Sutherland Cup takes prominence
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THE Sutherland Cup celebrates its 90th birthday this year and tomorrow’s opening round features 13 cracking ties with the best junior sides from across the country in action.
First played for in 1923, the competition now decides the National Junior Championship and is open to reserve sides and single team clubs not operating at senior level.
In its long history the tournament has produced plenty of drama, none more so than last year when Newtonmore held the trophy for barely a week only to have to it have cruelly wrenched from their grip after it emerged they had inadvertently played an ineligible player, not only in the final, but also in the semi-final.
To rub salt in the wound, the trophy was eventually awarded to arch-rivals Kingussie after they beat Glenurquhart in a rearranged final.
The Camanachd Association will be guarding against a repeat in 2013, but it is safe to say that with the memory still raw in the Newtonmore psyche, they will be a team on a mission and have been installed as early favourites to make amends this year.
They start with a difficult tie away to Division Three title challengers Boleskine, who have been making steady progress this season and look to be in a four-way tussle for the single promotion berth up to North Division Two.
Lovat, currently leading North Division Two, are another side favoured to do well in the competition and have been gathering momentum under the guidance of former Inverness boss Graeme MacMillan.
Lovat won the competition in 2010 and this season have a good blend of youth and experience in their side. They should be too strong for Inverness, who have struggled to field a settled team.
Glenurquhart will also be quietly confident that they can go the distance with South Division Two side Tayforth, from Perth, their opponents tomorrow.
Beauly have also drawn south opposition in the shape of Bute reserves, who have struggled so far this season, their latest reverse coming last Saturday when they lost 6-0 to Inveraray. This match has a rearranged start time of 12.30pm.
Other ties to catch the eye are the Wester Ross derby between Lochcarron and Lochbroom, while holders Kingussie, going for a three in-a-row success, are away to Aberdeen University.
Strathglass travel to Ardnamurchan and luck appears to have deserted Caberfeidh, who landed a first round tie against Kyles Athletic in Tighnabruaich.
Tomorrow also marks the opening round of this season’s Balliemore Cup with Oban Celtic facing 2011 winners Bute.
There is a full round of matches in the Orion Premiership where Glenurquhart will be looking to build on last week’s victory against Oban Camanachd.
The Glen host Fort William, who are counting the cost of their extra-time defeat in the MacTavish Cup against Newtonmore last Saturday.
Captain Liam MacIntyre and striker Gordie MacKinnon are out after receiving serious hand injuries and there is also a doubt over midfielder Stevie Stewart, who is struggling with hamstring problems. Niall MacPhee, red carded against ‘More, should be eligible to play with his suspension not taking place until next Saturday.
Lovat travel to Kingussie looking for their first win of the season, having racked up four draws so far.
The news that all Premiership defenders have been dreading — Ronald Ross is back — finally came to pass last Saturday when shinty’s all time top scorer made his first appearance of the season when he featured in a defensive role in a reserve game at Kiltarlity.
Ross is a proven match winner, but it is uncertain whether or not he will take his place in the Kingussie forward line tomorrow, although Lovat boss Allan MacRae is sure to have made provision for such a possibility.
In other matches, it is top versus bottom when Inveraray meet Lochaber at Spean Bridge with Allan MacDonald likely to return for Garry MacPherson’s side after serving his one-match ban.
Newtonmore, without the suspended Steven MacDonald, face Oban Camanachd at Mossfield, while Kyles Athletic look to get back on track when they face KInlochshiel at Kirkton.
In the Marine Harvest North Division One, the match of the day is in Portree where visitors Beauly are just one point ahead of Skye in third place. Beauly have a few injury worries, while Kenny MacKenzie is struggling with a hand injury.
Strathglass are also finding the going difficult on the injury front ahead of their match at home to league leaders Kilmallie. Johnny Wotherspoon is a doubt, along with Michael Stokes, and long-term victims Donald Fraser and Mark MacLeod. Scott Douglas could return, however, having recovered from an ankle problem that has kept him out of the last two matches.
At the Bught, Inverness will be hoping to put the memory of last Saturday’s 11-goal mauling at the hands of Lovat behind them when they face Caberfeidh.
