The Shinty Preview – Saturday 16 June 2012 | |
15 June 2012 The first silverware of the season is up for grabs as the Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final takes place at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 9 June 2012.
Co-operative MacTavish Cup - Final Lochaber v Newtonmore Lochaber and Newtonmore meet at the Bught Park, Inverness in the Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final. This on the face of it looks like a David and Goliath pairing as the 2011 double winners from the Eilan play a side from Spean Bridge who has not won this competition since they were established in their current format over 60 years ago. Newtonmore are also contesting this year’s Orion Group Premiership title whilst Lochaber are fighting to get their way out of Marine Harvest South Division 1. However on closer inspection, this final could be a much closer affair with Lochaber already securing the top division scalps of Kingussie and Bute this season. Anyone who has seen Lochaber this season will be in little doubt that they could hold their own in shinty’s top flight. Newtonmore’s Danny MacRae is struggling with a knee injury which may require an operation but he is included in their squad and there have been suggestions that he could yet be strapped up to make a cameo appearance if the need arises. Lochaber’s had a free weekend last Saturday and boss Michael Delaney watched Newtonmore lose out to Lovat at Balgate. Lochaber’s last outing was the Balliemore Cup win over Oban Camanachd a fortnight ago when they were without captain Hugh Innes, striker Scott Patterson and defender Donald MacRae through work commitments but all three will return for the final. Throw up is at 4.05pm and the whole match will be shown live on BBC Alba. Graham Irving is the match referee.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – Quarter Finals Oban Camanachd v Bute The final Artemis Macaulay Cup quarter final tie takes place at Mossfield where Oban Camanachd host Bute. The sides’ swapped divisions at the end of last season and Bute currently sit bottom of the Orion Group Premiership whilst Oban Camanachd top Marine Harvest South Division 1. Matt Rippon again misses out for Oban whilst Bute boss Barry Martin will hope to have some players back after suffering a heavy defeat to Kilmallie last weekend. Throw up is at 3pm.
Sutherland Cup – Second Round Kilmallie v Ballachulish The controversial Sutherland Cup tie between Kilmallie and Ballachulish will be replayed at the Canal Parks. The original tie was abandoned when supporters entered the field with the sides’ level at four goals each. Both teams were each fined £100 by the Camanachd Association and warned about their future conduct. They both appealed on a procedural matter but this was unsuccessful. Evan MacRae id the match referee and throw up is at 1pm.
Bullough Cup – Quarter Finals Glasgow Mid Argyll v Bute The Glasgow Mid Argyll second team hosts the Bute reserves. Bute were 10-0 winners when the sides met at the Meadows in March but this is likely to be a closer affair. Tayforth v Inveraray Tayforth have home advantage against Inveraray. Throw up is at 2pm. Lochside Rovers W/O v Taynuilt Taynuilt were unable to raise a team for their trip to play Lochside Rovers so the Oban side go through to the last four of the competition.
Orion Group Premiership Lovat v Kilmallie These sides last met towards the end of last season when Lovat had to win to escape relegation. They did just that and how their fortunes have changed. Greg Matheson returns for Lovat after missing the win over Newtonmore last weekend. However Lorne MacKay misses out with a hernia problem. The Kilmallie attack will be confident after their four forwards – John Stewart, Liam MacDonald, Grant MacKenzie and Michael Rodger – shared ten goals in the win over Bute last weekend. Throw up is at 1pm. Kyles Athletic v Inveraray There is a derby meeting at Tighnabruaich where Kyles Athletic host Inveraray. A Kyles win could take them top if Lovat fail to beat Kilmallie. Glenurquhart v Fort William Glenurquhart and Fort William both won through to the North semi-final of the Artemis Macaulay Cup last weekend. The Glen are getting players back from injury and Ruairidh Cameron’s return boosted their attack in the win over Kingussie last weekend. Fort William’s Liam MacIntyre is free from suspension but Arran MacPhee is still injured. However Neil Robertson is available before serving a one match ban next weekend for a points accumulation. The sides meet on league duty at Blairbeg this weekend. Throw up is at 1pm.