The Shinty Preview – Saturday 3 March 2012 | |
01 March 2012 The preparation is over and the 2012 shinty season officially throws up onSaturday 3 March 2012. Orion Group Premiership Newtonmore v Lovat Newtonmore start their bid for a third successive league title with a match against Lovat at the Eilan. Home boss Norman MacArthur suffered a blow with the news that influential full centre Jamie Robinson is out through injury. Forward David Cheyne also misses out as he is abroad at present. It is too early for Lovat’s James Grieve to make a first team return from a shoulder injury but new boss Allan MacRae does have the benefit of a fully fit Drew Howie after the Scotland U21 defender missed much of the 2011 shinty season with a knee injury. Teenage Lovat forward Greg Matheson will be key for the visitors as he was the third top scorer in shinty’s top division last season with 18 goals, only four strikes behind Ronald Ross and Glen MacKintosh who each bagged 22 goals. Inveraray v Kyles Athletic Inveraray and Kyles Athletic meet in what could be the game of the day at the Winterton. Inveraray should be along usual lines but players such as 2011 top goalscorer Russell MacKinlay will not be available every week. Garry MacPherson will assume a player / assistant manager role to help boss John Smylie. Kyles pushed Newtonmore all the way in the league last season but this year’s title challenge suffered an early blow with the news that Grant Irvine could miss a large part of the season because of the knee injury picked up last year. Former Scotland U17 defender Sandy MacVicar is another facing a long spell on the sidelines as he struggles to recover from a long-standing wrist injury. David Zavaroni has said that it will be difficult to commit to every game this season and Peter Currie is working abroad. If that wasn’t enough, Scottish international Donald Irvine’s availability will be affected by work commitments whilst Dunkie Kerr is also unlikely to be available every Saturday although both are in the Kyles squad for this game. Kinlochshiel v Kingussie The match between Kinlochshiel and Kingussie was originally scheduled for Kirkton. However the wet west coast weather has left ‘Shiel’s pitch unplayable so the fixture has been reversed to the Dell. Camanachd Association rules dictate that the Marine Harvest North Division 2 match between the club’s second teams takes priority so the senior clash will only go ahead if the Dell can take two games. Throw up has been set for 12.30 pm which will allow Badenoch fans to head for the Eilan or Freuchie Park to take in a second game later in the afternoon. The Kings will be without Ronald Ross who is unlikely to feature until next month. Thomas Borthwick is another absentee as he is in Australia at present. New King’s boss Russell Jones has used Lee Bain in attack during the pre-season games and has found himself amongst the goals. Newly promoted Kinlochshiel are looking forward to the new season but boss Johnston Gill will be without the services of Scotland U21 captain John MacRae who is unavailable. Fort William v Bute The leagues other new sideButeplay Fort William. There will be a changing of the guard at the Fort this season. Boss Peter McIntyre and his assistant Dave Stafford will have to do without James Clark who has retired and Adam Robertson and John MacLeod who are more likely to help out with the reserve side. Scottish international John MacDonald is unlikely to play this season whilst Gary Innes has said that his appearances will be limited because of commitments with his band Manran. Bute have made a quick-fire return to shinty’s top flight following their relegation at the end of the 2010 season and manager Barry Martin retains the squad which won the Marine Harvest South Division 1 title and the Balliemore Cup last year. This match is likely to take place at the Black Parks as major drainage works at An Aird are not expected to be complete until later in the summer. This game throws up at the earlier time of1.30pm. Glenurquhart v Kilmallie The new Glenurquhart management team of Fraser MacKenzie and Drew McNeil make their competitive debut in charge of the side against Kilmallie at Blairbeg. The Glen have been boosted by Eddie Tembo’s return to fitness after suffering a frustrating 2011 season through injury. The Glen finished in a very respectable fifth position in the league last season. If they had any failing, it was in attack, where Neale Reid finished their top scorer with nine goals. Scottish international John Barr was moved up front mid-way through the season and he shipped in with seven league goals. He is likely to continue in that role. Kilmallie will be without Fraser Massie this season but former player Ryan Stewart returns to the fold and he will travel from Glasgow to represent his former club. Grant MacKenzie joins from Ballachulish and he is another who previously plied his trade at the Canal Parks. Brian MacKinnon also makes the switch from Jubilee Park as he lives locally in the Caol area. Kilmallie’s Michael Rodger serves the final match of a suspension carried forward from last season.