The Shinty Round Up – 2022 Season Preview | |
03 March 2022 The wait is almost over. Covid wiped out the 2020 season, leading to an abridged version last year, but the traditional shinty season returns once more on Saturday 5 March 2022.
Mowi Premiership Kinlochshiel v Newtonmore Kinlochshiel and Newtonmore clash at Rèaraig Park. Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill is without Paul MacRae who has retired following a knee injury. Duncan Matheson is unavailable for this one. Norman MacArthur, Evan Cheyne and David Cheyne are now in charge at Newtonmore, replacing Orsten Gardner.
Kingussie v Caberfeidh Champions Kingussie start their bid to retain the Mowi Premiership title against Caberfeidh at the Dell. Thomas Borthwick remains on the Kingussie injury list whilst wing centre Kieran MacPherson has joined Caberfeidh and could make his debut against his former club. The game comes too early for Kingussie defender Calum Grant. Caberfeidh’s Connor MacGregor serves the final match of his suspension.
Glasgow Mid Argyll v Oban Camanachd Oban Camanachd’s first competitive match under new manager Gareth Evans is a trip south to Peterson Park, Yoker to play Glasgow Mid Argyll. Alan MacRae is the new Glasgow Mid Argyll boss, taking over from former Oban Celtic player Mark Bain. This is GMA’s first full season in the top flight since their promotion at the end of the 2019 season when they finished second in the Mowi National Division. MacRae is without two attackers as both Ewen Fraser and Calum McLay suffered broken fingers during the pre-season. GMA’s pitch was damaged during the mid-month friendly with Inveraray but they hope the game will go ahead. Daniel MacCuish misses the start of Oban Camanachd’s season due to football commitments with Oban Saints although he is also currently suffering from a hamstring injury.
Kilmallie v Lovat Martin Stewart’s Kilmallie side welcome last year’s Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup runners-up Lovat to the Canal Parks. With Daniel Stewart and Aaron Sandison relocated to London and Inverness respectively, Calum MacDougall still injured and Innes Blackhall and Stuart Callison are both suspended, there will be changes for the Kilmallie manager to make. Alan MacDonald and Dugald MacPhee come into the reckoning whilst Kevin Toye replaces the unavailable Shane Gillies in goal. Jamie Matheson remains in charge at Lovat and he has named Craig Mainland as his skipper for the season. Lorne MacKay is suspended for this one whilst Michael MacKenzie is likely to be unavailable for the start of the season at least.
Fort William v Kyles Athletic Fort William have been given a difficult start to life back in shinty’s top flight as they face seasoned campaigners Kyles Athletic at An Aird. Fort William co-managers Victor Smith and Adam Robertson are have the experienced Bryan Simpson back in the fold which should help their young side. Jonny Forster is currently working abroad as a ski instructor. Promising youngster Somhairle Thomson, who has relocated to the Glasgow area, has joined Kyles Athletic after skippering the Newtonmore second team to HIS Sutherland Cup success last season. The sides will also play for the Drew Ferguson Memorial Trophy.
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 boosted his squad with the addition of Scott Dempster from Taynuilt and Jordan Kerr from Lochside Rovers but Andy MacDonald is banned for this one. Skye boss Kenny Macleod has Will Cowie back after a knee injury suffered against Kinlochshiel on the opening day of last season ruled him out of the rest of the campaign. Danny Morrison is also available again and Murphy Henderson takes over in goal following Ryan Morrison’s impending move abroad.
Strathglass v Lochaber Lochaber’s league campaign begins with a trip to play Strathglass at Cannich. However they will have to do without the suspended Barry MacDonald.
Inveraray v Glenurquhart Inveraray, relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 2019 season, play promotion hopefuls Glenurquhart at the Winterton. Ruaraidh Graham stays on in charge at Inveraray whilst the Glen, previously managed by Stuart MacKintosh and Eddie Tembo and Dave Stewart, now have Stewart in sole charge.
Aberdour v Beauly Aberdour’s historic first-ever match in the National Division is a meeting with Beauly at Silversands.
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 former first team defender Ally MacDonald this season whilst John MacLeod again looks after the Fort, assisted by James Tangney.
Newtonmore v Kinlochshiel The Newtonmore second team open the defence of their Mowi North Division 1 trophy against their Kinlochshiel counterparts at the Eilan.
Caberfeidh v Kingussie The Caberfeidh seconds welcome the Kingussie seconds to Castle Leod. The sides were to meet pre-season friendly but it was one of a number of matches that fell to the weather.
Inverness v Glenurquhart The Inverness first team make the short journey to Blairbeg to play the Glenurquhart second team. Inverness will decide between Craig Nicholson and Dougie Rankin for the goalkeeper’s position whilst Glen’s Cameron Bremner has joined Kingussie.
Lovat v Lochcarron Lochcarron, promoted from Mowi North Division 2 at the end of the 2019 season, are off to Balgate to take on Strathdearn Cup winners Lovat reserves.
Glengarry are the free team in this eleven team league.
Mowi South Division 1 Lochside Rovers v Glasgow Mid Argyll Andrew Pearson and Duncan MacMillan take charge of Lochside Rovers against the Glasgow Mid Argyll second team at Ganavan.
Cruachanside v Ballachulish Cruachanside, an amalgamation of Taynuilt and Glenorchy, return to the competitive circuit against Ballachulish.
Col Glen v Bute Bute, relegated from the National Division at the end of the 2019 season, begin their bid to return against Col Glen at Glendaruel.
Kyles Athletic v Tayforth Tayforth travel to play the Kyles Athletic colts.
Mowi North Division 2 Lochaber v Strathglass The Lochaber second team were rejuvenated last season and they welcome the Strathglass second team to 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 1.30pm throw up at Smith Park.
Strathspey Camanachd v Aberdeen University Strathspey Camanachd welcome Aberdeen University to Grantown Grammar School.
Liam Cameron’s Kilmallie second team are without a fixture in this nine team division.
Mowi South Division 2 Ardnamurchan v Oban Celtic The Oban Celtic second team, with Les Kinvig now in charge, begin their campaign with a journey to Ardnamurchan.
Kilmory v Inveraray Kilmory and the Inveraray second team have a 2pm throw up at MacRae Park.
Bute v Aberdour The Bute seconds and the Aberdour seconds play at the Meadows. Daniel MacRae returns to refereeing to take charge of this match.
Strachur-Dunoon v Uddingston Strachur-Dunoon and Uddingston, two of shinty’s new sides, meet on the opening day of the season.
(All throw ups are at 2.30pm unless the match preview states otherwise) |