Promotion is the prize in crunch games
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THE shinty spotlight this Saturday will be shone on two huge games where promotion is the prize on offer.
At Mossfield Park, Oban Camanachd take on Fort William where the Marine Harvest National Division title and promotion to the Orion Group Premiership is at stake in the final fixture of the season for both of these sides.
With Fort going in to this vital encounter one point ahead of their opponents at the top of the table, a draw would be enough to confirm them as champions and bring to an end a one-year spell outwith the top-flight.
Fort will start this contest as slight favourites, but home advantage is in Oban’s favour and Gus Campbell’s side can go in to this crucial clash in a confident frame of mind having drawn 1-1 with Fort when the teams faced each other at An Aird only four weeks ago.
Both defences have proven to be difficult to break down for opponents this year with Fort having conceded only a paltry 10 goals in the league compared to Oban’s loss of just 12 goals.
It is in the scoring stakes, however, that Fort very much lead the way having netted an impressive 70 goals in 13 matches compared to Oban’s tally of 46.
Drumnadrochit’s Blairbeg Park hosts the intriguing Division One play-off between Marine Harvest North Division One champions Skye and South Division One title winners Ballachulish with the winner taking up a place in next season’s National Division.
Skye’s form this season with a 100 per cent league record, a Balliemore Cup triumph and reaching the last four of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup makes the islanders very strong favourites to take the honours on Saturday and complete what has been a memorable campaign.
Whilst Ballachulish’s achievements this year in comparison to those of their opponents don’t look so impressive, Balla made Skye fight all the way to get their hands on the Balliemore Cup, losing a thrilling final 3-2 after extra-time at Taynuilt in July.
Having won the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup in 2013, Balla have shown remarkable progress by following that up with the South Division One title in their first season after making the step up from South Division Two.
Glasgow Mid Argyll and Kilmallie conclude their respective seasons when they come up against each other at Yoker.
This match has little at stake other than pride as irrespective of the outcome, GMA will finish in sixth place in the National Division whilst Kilmallie will take a very creditable third spot.
The North Division One programme still has a number of outstanding fixtures to be completed before the campaign finally reaches a conclusion.
Newtonmore reserves face their Glenurquhart counterparts at The Eilean with Glen looking to go level on points with their second placed opponents.
The second strings of both Kingussie and Lovat meet in the other fixture in this division, which has a venue switch and will now be played at Balgate.
A Lovat win would see the Kiltarlity outfit take over sixth place from Kings, who sign off for the season with this match.
