Holders Newtonmore start defence against Glenurquhart
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SHINTY sides have discovered who they will meet in the Artemis MacAulay Cup.
The 16 teams have been paired in two zoned sections, guaranteeing a North v South final at Oban’s Mossfield Park on August 22.
Qualification is governed by last season’s league placings with the top eight North and South areas teams in either half of the draw.
Holders and Orion Group Premiership champions Newtonmore will meet 2012 winners Glenurquhart in one of eight first round ties and this looks to be the pick of the opening round ties.
Kyles Athletic, who lost out 2-1 after extra-time to Newtonmore in a thrilling 2014 final, also begin with a home tie, their opponents
being National Division side Glenorchy.
Another attractive game is the encounter between Fort William, who return to the top-flight after a season-long absence, and Lovat, the Premiership runners-up and MacTavish Cup holders.
Full first round 2015 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw: Bute v Oban Camanachd, Inveraray v Glasgow Mid Argyll, Kyles Athletic v Glenorchy, Oban Celtic v Ballachulish, Fort William v Lovat, Kilmallie v Kinlochshiel, Kingussie v Lochaber, Newtonmore v Glenurquhart. Second round: Bute or Oban Camanachd v Oban Celtic or Ballachulish, Inveraray or Glasgow Mid Argyll v Kyles Athletic or Glenorchy, Kilmallie or Kinlochshiel v Newtonmore or Glenurquhart, Kingussie or Lochaber v Fort William or Lovat.
*** Billy MacLean and Dave Menzies are to continue as co-managers of Premiership side Glenurquhart.
The popular duo, who move into the second year of their second spell at the helm of the Drumnadrochit club, initiated a revival in Glenurquhart’s fortunes when they first took over in 2007.
In a three-year period, Glen reached the MacTavish Cup final in 2008 and clinched promotion to the Premier Division after being crowned North Division One champions that same season.
Their appearance in the MacTavish Cup was a remarkable achievement for a side outwith the top-flight, however they succumbed to a Ronald Ross-inspired Kingussie who ran out 6-1 winners at the Bught.
Although silverware eluded them, last season will go down in Glen’s history as their most successful with two cup final appearances and a third-placed finish in the Premiership.
With the achievements of last year providing a solid base, MacLean and Menzies clearly feel they have unfinished business to attend to.
