie following his 12-month stint. Newly promoted Skye are boosted by Steven Morrison’s return after injury ruled him out of the 2017 campaign. However Gilleasbuig MacDonald, who has shown great commitment travelling from his Glasgow base to represent Skye for over a decade, has decided not to play this year. Neil MacVicar has left for Kyles so we’ll see more of youngsters Connor Gilpin and Ruaraidh MacLeod with the latter missing most of last season through injury.
Kingussie v Caberfeidh Caberfeidh, also promoted form the Marine Harvest National Davison at the end of last season, head for the Dell to take on Kingussie. New Kingussie boss John Gibson will be able to call on the services of Fraser Munro this season which is a boost. Sandy Elrick has also signed from Beauly and has played for the Kingussie second team and first team during the pre-season. Rory MacKeachan is recovering from a tight hamstring but should play. Cabers manager Jodi Gorski is minus full back Ryan Symonds for this one as he is on holiday. Jamie MacIntosh has been carrying an injury whilst key player Kevin Bartlett will have an enhanced role off the field. Caberfeidh’s Fraser MacArthur is banned.
Lovat v Newtonmore Lovat open against Newtonmore at Balgate. The sides also met on the opening day of the opening day of the 2017 shinty season when an Iain Robinson hat-trick helped ‘More to a 4-2 win at The Eilan. Lovat’s Ryan Ferguson is unlikely to be involved with the senior side this term and Duncan Davidson has a hand injury. However youngsters Scott MacKenzie and Mark Kelly are back in manager Fraser Gallacher’s plans following long-term injury. This is the first time Newtonmore haven’t started the season as reigning champions since 2010 when Danny Macrae captained them to the first of seven successive title successes. Kenny Ross takes over in goal from Norman Campbell. Defender Ackie MacRae has opted not to play this season but Neil Stewart will be very much in manager Paul John MacKintosh’s plans. Glen MacKintosh missed this one through suspension but Evan Menzies is back in training and he scored twice against Inveraray last Saturday.
Lochaber v Kyles Athletic Lochaber welcome Kyles Athletic to Spean Bridge. New Lochaber boss Neil MacDonald has signed former Newtonmore player John MacKenzie. However keeper Callum MacDonald is sidelined after suffering an accident at work whilst Brian MacDonald also misses this one as he serves a one-match ban. Zandz Ferguson will not be available from the start of the season. Kyles Athletic manager James Perlich would dearly love to go one better than last season’s second placed finish. Defender Neil MacVicar has joined the club from Skye but forward Sandy MacKenzie misses out through suspension.
Marine Harvest National Division Fort William v Beauly Fort William start their push for promotion back to shinty’s top flight against Beauly at An Aird. Fort William co-managers Victor Smith and Adam Robertson went through a transitional period last season as they lost the services of Niall MacPhee, Gordy MacKinnon, Steven Stewart and Daniel Stewart for differing reasons. Youth has been to the fore with Ally MacRae and Lachie Shaw now established in the senior side whilst Padraig McNeil has rejoined the club after a 12 month spell with Inverness. Beauly boss Alan MacRae has lost Sandy Elrick to Kingussie. His side had a morale-boosting pre-season win over Glenurquhart.
Kilmallie v Oban Celtic Kilmallie also have designs on a promotion spot and they have home advantage against Oban Celtic. Kilmallie boss Mark MacPherson is delighted to have Liam MacDonald back after he missed almost the whole of last season and the Scotland forward will captain the side. Liam Cameron and Robbie MacFadyen are also back after injury whilst Mark Graham, who was assistant manager last year, has indicated that he wishes to concentrate on playing outfield this year. Experienced defenders Allan MacDonald and Peter Carmichael will not be available this term. Kilmallie trio Craig MacIsaac, Martin Stewart and Michael Rodger all miss the start of the season through suspension. Oban Celtic manager Kenny Wotherspoon has added Dylan Cooke from Glenorchy to his squad as well as keeper David Martin and defender Calum MacLean; both from Oban Lorne but David MacInnes won’t be available.
Glasgow Mid Argyll v Inveraray Glasgow Mid Argyll, relegated from the Premiership at the end of last season, have a tricky opener against Inveraray at Yoker. GMA have signed Scotland U17 cap Jonny MacAskill from Kinlochshiel whilst Ewen Murray is free of his injury problems. Ryan Harrison has told the club that he won’t be available this year whilst Stuart Reid has relocated to Ireland. Inveraray’s Allan MacDonald is banned for his side’s opening fixture whilst the Winterton side have signed Craig Taylor from Kilmory.
