The Shinty Preview – Saturday 21 April 2012 | |
19 April 2012 The Co-operative MacTavish Cup quarter finals and the AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup quarter finals are shinty’s main attractions on Saturday 21 April 2012.
Co-operative MacTavish Cup – Quarter Finals Skye Camanachd v Lochaber At least one Marine Harvest North Division 1 side is guaranteed a Co-operative MacTavish Cup semi-final slot as Skye Camanachd meet Lochaber in Portree. Skye have been idle for the last two Saturdays and manager Willie MacRae is without the services of Iain Nicolson because of work commitments. Lochaber boss Michael Delaney hopes to have Scott Patterson available again. Skye’s only defeat this season came at Spean Bridge when they went down 7-1 to Lochaber in the league. Throw up is at the earlier time of 12.45pm. Fort William v Newtonmore The most intriguing last eight tie is the clash between Fort William and Newtonmore. This match was to take place at the Black Parks but the game has been switched to Glengarry’s Craigard pitch. Newtonmore’s Jamie Robinson made his first appearance of the season last week when he came on as a substitute in the win over Inveraray. Stevie Stewart and Daniel Stewart return for Fort William. This tie will be recorded for the Camanachd Association’s video gallery. Kilmallie v Kingussie Kilmallie and Kingussie clash at the Canal Parks. Kilmallie full back Allan MacDonald has been struggling to with an ankle injury which he picked up on the second day of the shinty season against Lovat and he will be given every chance to prove his fitness ahead of this one. Ronald Ross and Paul Gow should return for the Kings but Iain Borthwick is still a major doubt. This tie throws up at the slightly later time of 3pm. This is the second tie of the weekend which will be recorded for the Camanachd Association’s video gallery.
Beauly v Glenurquhart Glenurquhart make the short trip to Braeview Park to play Beauly. The home side were boosted by Sean Stewart’s return from injury for the second team last week and he will give them another attacking option when fully fit. Innes Simpson remains on the injury list. David Smart should be fit to play for Glenurquhart despite losing teeth whilst scoring a double in the win over Fort William last week. There will be a late check on Ruairidh Cameron who suffered concussion in the same game. Arran MacDonald should return following a bout of flu.
AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup - Quarter Finals Inveraray v Kyles Athletic The match of the day in the AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup quarter finals is the clash between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic at the Winterton. Russell MacKinlay should be back for the home side. Kyles defender Andrew King starts a two match ban. Kyles have a real goal threat in Thomas Whyte and their early season form – they are third top in the league compared to Inveraray who are third bottom - makes them favourites. Bute v Oban Camanachd There should be a good tie on Rothesay where Bute meet Oban Camanachd. Bute will be without the suspended pair; keeper Kevin Queen and James Craig who were sent off in the defeat to Kingussie last week. Oban Camanachd welcome Matt Rippon back from a one match ban. Throw up is at 3pm. Kilmory v Aberdour Kilmory have home advantage against Aberdour. Kilmory welcome Alex Cunningham and Ally Cunningham back from suspension. The visitors three match unbeaten run came to an end last weekend and both sides sit mid-table on four points which suggests this will be a close one. Taynuilt v Oban Celtic Both Taynuilt and Oban Celtic are languishing at the wrong end of Marine Harvest South Division 1 so they will welcome the excitement of a cup tie. The influential Willie Gillies returns from a ban for Taynuilt. The draw pairs the winners against the victors of the Kilmory and Aberdour tie in the semi finals so all four sides will be keen to take advantage of avoiding the big guns and make it to the final.
Sutherland Cup – First Round SCOTS Camanachd v Caberfeidh SCOTS Camanachd make their first appearance of the season when they play Caberfeidh at Musselburgh. This is the start of a busy week for the forces side as they play Strathglass in mid-week in memory of former player Scott Bain and they then take on the Irish Armed Forces in a Shinty / Hurling clash at the Bught Park next Saturday.
