Holders Glenurquhart were given an away tie in the 2013 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw which was made live on Oban FM on Saturday 15 December 2012.
The draw threw up some cracking ties and holders Glenurquhart have been given a tricky trip to Balgate to play Lovat. Allan MacRae’s Lovat squad finished third in the Orion Group Premiership last season and the sides had a win each in the league. Glenurquhart’s Scotland U21 cap Neale Reid is currently sidelined with a broken arm sustained against the international against Ireland and Drew McNeil and Fraser MacKenzie will hope to have him back before they start the defence of their trophy.
The winners of the Lovat, Glenurquhart clash will travel to meet the victors from the meeting between Kingussie and Kinlochshiel at the Dell. Kingussie, co-managed by Russell Jones and Davie Anderson, could have Thomas Borthwick back in their side following his return from a spell abroad. The Kings may have home advantage but ‘Shiel won twice at the Dell in 2012 so the outcome is hard to predict.
There will be a derby clash at An Aird between Fort William and Kilmallie. Both sides will be under new management. The Fort have confirmed that Victor Smith and Adam Robertson will take over from Peter McIntyre. Recently relegated Kilmallie have yet to confirm their new management team but former Scotland and Lochaber boss Duncan Kelly is likely to be involved.
The derby winners between Fort William and Kilmallie will be on the road to face either Newtonmore or Lochaber in the second round. Newly promoted Lochaber head for the Eilan in what is a repeat of last season’s Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final. Newtonmore, led this coming season by Paul John MacKintosh, will be without Evan Menzies who has moved abroad for a year.
In the South part of the draw, Inveraray were given a home meeting with Glasgow Mid Argyll. The sides met at Yoker in the second round of the 2012 competition when Chris Crawford scored four times in a 5-0 victory. Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup runners up Inveraray are currently advertising for a new first team manager after John Smylie stepped down at the end of last season. Experienced players Scott Robertson and Ruairidh Graham have retired so a meeting with the Marine Harvest South Division 1 Glasgow side will be far from straight forward.
The winners from the tie between Inveraray and Glasgow Mid Argyll will travel to play whoever comes out on top in the game between Oban Celtic and Taynuilt in the second round. The 2013 draw was made by Macaulay Association stalwarts David Hamilton and Fraser Inglis and they each picked out their own sides for what is sure to be a close encounter. Taynuilt reached the 2012 final but the sides were only separated by two points in the league.
Glenorchy meet newly promoted Oban Camanachd at Dalmally. The Oban side won both league encounters last season on their way to the Marine Harvest South Division 1 title which restored their status in shinty’s top division so they will start as favourites.
Whoever comes out on to between Glenorchy and Oban Camanachd will face the winners of the derby dual between Bute and Kyles Athletic on Rothesay. This is a difficult draw for Bute who could go through a transitional period with some changes predicted next season including Hector Whitelaw’s retiral. Kyles will be out to build on their 2012 Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup success.
The North part of the draw is;
First Round
Fort William v Kilmallie
Kingussie v Kinlochshiel
Lovat v Glenurquhart
Newtonmore v Lochaber
Second Round
Newtonmore / Lochaber v Fort William / Kilmallie
Kingussie / Kinlochshiel v Lovat / Glenurquhart
The South part of the draw is;
First Round
Bute v Kyles Athletic
Oban Celtic v Taynuilt
Glenorchy v Oban Camanachd
Inveraray v Glasgow Mid Argyll
Second Round
Oban Celtic / Taynuilt v Inveraray / Glasgow Mid Argyll
Glenorchy / Oban Camanachd v Bute / Kyles Athletic
The Artemis Macaulay Cup Final will be played at Mossfield, Oban on Saturday 17 August 2013