2020 Shinty Season Preview | |
05 March 2020 The wait is almost over as the new shinty season starts on Saturday 7 March 2020.
Mowi Premiership Glasgow Mid Argyll v Oban Camanachd Oban Camanachd get their season underway with a trip to Yoker to play newly promoted Glasgow Mid Argyll. Former Oban Celtic player Mark Bain continues in charge at GMA after securing promotion to shinty’s top flight following a second place finish in the National last season. He is without Oliver MacRae who has returned to former club Kinlochshiel. However former Newtonmore, Aberdeen University and Boleskine player Ewen Fraser has signed to strengthen the attack whilst Ally McKerracher has joined from Oban Celtic and he will be another valuable addition as are former Skye player Stewart Grant, former Kingussie player Hamish Anderson, Former Caberfeidh player James MacLeod and Cammy McCue from Aberdour. Ryan Harrison skippers the side this season. As is the position at most clubs, Oban Camanachd manager Stephen Sloss and his assistant Kenny Wotherspoon have been left frustrated by the lack of preseason action. They will be without Aidan MacIntyre, who announced his retiral at the end of last season, and Lorne Dickie, who is unavailable for the early part of the season, so there will be changes in midfield. Gary McKerracher is also unavailable for this one.
Kilmallie v Lovat Kilmallie welcome Lovat to the Canal Parks. The match comes just a fortnight after the shock news that John Stewart had resigned as Kilmallie first team manager. A statement on behalf of the Board of Kilmallie Shinty Club said: “The board has accepted, with regret, the resignation of John Stewart as first team manager. John is a dedicated Kilmallie man who has given his all to the club both as a player and manager. The board, on behalf of the club, would like to place on record our appreciation and thanks for all the hard work, diligence, determination and organisation John has put into leading the first team over the past 15 months.” John Stewart’s brother, Martin Stewart, has been appointed interim player-manager, with the backing of the board and the team. The board statement added: “Martin Stewart has been a key player for many years and knows the team through and through. He has developed considerable coaching experience in the schools and women’s game. It is likely further assistance will be added to Martin’s team to help with coaching and training.” The board’s longer term desire is to return to having a non-playing manager so Martin Stewart can concentrate on playing. Anyone who has an interest in this role is asked to contact the board chairman or secretary. One of Martin Stewart’s first tasks will be to solve a forward line dilemma with Liam MacDonald and Daniel Stewart missing the start of the season through injury. Lovat are also under new management with co-bosses Alan MacRae and Jamie Matheson replacing Fraser Gallacher. Scott MacKenzie returns after a spell out through injury but Marc MacLachlan has left the club. Drew Howie is back after a year travelling and he played wing centre in the Lovat Cup. Bailey MacKay will feature more this season following a good year with the seconds.
Fort William v Kyles Athletic Fort William have been given a difficult start to life back in shinty’s top flight as seasoned campaigners Kyles Athletic visit An Aird. Fort William co-managers Victor Smith and Adam Robertson are without Lewis Clark for this one but Bryan Simpson has been in preseason training and his skill and experience could force a first team return. Kyles Athletic will be skippered by Rupert Williamson this season but keeper John Whyte is abroad so will miss the first couple of games of their campaign. Kyles had been due to visit An Aird preseason for the Drew Ferguson Memorial Cup but the game was postponed.
Kinlochshiel v Newtonmore Kinlochshiel and Newtonmore clash at Rèaraig Park. The sides met at the same venue towards the end of last season when Duncan “DA” MacRae’s goal gave ‘Shiel a 1-0 win. Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill has strengthened his squad with Oliver MacRae re-joining the club after a spell with GMA and Rhuairaidh MacDonald signing after captaining Glengarry last season. Orsten Gardner has taken over from Paul John MacKintosh at the Newtonmore helm and he has made a change in goal with Owen Fraser replacing Kenny Ross.
Kingussie v Caberfeidh Champions Kingussie start their bid to retain the Mowi Premiership title against Caberfeidh at the Dell. Kingussie have Thomas Borthwick, Ryan Borthwick and Dylan Borthwick back training, boosting manager John Gibson’s options. Caberfeidh have lost trio Ryan MacKay, Robbie Brindle and Martin MacDonald to Beauly. Ryan Simmonds missed last season through work commitments but is available again but Scott MacLachlan won’t be available every week.
Mowi National Division Oban Celtic v Skye Camanachd Oban Celtic open their competitive season against Skye Camanachd at Mossfield. Oban Celtic manager Dougie MacIntyre has had to make a change in goal for this season as regular keeper Iain MacFarlane is ruled out with knee problems. Skye co-managers Kenny MacLeod and Allan MacLeod miss Ally MacDonald who hasn’t fully recovered from a knee injury whilst Iain Nicolson and Stewart Grant aren’t available this term. However John Gillies is back in the fold after missing the second part of last season.
