Glen defence gears up for champions' test
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SATURDAY sees a full Orion Group Premiership and Marine Harvest National Division One programme and also the start of two cup competitions.
In the top flight, Glenurquhart welcome champions Newtonmore to Blairbeg Park.
Three matches between these two last year resulted in two league wins for ’More, while Glen secured a place in last year’s MacTavish Cup final by defeating them 2-1 at The Eilan.
Glen have been defending stoutly this year, with only one goal conceded in four competitive matches, but their forwards may need to be more prolific if they are to dent ’More’s perfect record.
Premiership leaders Lovat will be targeting a fifth league win on the bounce when Kinlochshiel make the visit to Kiltarlity.
’Shiel showed what they are capable of last week by sweeping aside the challenge of Inveraray at Kirkton with a morale-boosting 4-0 victory to get their first points on the board.
When the teams met in the league last season the outcomes were close, with Lovat winning 2-1 at Kirkton after the teams drew 1-1 at Balgate.
Lovat are in rampant form and ’Shiel will have to be at their best to upset their title bid.
Kingussie may just make home advantage pay when Kyles Athletic provide the opposition at The Dell. The teams that share bottom spot, Inveraray and Lochaber, face up to each other at The Winterton.
Another defeat for Inveraray would add to their relegation fears even at this early stage in the season.
Lochaber will travel intent on putting last week’s shock defeat to Beauly firmly behind them in their first appearance this season.
Two fixtures catch the eye in the Marine Harvest National Division.
Table-toppers Oban Camanachd could take a major stride towards title success if they manage to post a fourth successive league win by taking care of Kilmallie and having points in the bag would be the envy of their fellow challengers.
Kilmallie know that registering a win at Mossfield will be difficult and would be a fantastic outcome for the Canal Park outfit.
After last Saturday’s eye-opening MacTavish Cup win over Lochaber, Beauly will be relishing the visit of Fort William to Braeview Park in what will be Fort’s opening league fixture.
Despite losing narrowly in extra-time, Fort stood up well to Kingussie last Saturday and co-managers Victor Smith and Addie Robertson will be hoping that they can build on that pleasing performance to chalk up their first points of the campaign.
Caberfeidh, should they manage to travel with a full squad, could pick up points in Yoker against Glasgow Mid Argyll, whilst at The Meadows, Bute and Glenorchy could serve up a closely-fought contest.
This year’s Balliemore Cup competition will be a restructured affair with only senior teams from North and South Division One plus one-team clubs from North and South Division Two eligible to enter.
Four of the five first round ties scheduled for Saturday are North v South encounters, with Strathglass, Oban Celtic and Ballachulish each receiving byes into the quarter-finals.
Skye will be expected to account for Strachur in Portree, whilst Inverness could have their work cut out to make the next round when they make one of their many long haul away cup journeys this year to face South Division One leaders Kilmory.
Glengarry will give Aberdour a tough test at Craigard Park, while Boleskine are on their travels and have a good chance of putting out Taynuilt.
The remaining tie is an all-North Division Two affair between Lochcarron and Aberdeen University at Battery Park.
The Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup, now almost completely a reserve competition, also starts with 12 first round ties down for decision, the pick of which is the derby duel at The Eilan between tournament favourites Newtonmore and their Badenoch rivals Kingussie.
The restructuring of the competition means that holders Ballachulish will enter with their reserve team resurrected this season, with runners-up Lochcarron ineligible.
