Sponsorship boost from Scottish Hydro
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
SHINTY received a massive boost in midweek with the news that Scottish Hydro has signed a three-year extension to their sponsorship of the Camanachd Cup.
The renewal represents an investment of more than £150,000 over the next three years. As well as the Camanachd Cup, the sponsorship will cover the Scottish Hydro Youth Development Camp for under-17 players and the Scottish Hydro Youth Development Fund.
The fund, which was introduced last year, aims to support member clubs who wish to increase youth participation by providing a grant award in support of new or enhanced club initiatives that will deliver sustainable growth in the number of young people playing shinty.
"This announcement is another good news story for shinty," said Camanachd Association communications director Donald Stewart. "Scottish Hydro has shown the Camanachd Association and the sport itself huge support over the past five years."
As well as the sponsorship announcement, the draws for the preliminary and first round of the Camanachd Cup were also made.
The luck of the draw, however, deserted local sides Inverness and Caberfeidh, who were paired against each other in one of two preliminary round ties. Good fortune is again absent in the first round proper with an away tie in Portree against Skye awaiting the winner.
In other ties, Beauly are away to Oban Celtic, while Strathglass meet Aberdour at Cannich in a repeat of last year.
Lochaber and Lochcarron players, who face each other three times in North Division One this season and also in tomorrow’s first round of the MacTavish Cup, will have blinked in incredulity after the teams were paired in the first round with Lochaber having home advantage.
The six teams emerging from the opening rounds will be joined by the 10 Premiership teams in the draw for round two, which will be made later in the year.
The draw is as follows:
Preliminary round — Oban Camanachd v Glenorchy; Inverness v Caberfeidh. Byes — Glasgow Mid Argyll, Skye, Strathglass, Beauly, Kilmory, Taynuilt, Lochcarron, Oban Celtic, Aberdour and Lochaber. First round — Glasgow Mid Argyll v Oban Camanachd/Glenorchy; Oban Celtic v Beauly; Skye v Inverness/Caberfeidh; Strathglass v Aberdour; Lochaber v Lochcarron; Kilmory v Taynuilt.
The preliminary round takes place on Saturday 7th April, with the first round on Saturday 5th May.
Meanwhile, league action is partially suspended tomorrow as the area cup competitions take centre stage.
In the North, the Co-operative MacTavish Cup is at the first round stage, while in the South there are three matches in the AJG Parcels Glasgow Celtic Society Cup scheduled.
There are two local derbies featured in the first round of the MacTavish with Beauly entertaining Lovat, while in Drumnadrochit, Glenurquhart await the visit of Inverness.
The Beauly versus Lovat match is one of the oldest derbies in the sport where everyday friendships will be set aside for 90 minutes of ferocious rivalry.
Lovat, unbeaten in their opening three matches in the Premiership, will start as favourites, although it is a tag that always sits uneasily in these matches.
Striker Greg Matheson has grabbed the headlines this season, but Lovat supporters believe that the success of the side is very much down to a sound defence where Daniel Grieve and Calum Cruden have been outstanding. Also, the form of goalkeeper Stuart MacDonald has contributed to the side leaking just two goals.
Beauly, who have not lost a game this season as well, lead North Division One, but have played unconvincingly at times and last Saturday almost threw away a 5-2 lead against Strathglass.
Their forward line, with Barrie MacDonald leading the way, has developed a cutting edge and an absorbing battle is in prospect. Extra-time and penalties may be needed to find a winner in this tie.
Glenurquhart play at home for the fourth Saturday in succession and the Blairbeg faithful will be hoping that a change of luck is in store after three straight defeats.
Glen striker Neale Reid has been nursed back to fitness and featured against Kinlochshiel last weekend.
Inverness look for their first win of the season, but with David Higham missing through injury and James Cameron still suspended, they are someway short of their best line-up.
Strathglass are also looking to break their season’s duck, but face a rejuvenated Skye side in Cannich, while holders Kingussie start their defence away to Kinlochshiel, who play their first match of the new season on their own ground.
The match of the day is at Newtonmore where the champions clash with Kyles Athletic in a rearranged match in the Orion Group Premiership.
