New season almost ready to start
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LIKE bears emerging from a long winter’s hibernation, shinty players up and down the country are readying themselves for the 2012 shinty season, which starts tomorrow.
Some will have had little shinty action since October, but for most January and February has been spent working on fitness and engaging in the phoney war of pre-season friendlies.
The sport too is set for a new dawning with the introduction of rolling subs made permanent in the close season and the welcome sight of a major sponsor — The Orion Group — for shinty’s top flight.
There is also an optimism in the air to rail against the doomsayers who were predicting a decimation of lower tier clubs with several reserve teams predicted to fold in the close season, along with a couple of single team clubs in the lower leagues.
None of that has happened with the Camanachd Association confirming a full compliment along with the emergence of a team from Grantown-on-Spey for the first time in decades in the shape of Strathspey Thistle.
Ardnamurchan will play in South Division Two, although shinty followers will be saddened at the demise of four-time Camanachd Cup winners Ballachulish, who have been forced to scrap their reserve side and have stepped away from senior shinty to ply their trade as a junior club as they try to rebuild.
By any standards 2011 was a memorable season, leaving 2012 a lot to live up to.
The Premier Division went not only to the last game of the season, but to the last minute of the final match with Newtonmore’s Danny MacRae’s 90th minute strike sealing the title at the expense of Kyles Athletic, who had led impressively all campaign.
The Camanachd Cup final was also a close affair, but once again MacRae had the last word, scoring in extra-time to edge out Kingussie in a seven-goal thriller at Bught Park.
In the eyes of many, Kyles paid the penalty for their sub-standard pitch at Tighnabruaich, which led to a series of postponements and ultimately deprived them of their first-ever Premier Division title.
And once again the state of pitches loom large in the sport in 2012 with Fort William’s An Aird and Ballachulish’s Jubilee Park both out of commission until mid-season after essential drainage work was carried out.
Earlier this week, officials from the association also had to reverse several of tomorrow’s opening day fixtures, most notably the Kinlochshiel versus Kingussie match in the Premier Division, which now goes ahead at the Dell with a 12.30pm start.
In the new Orion Group Premiership as shinty’s top division will now be known, Newtonmore are expected to be the dominant side and will be favourites to rack up their third successive title.
Once again Kingussie, Fort William and Kyles will provide the opposition, but Glenurquhart could be a force under the guidance of Scotland coach Drew MacNeil.
The Glen open their campaign against Kilmallie who they enjoyed mixed success in 2011. The shine of a fine 5-1 home win in the league was, however, tarnished by defeats at Canal Parks in both the league and the MacTavish Cup.
Glenurquhart will be along familiar lines in 2012, although Eddie Tembo and David Girvan remain injury doubts.
Lovat’s new boss Alan MacRae has had a successful pre-season and remains unbeaten in four games since taking over the reins. They play champions Newtonmore at the Eilan and a draw is not beyond them.
In North Division One, expect a close battle at the top and bottom of the league. Lochaber and Beauly are considered to be the front runners, but Caberfeidh and Skye cannot be dismissed.
There is also an unusually optimistic air at Bught Park where Inverness, who are aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 2011, open the season against local rivals Beauly.
Strathglass have Robert Geddes back in charge, but they are the idle team tomorrow in the now seven-team league.