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Caberfeidh v Skye Camanachd Caberfeidh and Skye Camanachd meet at Castle Leod. Home boss Stewart MacLennan will be keen to get off to a good start as his side looks to improve on their fourth place finish last season. However he will have to do without the injured wing centre Iain MacColl and defender Ewen Murray who is also unavailable. Skye Camanachd’s new manager Willie MacRae enjoyed success as a player and he has had the Islanders training hard ahead of their league campaign. Skye have been boosted by Steven Morrison’s return to the side after he missed large parts of last season due to work commitments. Jamie MacDonald makes a welcome return from injury after an absence of over 18 months. However MacRae will have to do without the services of Scottish international Somhairle MacDonald who has signed forInverness. Former first team manager Aonghas MacDonald takes over from Michael Nicolson in goal. Inverness v Beauly Invernessmanager Steve Munro has increased his options with the signings of former Skye Camanachd players Somhairle MacDonald and Dougie Rankin and both are set to make their competitive debut. The Capital side welcome Beauly to theBughtPark. Beauly will have joint managers Stephen MacLean and Iain Morrison in charge but they will have to do without the services of Sean Stewart who is still absent following a serious ankle injury. Keeper Martin Davidson has intimated the wish to play second team shinty this season so either Kyle MacDonald or MacKay Murray will take over between the sticks. Beauly enjoyed a morale boosting pre-season win over Kinlochshiel a fortnight ago as they look to improve upon last season’s third place finish. Lochcarron v Lochaber Lochcarron and Lochaber meet at Battery Park. The home side hopes to have the experienced Angus MacKay available on a more regular basis this season and youngster Nick Dalgety is another who is likely to feature in their side. Lochaber should be along usual lines and Lachlan Campbell has slotted in at full back during the pre-season. Lochcarron boss Andrew MacKenzie saw his team lead 3-0 at the same venue at the end of last season before Lochaber manager Michael Delaney’s son Ben Delaney inspired the Spean Bridge side to a 6-3 victory.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Taynuilt v Oban Camanachd Oban Camanachd will start the season as hot favourites to make a speedy return to shinty’s top flight following their relegation at the end of last year. Manager Diarmid MacMillan should have all the usual faces available with Aidan McIntyre and last year’s top scorer Scott MacMillan set to be key men. Liam MacIntyre also returns to the fold. Oban Camanachd open their league programme with a trip to Taynuilt who will be managed by Davie Thomson. However they will have to do without the influence of coach Fraser Inglis who stepped down at the end of last season. Strachur v Glasgow Mid Argyll Strachur host Glasgow Mid Argyll. The home side has been undertaking a major new pitch and clubhouse development with significant sportscotland funding although this new facility will not be available for the start of the season. Mid Argyll finished runners up toButelast season and they will feature several of the games top youngsters including Finlay MacMillan, Craig Anderson and Ryan Harrison. Oban Celtic v Glenorchy Oban Celtic and Glenorchy meet in Oban. Oban Celtic boss Davy Hamilton will continue to give youth its chance with several players likely to shine from the U17 side which finished MacQuiston Cup runners up last season. Allan MacKechnie’s Glenorchy finished the 2010 Marine Harvest South 1 campaign as league champions with a 100% record. However they were relegated from the national league at the end of last season and they find themselves in a much more competitive south league this time around. Aberdour v Kilmory Aberdour and Kilmory clash in Fife. The sides finished in the bottom two places in the league last season. A first half Doug Newsom hat-trick helped Aberdour to a 6-0 win when the sides met at the same venue last season.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Lovat v Newtonmore Lovat have been given a tough start as they open their league campaign at home to reigning champions Newtonmore. James Grieve played part of Lovat’s pre-season game against Strathspey Camanachd last weekend - his first appearance since sustaining a shoulder injury against Kilmallie last season – and he may also feature in this one. Jamie Matheson grabbed a hat-trick in Lovat’s 6-0 win over Strathspey and he will be a key player for new boss Fraser Gallacher. However ‘More’s Calum Stewart bettered that haul when he scored six goals against Lewis Camanachd during the pre-season. Newtonmore bosses Cammy MacDonald and Glen Tonkin were named 2011 Marine Harvest North Division 2 Managers of the Year and they have strengthened an already strong squad with the inclusion of 2011 ‘More senior captain Scott Campbell. Glengarry v Aberdeen University 2011 Marine Harvest North Division 3 champions Aberdeen University make the step up a division and their first match is against Glengarry. The game