The Shinty Preview – Saturday 22 September 2012 | |
21 September 2012 Newtonmore can retain the Orion Group Premiership title if they take a point from their meeting with Glenurquhart and Lochaber can take a huge step towards the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title as they play nearest challengers Skye Camanachd on Saturday 22 September 2012.
Orion Group Premiership Glenurquhart v Newtonmore Newtonmore can clinch their third successive Orion Group Premiership title if they take a point from their meeting with Glenurquhart at Blairbeg. Newtonmore’s goal difference is such it would take a defeat against the Glen and a sizable win for Kyles Athletic against Inveraray next weekend to see the title go South. This is Newtonmore boss Norman MacArthur’s final match in charge as he steps down after five years in the hot seat. The highlight of his tenure was last year’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup success but his side have shown remarkable consistency in the league, winning the title three times whilst losing out on goal difference and by a point on the other two occasions. A Glen win would see the Artemis Macaulay Cup winners go fourth in the table. The sides played at the Eilan a fortnight ago and an Evan Menzies goal was all that separated the sides. However Newtonmore will have to do without Menzies for this one as he suffered a hand injury in that match. Indeed Menzies could be missing for some time as he plans to head to Australia for a year. Glenurquhart will have Andrew Corrigan back. Lovat v Inveraray Lovat play Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup runners-up Inveraray at Balgate. A single point would guarantee an impressive third place finish for Allan MacRae’s Lovat side. However Inveraray have two more games to play after this one and they could still finish third if they win all their remaining matches. Inveraray are likely to be without captain Scott Robertson and Ruairidh Graham who both intimated their decision to retire following last weekend’s match. Russell MacKinlay is also unlikely to travel North.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Lochaber v Skye Camanachd League leaders Lochaber play second place Skye Camanachd at Spean Bridge. A Lochaber win will mean that Michael Delaney’s side only require one more point from their remaining games to clinch the title and promotion to the Orion Group Premiership. The home side should be along usual lines. However Skye manager Willie MacRae has had horrendous team raising difficulties ahead of the game with more than a dozen players unavailable for selection for various reasons. The absentees list include Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Iain Morrison, Chris Rose, Jordan Murchison, Jamie Gannon, Michael Nicolson, Iain Munro, Allan MacLeod, John Moir, Shaun Hedley, Allan MacKinnon, Iain Nicolson, Aonghas MacDonald and Ally MacDonald. Beauly v Inverness Fourth place Beauly take on fifth place Inverness at Braeview Park. Beauly have included Conor Ross in their squad after some impressive performances for their successful second team. Inverness will be without midfielder Craig Nicholson who is suspended.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Ballachulish v Aberdour Aberdour travel to Jubilee Park to play their final league match of the season against Ballachulish. Third place Ballachulish still have another game to play after this one but they are unlikely to overtake second place Kyles Athletic, even if they win both games, because of the Tighnabruaich men’s superior goal difference. A Duncan MacDonald hat-trick helped Ballachulish to a 5-4 win when the sides met in Fife earlier in the season. Throw up is at 12.30pm. Bute W/0 v Tayforth Tayforth have been unable to raise a team for their trip to the Meadows to play Bute so the points have been awarded to the Islanders.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Kilmallie v Beauly Fourth place Kilmallie play champions Beauly at the Canal Parks. The visitors will be without wing centre Conor Ross who is on first team duty. Martin Davidson will provide the main goal threat for Beauly. The sides have yet to meet in the league as Kilmallie were unable to raise a team for their trip to Braeview Park earlier in the season. |