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Caberfeidh 1 Lochcarron 2 The meeting between Caberfeidh and Lochcarron at Castle Leod was brought forward to Wednesday 13 June 2012. Caberfeidh missed out on the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table when they went down 2-1. The visitors went ahead on 19 minutes when Gregor Cushnie collected a cross from the right and shot into the corner of the net. Cabers had the chance to level on 28 minutes when Martin MacDonald was tripped inside the D and referee Innes Wood pointed to the penalty spot. However Kevin Bartlett blazed his spot hit past Kenny Ross’ left post. Caberfeidh continued to press for the remainder of the half but they were hit with a sucker-punch 4 minutes from the interval when a Lochcarron break-away ended when Iain MacKenzie slotted the ball past Donald Mellis to make it 2-0. The pattern of play remained the same in the second half with Caberfeidh enjoying the bulk of the pressure but Kenny Ross in the visiting goal was up to the task as he made a great stop from a Martin MacDonald pile-driver and further saves from Bartlett and MacDonald with his feet. However the home side finally hit the target on 69 minutes when Stuart Kryzanowski collected the ball at the back post and went round the Lochcarron defence before firing low into the net to make it 2-1. Caberfeidh’s Aaron Ross had the home crowd gasping when he shot inches wide on 90 minutes. Liam Mutch and Aaron Matheson were correctly booked by referee Wood for a flare-up at the start of stoppage time. Caberfeidh continued to press and there was a massive scramble in the Lochcarron goal-mouth after 95 minutes when a Kevin Bartlett ball into the D saw Kenny Ross save the resultant shot before he cleared the ball for a corner. The corner from the right saw Martin MacDonald fire goalwards but Kenny Ross made a brilliant save with his right hand. The win means Lochcarron leap-frog Beauly ahead of their home meeting with Strathglass. Beauly v Strathglass Beauly and Strathglass meet at Braeview Park. The home side has been on a poor run of late and they announced this week that Innes Simpson would be leaving the side. Throw up is at 1pm.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Kilmory v Glenorchy Kilmory have home advantage against Glenorchy. Mark Robertson is available for Kilmory ahead of a one match ban next weekend for a points’ accumulation. Throw up is at 2pm. Glasgow Mid Argyll v Taynuilt Glasgow Mid Argyll and Taynuilt meet at Yoker. Throw up is at noon. Oban Celtic v Strachur Oban Celtic host Strachur. The home side will be without the suspended Alan Duffy. Throw up is at noon.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Fort William 2 Lovat 0 Fort William beat Lovat 2-0 at the Black Parks in a game carried forward from last weekend. The first half was goalless but a Neil Clark strike in the first minute of the second half put the home side ahead. Bobby MacMillan sealed the win with a goal 10 minutes from time. Fort William v Aberdeen University Fort William play Aberdeen University at the Black Parks in their second match in four days. Both sides have ten points and a win for either team will lift them into fourth place in the table. Fort William’s Cameron Grant is a major injury doubt with a broken nose. Throw up is at 2pm.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Kyles Athletic W/O v Ardnamurchan Ardnamurchan were unable to raise a team for their noon meeting with Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich so the points go to the home side. Aberdour v Col Glen Aberdour and Col Glen meet in Fife. Throw up is at 2pm.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Caberfeidh 1 Beauly 4 The meeting between Caberfeidh and Beauly was brought forward to Friday 15 June 2012 with a 7.30pm throw up. Martin Davidson put the visitors ahead after 5 minutes and he added a second from penalty spot a minute before the break. A 57 minute Sean Stewart strike made it 3-0 but Caberfeidh’s Craig Morrison pulled a goal back 60 seconds later. However there was to be no fight-back as Jordan Keil netted 15 minutes from time to give the league leaders a 4-1 victory. Boleskine v Strathspey Camanachd Shinty new boys Strathspey Camanachd are out to make it four wins in a row when they travel to Farr to play Boleskine. Throw up is at 1pm. Lochcarron v Lochbroom There is a derby meeting at Battery Park where Lochcarron and Lochbroom clash. Throw up is at 2pm. Lewis Camanachd W/O v Strathglass Strathglass were unable to raise a team for their trip to Shawbost so Lewis Camanachd get the points. |