was to take place in Aberdeen but the Students’ pitch is unavailable to the game has been moved to Craigard, Invergarry. Glengarry also had the chance to step up a league at the end of last season after finishing third in Marine Harvest North Division 2 but decided that their development would be better served staying where they are. Kingussie v Kinlochshiel The Dell hosts the meeting between Kingussie and Kinlochshiel. Michael Falconer takes over from Norman Dickson at the Kingussie helm and his priority will be to continue to develop the club’s youth players with Rory MacKeachan, Chris Holleysong, Rory MacGregor and Savio Genini likely to feature strongly. Kinlochshiel boss Colin Fraser has lost Stuart MacRae to Inverness but Steven Bellshaw has signed from Lochbroom. Lochaber v Fort William There is a local derby at Spean Bridge where Fort William make the short journey to play Lochaber. Youth will again feature with Barry MacDonald in the home squad after scoring against Lochaber for pre-season when the Islanders were short of players. Fort youngster Arran MacPhee got a taste of first team action last weekend in the friendly win over Glenurquhart. Skye Camanachd v Glenurquhart Skye Camanachd and Glenurquhart clash at Pair nan Laoch, Portree. Former Skye player Murdo Morrison takes over as the Islanders second team manager from Davie MacVicar who has filled the role for the last six seasons. Skye are likely to continue to field a young side with a touch of experience as they look to develop the players who enjoyed success in last year’s MacMaster Cup and MacTavish Juvenile Cup. The Glen fought relegation last season after winning the title in 2009 and 2010 so they will look to get back to the winning ways.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Lochside Rovers v Kyles Athletic Kyles Athletic have opted to drop down a division after finishing sixth in Marine Harvest South Division 1 last season. Cameron Keith is one of their promising youngsters and he could be a main player for the Tighnabruaich men this term. Lochside Rovers finished third in Marine Harvest South Division 1 last season but Tony Howlett’s side suffered relegation last term on the back of Oban Camanachd’s drop from shinty’s top division. This game was scheduled for Tighnabruaich but the venue has been reversed and the match will now take place at Ganavan. Ardnamurchan v Ballachulish Ballachulish have decided to field just one side this season and they will compete in Marine Harvest South Division 2. They were to entertain Ardnamurchan at Jubilee Park but this game has been switched to Ardnamurchan who are themselves new to the league after playing in Marine Harvest North Division 3 last season. Ardnamurchan have several of their players based in the south and they would have struggled to raise a team for games in the North this season. Tayforth v Aberdour Tayforth are up against the Aberdour second string at Musselburgh. Tayforth won 8-1 in the corresponding game last season when Stuart Ferrier netted five times. Col Glen v Bute David Kilpatrick takes hisButeside to Glendaruel to play Col Glen. The match was originally fixtured for Rothesay but the pitch was unplayable. A Peter Shuttleworth goal was all that separated the sides when they met early last season. Glasgow Mid Argyll v Inveraray Glasgow Mid Argyll have home advantage against Inveraray. The sides both finished on ten points last season so this could be a close affair.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Strathspey v Strathglass There will be an historic day at Freuchie Park as shinty new-boys Strathspey Camanachd make their first appearance in senior shinty against Strathglass. Shinty’s new boys have prepared well and there is great excitement surrounding their maiden match. Experienced forward and centre Andrew MacLennan is unavailable for Strathspey due to a work commitment and player / manager Lawrence Belleni is still unfit to play due to a groin injury from the previous season. However Strathspey Camanachd still have a squad of 17 players available on Saturday. This game also sees Callum Duff making a welcome return to refereeing after a spell with the Beauly first team coaching staff. Beauly v Lochcarron Beauly took the runners up spot in the league last season and they will be keen to go one better this term. Lochcarron visit Braeview Parkand the visitors will need to keep an eye on Beauly’s teenage striker Calum Morrison who featured heavily amongst the goals last year. Lochbroom v Lewis Camanachd Ullapool is the venue for the game between Lochbroom and Lewis Camanachd. The teams were forced to call off their pre-season Minch Cup clash. Boleskine v Inverness There is a derby at Farr where Boleskine hostInverness.Allan MacLeodhas been persuaded to stay in charge of the Inverness second team and he has added Kenny Loades and Stuart MacRae to his pool of players. Kilmallie v Caberfeidh Following their relegation last year, Kilmallie start life in Marine Harvest North Division 3 with a tricky match against Caberfeidh at the Canal Parks. This game could be switched to Castle Leod if the Canal Parks prove unplayable. |