Strathdearn Cup – First Round Skye Camanachd v Newtonmore Skye Camanachd and Newtonmore meet at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The Islanders remain without injured pair Ally “Spod” MacLeod and Stewart Grant but Allan MacKinnon and Paul MacKinnon should return. Holders Newtonmore have been in irresistible form this season, winning all their games. They will be missing Glen Tonkin so Sean MacQuarrie returns in goal. Evan Menzies provides their main goal threat in a side which has been averaging just over five goals per game so far. Throw up is at 3pm and the whole match will be broadcast live on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd Corner Show which can be accessed at www.cuillinfm.co.uk
Orion Group Premiership Kinlochshiel v Lovat Kinlochshiel and Lovat meet for the second consecutive Saturday. ’Shiel will be without forward Fraser MacVicar because of work commitments and fellow attacker and club captain Gordie MacDonald remains on the injury list. Defender John Don MacKenzie is suspended following his red card in the side’s 3-3 draw at Balgate last week so Johnston Gill’s squad will be stretched. Lovat’s Greg Matheson needed stitches in his head after the game but boss Allan MacRae hopes he will be fit to play.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass v Caberfeidh Strathglass recorded an impressive win against Beauly last week and this result left Caberfeidh in an unfamiliar position at the bottom of the table. The sides meet at Cannich which gives Cabers an immediate chance to move up the table. Lochcarron v Inverness Lochcarron and Inverness meet at Battery Park. Lochcarron have a two point advantage over their rivals in the league but they have played a game more. Inverness welcome back Somhairle MacDonald and he will team up with James Cameron who scored four times against Oban Celtic last week. However the Capital side will be missing up to six players who are away at a stag do. Throw up is at 3pm.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Glenorchy v Glasgow Mid Argyll Glenorchy and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet at Mart Park. Mark Bain scored four times for GMA last week so he will need to be watched closely. The sides sit second and third in the league; each on six points, however Glenorchy have played two games less.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Aberdeen University v Glengarry Second place Glengarry have the chance to close the gap on leaders Newtonmore but it will not be easy as they travel to play Aberdeen University. Michael Brady and Daniel MacLennan return from suspension for the ‘Garry. Lochaber v Kinlochshiel Lochaber and Kinlochshiel meet at Spean Bridge. The home side has leaked an average four goals per game over their six fixtures so far which has left them in second bottom position in the table. This could be an opportunity to put some points on the board though as ‘Shiel are likely to be weakened with players called up to cover first team absences. ‘Shiel defender Ewan Falconer picked up a leg knock against Lovat last week and was only fit enough for a place on the bench for the U17 side in their midweek win over Skye. Scott Kennedy is also a doubt for the visitors after receiving stitches to a cut thigh last week. Glenurquhart v Kingussie Glenurquhart welcome Kingussie to Blairbeg. The Glen have played six games, winning three and losing three. They have scored twelve goals and conceded twelve but they do seem to be recovering from a slow start to the season. Kingussie led a 3-0 half time lead slip against Lochaber last week before having to settle for a share of the points. Lovat v Fort William Lovat and Fort William meet at Balgate. Both sides made sluggish starts to the season but both added to their points tally last weekend. James MacPherson’s inclusion has been a bonus for the Balgate side and he has been operating at wing centre. Fort William’s Cameron Grant is still suspended.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Lochside Rovers v Glasgow Mid Argyll League leaders Lochside Rovers play second bottom Glasgow Mid Argyll in Oban. Lochside put ten goals past bottom side Aberdour last week and they are South shinty’s top league scorers with 32 goals. Martin Hall serves the second game of a two match ban for GMA. Tayforth W/O v Kyles Athletic Second place Kyles Athletic are unable to raise team for their trip to play Tayforth so the points go to the home team. Col Glen v Ardnamurchan Fourth place Col Glen are at home to Ardnamurchan. Aberdour v Ballachulish Bottom side Aberdour are still in search of their first victory and they will find it tough when Ballachulish visit. Ballachulish are in fifth place but they are yet to play at home this season because of works being carried out on their Jubilee Park pitch. Bute v Inveraray There is a derby on Rothesay where Bute host Inveraray. Throw up is at noon. Both sides are mid-table and whilst Inveraray hold a one point advantage, the Islanders have a game in hand. Throw up is at 12.30pm.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Boleskine v Beauly The match of the day in this division is the clash at Farr between second place Boleskine and table toppers Beauly. The visitors have won all six of their fixtures this season and they are shinty’s top league scorers with 32 goals. Boleskine’s only blemish was a scoreless draw with bottom side Inverness on the opening day of the season. Kilmallie v Lochbroom Fourth place Kilmallie play third place Lochbroom at the Canal Parks. Throw up is at noon. Lochcarron v Lewis Camanachd Lochcarron and Lewis Camanachd meet at Battery Park. Throw up is at 1pm. Inverness v Strathspey Camanachd The bottom two sides meet at the Bught Park with Inverness and Strathspey Camanachd each after their first wins of the season. |