Finalists set for dress rehearsal
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SATURDAY is derby day in the Orion Group Premiership – with three of the four matches scheduled being local duels.
MacTavish Cup finalists Lovat and Glenurquhart get another opportunity to size each other up ahead of the final when they clash at Balgate.
The teams met just two weeks ago at Drumnadrochit with Lovat winning 4-2 to send the holders out of the Artemis MacAulay Cup at the first hurdle.
Lovat are sitting at the top of the Premiership with a single-point advantage over champions Newtonmore and Inveraray, while Glen have been showing up well recently with four wins from their last five games.
They will be going all out to make it an unlucky 13th match of the season for their opponents who have yet to taste defeat.
Newtonmore host Kingussie at The Eilan where the visitors will be seeking their first league victory over their local rivals since winning 2-1 at The Dell three years ago. Whilst More have had the bulk of the bragging rights in recent years, the first league meeting of the Badenoch teams over the last two seasons both finished in 2-2 draws.
As we went to press, there was a debate over when, or whether, Lochaber and Fort William would cross camans at Spean Bridge.
This fixture was switched from Sunday to Saturday after a request by Fort was granted by the Camanacdh Association.
However, Lochaber, who would have a weakened side due to this switch, have told shinty chiefs they will only play on Sunday as players had since made alternative plans.
If it does go ahead, nothing would be sweeter for Calum Cameron’s men than to register their first one against Fort.
This will be the first time these teams have met in the league in almost four years when each team won their home fixture, with Lochaber winning 2-1 at Spean Bridge.
Oban Camanachd make their first league visit to Kirkton to face Kinlochshiel and will do well to take themselves off the basement berth they share with Lochaber against a good Shiel side who are always difficult to overcome on their own pitch.
Caberfeidh will aim to end Oban Celtic’s interest in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup when they face the South Division One side in a first round replay at Mossfield Park, whilst in the other first round tie Kilmallie journey south and should progress at Glasgow Mid Argyll’s expense.
Strathglass also face South Division One opposition in the shape of Glenorchy with a Balliemore Cup semi-final place on offer for the victor at Cannich. With good results over the last three seasons being thin on the ground, Strath are now showing signs of improvement and a decent run in this tournament would be a great boost to the Cannich club.
In the only North Division One fixture, table-toppers Beauly’s lead over Kilmallie looks more than likely to increase to four points after the visit of Inverness to Braeview Park.
Their previous meetings in the league this year both ended in heavy defeats for the city side who went down 9-1 at home after losing 8-1 at Braeview.
* Saturday’s fixtures, all throw-ups 2.30pm unless stated, Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup first round – Glasgow Mid Argyll v Kilmallie, Oban Celtic v Caberfeidh.
Artemis Macaulay Cup first round – Bute v Kyles Athletic (3pm).
Orion Group Premiership – Kinlochshiel v Oban Camanachd, Lochaber v Fort William, Lovat v Glenurquhart (3pm), Newtonmore v Kingussie.Sutherland Cup quarter-finals - Lovat v Newtonmore (Noon), Lochcarron v Glengarry, Lochside Rovers, v Fort William, Ballachulish v Lochaber.
Balliemore Cup quarter-final - Strathglass v Glenorchy.
Marine Harvest North Division One – Beauly v Inverness(3pm).
Marine Harvest North Division Two – Aberdeen University v Glenurquhart, Beauly v Kinlochshiel (Noon), Kingussie v Skye.
Marine Harvest North Division Three - Boleskine v Inverness, Kilmallie v Caberfeidh, Lewis v Strathglass, Strathspey v Lochbroom.