Inverness v Strathglass Inverness and Strathglass, who finished in the division’s bottom two places at the end of last season, meet at The Bught Park. Inverness have lost youngster Padraig McNeil who has returned to Fort William after a season in the Highland Capital whilst another promising youth, William MacKinnon, will play for Boleskine. Arran MacMaster sits this one out as he serves a one match ban. The Inverness first team will be managed by Callum McLeod this season with Drew McNeil taking charge of the seconds and youths. Strathglass are bossed this year by Bruce Douglas, assisted by Roy MacKenzie. They will be without Hamish Myers for the early part of the season.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Newtonmore v Aberdeen University Champions Newtonmore reserves open with a match against Aberdeen University at The Eilan. The Students were one of ‘More’s biggest challengers last season so this is a tasty opening day fixture. Orsten Gardiner takes the ‘More managerial hot-seat from Cammy MacDonald. Former Boleskine and Aberdeen University forward Ewen Fraser has joined ‘More as he now works in the area so he could play against his former club.
Glengarry v Kingussie The Kingussie seconds, who finished third last year, are off to Craigard to play newly promoted Glengarry.
Skye Camanachd v Kinlochshiel There is a reserve west coast derby as Skye Camanachd and Kinlochshiel meet at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. This is the first of four meetings between the sides this season as they have been drawn together in the first rounds of both the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup and the Strathdearn Cup.
Glenurquhart v Fort William The Glenurquhart and Fort William second teams play at Blairbeg. Both will field youthful sides this term. The Glen’s Ben Hosie has had a good pre-season. Ally MacLeod has stepped down as Kings’ boss so several of the club’s coaches will share the duties during the season with Davie Anderson taking on the early period.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Taynuilt v Lochside Rovers Lochside Rovers open the defence of their Marine Harvest South Division 1 title against Taynuilt at The Taynuilt Sports Field. The home side have signed former Lochside keeper Brian Logan and he replaces Chris Parr between the sticks. Lochside boss Gareth Evans is on holiday so his assistant Brian MacCallum looks after the side. There will be changes with Steven Sloss unavailable and Daniel Sloss, Evan MacLellan, Chrissie MacMillan and Craig MacDougall moving up to the Oban Camanachd squad.
Inveraray v Ballachulish Ballachulish are off to The Winterton where newly promoted Inveraray seconds are the opposition. Veterans David MacPherson and David Robertson will provide experience for Inveraray’s young side. Scottish international John MacDonald will captain Balla’ this season.
Aberdour v Bute Two of the title contenders meet at Silversands where Aberdour play Bute. Aberdour will miss Roddy MacColl’s goals after he retired at the end of last year and David McDougall will look to fill the void. Captain Cammy McCue has looked good during the pre-season. John MacCallum and Ian McDonald look after Bute who will be keen to get off to a good start.
Kyles Athletic v Kilmory Kyles Athletic and Kilmory meet whist Fraser Williamson takes over from Peter Mobeck in charge of Kyles whilst Kilmory will again rely on the scoring threat from Alex Cunningham and Hal Jones.
Tayforth v Col Glen Tayforth have home advantage against Col Glen. Tayforth consolidated their place in South 1 last season following promotion the year before. Ronnie MacVicar has taken over as Col Glen manager.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Beauly v Lochaber The Lochaber second team, who finished second in the division last season, open with a trip to Braeview Park to play the Beauly second team. Beauly will look rebuild following their relegation at the end of last season and they will see North 2 as an opportunity to introduce more of their promising youngsters. John Fraser has been persuaded to stay on as Lochaber manager.
Boleskine v Lochcarron Boleskine have recruited several new players during the close season and their first league match is at home to Lochcarron. The new Boleskine recruits include Ewen MacKinnon and his sons William MacKinnon and Ross MacKinnon as well as Stuart MacRae; all from Inverness. Murdo John Fraser has returned for another spell as Lochcarron manager.
Caberfeidh v Lewis Camanachd The Caberfeidh colts await Lewis Camanachd at Castle Leod. Kenny Murray will not feature for Lewis this season.
Strathglass v Inverness The Inverness seconds make the short journey to Cannich to take on the Strathglass second team. Drew McNeil will look after the Inverness seconds this season, taking over from Allan MacLeod who will play in goal for the first team and also takes over a number of the club’s off-field administrative duties. Drew McNeil also takes the lead with the Inverness U14 and U17 sides with a view to bringing through the club’s youngsters into the second team providing continuity of coaching over these vital years.
Strathspey Camanachd v Kilmallie The Kilmallie seconds open with a trip to Grantown Grammar School to face Strathspey Camanachd.
Darren Urquhart’s Lovat second team do not have an opening day fixture in this eleven team league.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Oban Celtic v Bute The Oban Celtic second team, returning to league action for the first time since the 1999 / 2000 season, open at home to the Bute second team. Former Oban Celtic player Alan Duffy and Les Kinvig will manage the newly formed Oban Celtic colts. James Craig takes the Bute seconds. Bute second team captain Neil McKirdy misses out through suspension as he serves the second game of a two match ban carried forward from last season.
Strachur v Glasgow Mid Argyll Strachur, who will be amongst the title favourites, welcome the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team to Strachurmore.
Glenorchy v Aberdour Glenorchy, relegated at the end of last season, meet the Aberdour seconds at Mart Park. There were rumours that Glenorchy might not have been able to field a team this year so that is one battle the club has already won before the season has even got underway. |