Strathglass v Lochaber Lochaber’s bid for a swift return to the Premiership begins with a trip to play Strathglass at Cannich Allan MacLeod is the new Strathglass boss, replacing Bruce Douglas and Roy MacKenzie and he is minus the injured Ruairidh Strachan. Lochaber manager Michael Delaney is without Danny Delaney for the early part of the season as he has a hand injury.
Inveraray v Glenurquhart Inveraray, relegated from the Premiership at the end of last season, play promotion hopefuls Glenurquhart at the Winterton. Ruaraidh Graham stays on in charge at Inveraray and he has managed to get his side two preseason outings, although both were on astro pitches, with Lewis MacNicol showing an eye for goal. Glenurquhart co-managers Stuart MacKintosh and Eddie Tembo, with Dave Stewart assisting from the touchline, are without Conor Golabek and Neale Reid this term. However Michael Brady and Ewan Brady should be more available.
Aberdour v Beauly Aberdour’s historic first-ever match in the National Division is a meeting with Beauly at Silversands. Most of the players who performed so well in last year’s South Division 1 remain although Cammy McCue has left for GMA. Roger Cormack, Jamie MacLennan and Sean Stewart will look after the Beauly first team this season and they’ll continue to blood the club’s promising youngsters. However they have added trio Ryan MacKay, Robbie Brindle and Martin MacDonald who have joined from Caberfeidh.
Mowi North Division 1 Skye Camanachd v Fort William The Fort William second team go west to play the Skye Camanachd second team at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye will be managed by Davie Pringle this season whilst John MacLeod looks after the Fort.
Newtonmore v Kinlochshiel The Newtonmore second team open the defence of their Mowi North Division 1 trophy against their Kinlochshiel counterparts at the Eilan. Both teams are under new management with Peter Ross in charge at ‘More and Ross MacDiarmid at the helm at ‘Shiel.
Caberfeidh v Kingussie The Caberfeidh seconds welcome the Kingussie seconds to Castle Leod. The sides were to meet in a pre-season friendly at the same venue last weekend but the game was called off on Friday afternoon.
Glenurquhart v Inverness The Glenurquhart colts play the Inverness first team at Blairbeg. It could be a transitional season for the Glen with some players moving away to university and others stepping up to the first team. Inverness started last season with an eight points deduction after opting to step down from National Division shinty. They will give youth a chance this season.
Lovat v Lochcarron Newly promoted Lochcarron are off to Balgate to take on the Lovat reserves.
Glengarry, who finished second last season, are the free team in this eleven team league.
Mowi South Division 1 Lochside Rovers v Glasgow Mid Argyll Gareth Evans begins his second stint as Lochside Rovers manger against the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team at Ganavan. Lochside had a good record against GMA last season having beaten them twice in the league and in the Bullough Cup Final.
Col Glen v Bute Bute, relegated from the National Division at the end of last season, are many peoples’ title favourites and they open against Col Glen at Glendaruel.
Kyles Athletic v Tayforth Tayforth travel to play the Kyles Athletic colts at Tighnabruaich.
Taynuilt P Ballachulish P The match between Taynuilt and Ballachulish at the Taynuilt Sports Field will now take place on Saturday 28 March 2020.
Mowi North Division 2 Lochaber v Strathglass The Lochaber second team make a welcome return to league action after a year out when they host the Strathglass second team at Spean Bridge. Lochaber will field a mixture of youth an experience and with Strathglass doing like-wise, this should be an interesting encounter.
Beauly v Inverness The Beauly colts meet the Inverness colts at Braeview Park.
Boleskine v Lewis Camanachd Boleskine and Lewis Camanachd have a 1.01pm throw up at Smith Park.
Strathspey Camanachd v Aberdeen University Strathspey Camanachd co-managers Donald Colville and Mark MacDonald take charge of their side against recently relegated Aberdeen University at Grantown Grammar School.
The Kilmallie second team were without a fixture in this nine team division.
Mowi South Division 2 Ardnamurchan v Oban Celtic The Oban Celtic second team, who finished third in the division last term, begin their campaign with a journey to Ardnamurchan.
Kilmory v Inveraray Kilmory and the Inveraray second team have a 2.01pm throw up at MacRae Park. Both sides are will be amongst this season’s title hopefuls.
Bute v Aberdour The Bute seconds and the Aberdour seconds play at the Meadows.
Glenorchy are the free team in this seven team league. |