The Saturday Shinty Preview – Saturday 13 August 2011.
All shinty eyes will be on Spean Bridge where both Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi finals take place on Saturday 13 August 2011.
A huge day of shinty action throws up at 12.45pm at Spean Bridge as Inveraray meet Newtonmore for a place in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final. Inveraray boss John Smylie has been short of players in recent weeks but he will try to field all his key men for this one. Russell McKinlay is expected to travel north and Douglas Dando should also return. Newtonmore will be without suspended keeper Michael Ritchie. John MacKenzie took his place between the sticks against Lovat a fortnight ago but another possibility is that reserve keeper Sean MacQuarrie will be in goal for this one before he dashes off to the Canal Parks to play for the second team in their later throw up against Fort William in the Strathdearn Cup semi finals. Newtonmore brushed aside holders Fort William earlier in the competition whilst Inveraray knocked out the much fancied Kyles Athletic side. Inveraray last appeared in a Camanachd Cup Final in 2007 but you have to go a further 10 years back to find Newtonmore’s last appearance in shinty’s big day. Graham Cameron is the match referee.
The second semi final is a 3.30pm throw up between Kingussie and Kilmallie. Kingussie will definitely be without Iain Borthwick who has a broken bone in his foot and Louis Munro who is another long term injury absentee. Ally MacLeod remains a doubt in what has been an injury hit season for the defender. However we can be sure that Ronald Ross will revert to his more accustomed forward role after featuring in defence against Fort William last week. Kilmallie have suffered a double blow with striker John Stewart and defender Peter Carmichael both suspended. Martin Stewart remains on the injury list but Alan MacDonald and Ross Lavin and Fraser Massie will have all benefited from Kilmallie not having a game last weekend. At least two of the three should return. Defender Euan Stoddart will take his place back in the side after missing the Fort game because of work commitments. Kilmallie ran Kingussie very close before losing out in last season’s Co-operative MacTavish Cup Final although the Kings were 8-0 winners when the sides met in the league this season. Kevin Thain was amongst the goals that day but he will miss this clash. Colin MacDonald is the referee for this one.
Fort William and Newtonmore meet in a 3.30pm throw up in a match which was to take place at Black Parks, Fort William. However the recent heavy rainfall has led to the game being transferred to Kilmallie’s Canal Parks. Fort William’s Kyle Grant picked up an ankle knock in last week’s win over Kinlochshiel but he will be given every chance to prove his fitness. These teams have established themselves as the top two sides in Marine Harvest North Division 2 so this should be a cracker. The later throw up should guarantee a large crowd. John MacLeod is the match referee.
Glengarry and Glenurquhart do battle for the other place in the final. These sides have had some feisty tussles already this season so this game won’t be for the faint-hearted. Both sides have some fine young players with ‘Garry’s 15 year old Ewan Brady one of the stand-out players in the Scotland U17s recent trip to Ireland. Glenurquhart’s Fraser Heath also starred on the same trip and although he has been in first team action recently, Glenurquhart might be tempted to play him in this tie as he is eligible as an U17 player. Graeme MacMillan will referee the game.
Oban side Lochside Rovers have home advantage for their Bullough Cup semi final tie against Marine Harvest South Division 2 leaders Tayforth. Lochside warmed up for the game with a derby win over Oban Celtic last weekend whilst Taynuilt beat Ballachulish. Daniel MacKinnon will be the Oban side’s main goal threat and Jamie MacDonald has been finding the back of the net for Taynuilt. Throw up is at 3pm and Dunkie Kerr is the referee.
The match of the day in the top division is surely the clash between relegation threatened teams, Lovat and Oban Camanachd at Balgate. Lovat will be pleased to have home advantage as games are running out for John MacRitchie and James Gallacher’s side. They only have three matches after this one – at home to Kingussie and away to both Glenorchy and Kilmallie. Lovat will be without keeper Stuart MacDonald who booked a holiday before this game was scheduled. Reserve keeper Chris MacCallum will take over in goal. Ryan Ferguson is also on holiday. Oban still have six matches remaining and they picked up an unexpected point against Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich last weekend. Boss Diarmid MacMillan will have a strong squad to choose from with forwards Iain MacMillan and Scott MacMillan back in contention.
Glenurquhart are serious contenders for fourth place in the league and they will be looking to pick up both points against Glenorchy at Dalmally. Recent results mean Glenorchy are officially relegated but they are determined not to finish the season without a point but they only have four games to go. Eddie Tembo continues to improve after injury which will interest Scotland Head Coach Drew McNeil.
Kinlochshiel can move a step closer to the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title and promotion to shinty’s top flight with victory over bottom side Strathglass at Cannich. This is Strathglass’ final game of the season and defeat will confine them to bottom spot in the table for the second season in a row. Kinlochshiel could have Gordie MacDonald back after a knee injury although manger Johnston Gill may be tempted to give him another week’s recovery time. Perhaps a place on the bench will be a suitable compromise.
Beauly and Inverness meet at Braeview Park. Beauly are currently in second place but third place Lochaber are only a point behind with two games in hand. Second bottom Inverness have run Lochaber close in their last two outings so this game could be much closer than the league table suggests.
Caberfeidh play Lochcarron at Castle Leod. Cabers bounced back from their Balliemore Cup Final disappointment with a win over Strathglass but they were not in action last week. Lochcarron trail Cabers by two points in the league and each side has three games left after this one. Lochcarron were without Alan MacKenzie and Gregor Cushnie against Kinlochshiel last week and they will hope to have at least one of the pair back.
Second bottom Kilmory host third bottom Kyles Athletic. The Tighnabruaich men hold a two point advantage but Kilmory have a game in hand.
There is a 12 noon meeting in at Ganavan as Oban Celtic host Taynuilt. Oban Celtic need to win to have any chance of finishing in the top half of the table. Fifth place Taynuilt have a three point lead over Oban Celtic who are a place below. A win for Taynuilt could see them finish in fourth place. Both sides only have one game left after Saturday’s clash.
The focus in Marine Harvest North Division 2 is on the relegation zone with three of the four bottom sides in action. Bottom side Skye Camanachd play third bottom Kinlochshiel at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The sides are only separated by a point. Indeed the bottom five sides are only separated by four points which highlights the importance of every point gained at this stage of the season. Skye manager Davie MacVicar hopes to have defender Martin Bruce free from injury. Kinlochshiel were unlucky to lose to Fort William last week and their manager Colin Fraser will be without the suspended Colin MacDiarmid who was sent off in that game.
Whilst their senior sides meet in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi finals at Spean Bridge, the Kilmallie and Kingussie reserve teams clash in a 12 noon throw up at the Canal Parks. Kilmallie are level on points with Skye at the bottom of the table. However Kingussie could also do with the points as the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup winners won’t want to get sucked into the end of season relegation fight.
The Bute and Glasgow Mid Argyll reserve sides also meet on Rothesay. Fifth place Bute are currently a point ahead of GMA and they have a game in hand. Bute are only a point behind Col Glen so a third place finish is a possibility.
Inveraray play Ballachulish at the Winterton. This is third bottom Ballachulish’s final game of the season and they currently lead second bottom Inveraray by a single point. Inveraray still have two more games after this one.
Champions Aberdeen University make the long journey west to play Lochcarron at Battery Park. The Students celebrated their title and 150th anniversary in style at the recent Aberdeen Considine Sutherland Cup Final in the Granite City.
Inverness host Strathglass at the Bught Park, Inverness. This match has been brought forward to an 11.30am throw up which should help both sides field a team as their first teams are also in action.