The Shinty Preview – Saturday 9 June 2012 | |
07 June 2012 With several clubs opting to take their “free Saturday” as shinty players attend the Rockness Music Festival, three of the four Artemis Macaulay Cup quarter finals take place on Saturday 9 June 2012.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – Quarter Finals Fort William v Kinlochshiel Fort William meet Kinlochshiel in what is an intriguing tie at the Black Parks. Duncan Rodger and Bryan Simpson both return from suspension for Peter McIntyre’s side. Gary Innes also returns to add an attacking threat. However Liam MacIntyre misses out as he serves as a one game ban for a points accumulation whilst Alex Duncan starts a two match suspension for the same reason. Arran MacPhee remains out with a broken wrist. Kinlochshiel forward Gordie MacDonald made a surprise return against Kingussie last weekend following his spell on the sidelines. ‘Shiel boss Johnstone Gill will see if there is any reaction to MacDonald’s knee injury before deciding on his line-up. Keith MacRae should play with his broken thumb strapped up and Steven Callander could return from illness. Throw up is at 3pm. Glenurquhart v Kingussie Glenurquhart take on Kingussie at Blairbeg. The Glen suffered a shock Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup defeat to Skye Camanachd last weekend so they will be keen to give their supporters something to cheers this weekend. Andrew Corrigan is free from suspension but he is still recovering from a broken toe. Eddie Tembo left the field in Portree with what seemed like a tight hamstring but he should make it. Paul MacKintosh and Ruairidh Cameron are amongst the Glen absentees. Kingussie welcome Fraser Munro back after a one game ban but Lee Bain sits out the second game of his two match ban. Throw up is at 3pm. Glasgow Mid Argyll v Inveraray Yoker is the venue for the tie between Glasgow Mid Argyll and Inveraray. GMA followed up their Balliemore Cup win over Skye Camanachd with a battling Artemis Macaulay Cup draw with Kyles Athletic last weekend so Inveraray will underestimate them at their peril. Throw up is at noon. The final South tie does not go ahead this weekend and Bute will meet Oban Camanachd at a later date.
Bullough Cup – First Round Lochside Rovers v The SCOTS Lochside Rovers and forces side SCOTS Camanachd meet at Mossfield in the final Bullough Cup first round tie.
Orion Group Premiership Lovat v Newtonmore Whoever comes out on top in the clash between third place Lovat and leaders Newtonmore will top the Orion Group Premiership on Saturday evening. A draw would surely benefit second place Kyles Athletic. There are selection problems for Lovat manager Allan MacRae to contend with including the absence of ace-marksman Greg Matheson. Danny MacRae is still out for Newtonmore. Kilmallie v Bute The meeting between Kilmallie and Bute at the Canal Parks is crucial for both sides as they fight the threat of relegation. The sides had differing fortunes in the Scottish Camanachd Cup last weekend. Kilmallie secured a 3-1 derby win over Fort William whilst Bute side minus Iain MacDonald and David Zavaroni went down 4-0 to Lochaber. Martin Stewart returns from suspension for Kilmallie. Iain MacDonald is again a doubt for the visitors as he struggles to shake off a hamstring problem.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Lochcarron 2 Beauly 1 The meeting at Battery Park between Lochcarron and Beauly was brought forward to Thursday 7 June 2012 to allow players from both sides to attend the weekend Rockness Music Festival. Gregor Cushnie put the home side ahead on 14 minutes and he added a second 15 minutes from time. However a goal from Jamie MacLennan on 84 minutes got Beauly back into it but it was Lochcarron who edged this close encounter.
Marine Harvest South Division 1 Aberdour v Oban Camanachd It’s top versus bottom as Oban Camanachd travel to Fife to play Aberdour. New Oban Camanachd boss Peter MacCuish made a winning start with a 3-0 triumph over Glenorchy last weekend. The club also announced that they had suspended Matt Rippon for the rest of the season following his dismissal against Lochaber and his conduct after the final whistle. Craig MacMillan, Alan MacGregor and James MacMillan are all now free of suspension. Throw up is at 3pm. Glenorchy v Kilmory Third place Glenorchy can afford no slip-ups against fourth place Kilmory if they are to maintain their title challenge. The home side lost to league leaders Oban Camanachd last weekend and now trail them by two points with a game more played. Kilmory were knocked out of the Scottish by Lovat last weekend. The six goal winning margin could have been bigger had keeper Eric Carmichael not turned in a sparkling display for under-strength Kilmory. Taynuilt v Strachur Sixth place Tayforth have home advantage against Strachur who are a place above in the league. Strachur have a three point lead of their rivals but they have played two games more.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Glenurquhart 1 Newtonmore 2 Glenurquhart and Newtonmore brought their Blairbeg meeting forward to Wednesday 6 June 2012 to allow players from both sides to attend the weekend Rockness Music Festival. The Glen ran out 2-1 winners following this entertaining mid-week tussle. The home side took the lead on 24 minutes when James MacPherson collected a shy and strode forward before thumping the ball into the net. The Glen extended their lead a minute before the break when a shy from the left was knocked down to Ben Hosie and he produced a delightful chip to beat Sean MacQuarrie to make it 2-0. If the Glen were on top in the first half, it was ‘More who dominated the second period. However all they had to show for their efforts was a 70 Drew MacDonald strike when he latched on to a rebound off Glen keeper Cameron MacLennan to make it 2-1. ‘More continued to press until the end but the home defence, brilliantly marshaled by Donald Fraser and for whom Bradley Dixon was excellent, held out until referee John Angus Gillies blew final whistle. Kinlochshiel v Lochaber Second top Kinlochshiel welcome second bottom Lochaber to Kirkton. Colin MacDiarmid is available again for ‘Shiel after serving a three match ban. Lochaber will not be near full strength as they look to pull together a squad for the trip.. Kingussie v Glengarry Kingussie and Glengarry meet at the Dell. Glengarry’s Michael Brady serves the final game of a four match ban and Steven Cameron is still injured. ‘Garry currently have a one point advantage over Kingussie in the league and they have played a game fewer. Fort William v Lovat The tie between Fort William and Lovat at the Black Parks has been put back to Wednesday 13 June 2012. Throw up is at 7.30pm.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Ballachulish v Tayforth Third place Ballachulish host fourth place Tayforth. The sides are actually level on points but Ballachulish have played two games fewer. Glasgow Mid Argyll v Ardnamurchan There is a Yoker meeting between Glasgow Mid Argyll and Ardnamurchan. Throw up is at noon. The visitors are a point ahead of their rivals in the league and they have a game in hand. Aberdour v Inveraray Aberdour meet Inveraray in Fife. The sides shared the points in a goalless draw in the corresponding fixture in mid-March. Throw up is at noon.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Beauly v Inverness League leaders Beauly hold a three point advantage and a game in hand over second place Boleskine and they will be favourites against Inverness at Braeview Park. Martin Davidson is available again for Beauly after serving a two match ban. Strathglass v Kilmallie Strathglass entertain fourth place Kilmallie at Cannich. Lewis Camanachd v Caberfeidh Caberfeidh are the latest club to cross the Minch when they play Lewis Camanachd at Shawbost as the Islanders continue to catch up with their home fixtures. |