Shinty sides set to pull out of national league?
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THE make-up of shinty’s National Division has been thrown into doubt – just three weeks after a reorganisation of the leagues was rubber-stamped.
Two clubs, Bute and Glenorchy, are understood to be unwilling to take their places in the National Division for the forthcoming season. However, the sport’s governing body, the Camanachd Association, has not received any official notification from either club regarding their intentions.
The deadline for competition entries is tomorrow (Friday) and if these two South area clubs decide against competing in the second tier of the national structure, a number of possibilities would be thrown up regarding which clubs would replace them.
When the National Division was reinstated in 2014, Bute was one of its main opponents, citing travel difficulties as a major problem.
The departure of David and Roberto Zavaroni to Premiership neighbours Kyles Athletic was followed last season by former Scotland international defender Iain MacDonald’s move to the same club.
Another of their major stalwarts Hector Whitelaw, also a former internationalist, decided to play for the club’s reserve team.
The loss of these influential players weakened Bute considerably on the park and the club struggled in the resurrected National Division.
An end-of-season win over Caberfeidh and a 1-1 draw against Kilmallie in July were the only points picked up over their 14-match campaign.
However, with two points being deducted for failing to travel to Fort William for their first fixture of the season in March after their initial two matches were postponed due to unplayable pitches, Bute finished the season with one solitary point.
Adding to the island club’s woes over the course of the season were three 10-0 defeats at Kilmallie, Beauly and Oban Camanachd.
A number of other heavy defeats resulted in a goals against tally of 67, with only eight goals netted.
Glenorchy also found the going tough in the National Division accumulating just five points from their programme, four of which came from their clashes with Bute, conceding 57 goals and scoring just 12.
With Skye and Ballachulish, the respective winners of North Division One and South Division One, both gaining promotion to the National Division due to Fort William and Oban Camanachd, the National Division champions and runners-up, both gaining entry to the increased 10-team Premiership, places in the National Division would be offered to the next highest placed eligible teams in North Division One and South Division One.
The runners-up in both these divisions last season, Newtonmore and Kyles Athletic, are reserve teams who are not permitted to play within the National structure therefore the clubs who would get first refusal for places in the National Division would be Strathglass and Oban Celtic.
Oban Celtic have already held a club meeting on this matter and have decided not to take up a place in the National Division if the opportunity arose.
At the time of going to press, Strathglass have not discussed the issue in detail and are reluctant to comment.
Should the Camanachd Association offer the Cannich club a place in the eight-team National Division, the prospect would be considered at a club meeting.
If Strathglass and Oban Celtic decline, next in line for places would be Aberdour, who were fourth in South Division One, and Inverness, who finished in last place in North Division One.
