Who can halt More’s fourth Premier title?
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SATURDAY marks the official start of the new shinty season – with a full Orion Group Premiership and Marine Harvest League programme scheduled.
Newtonmore begin their quest for a fourth consecutive title with a home fixture against Glenurquhart – with Glen taking to the Eilean pitch for the second time in seven days following last weekend’s 3-0 friendly reversal.
More are now under the management of Paul John MacKintosh, who returns to this role after Norman MacArthur stepped down at the end of last season after a highly successful period in charge at The Eilean.
MacKintosh has a highly talented and motivated squad at his disposal and he will expect to pick up where MacArthur left off.
Few would bet against continued success for More, however their opponents on Saturday are one of the teams who hope to dislodge More from their position at the top and Fraser MacKenzie and Drew McNeil, the co-management team at Blairbeg Park, will be targeting to finish higher than the sixth place they achieved last year.
A win at The Eilean would be an ideal start to Glen’s campaign, however More will start as favourites to pick up the points.
The three meetings last season between the teams all went More’s way, with two of these clashes being extremely close affairs.
Lochaber make their return to the Premiership after a three-year absence and Lovat are the visitors to Spean Bridge for their opening fixture.
This looks like being a very entertaining affair between two relatively young and similar teams.
Lovat had a sensational season last year, finishing third, and Allan MacRae’s men will approach the new campaign with confidence with trophies being on a realistic wish list for the Balgate club.
Lovat have also been bolstered by the signing of Scotland international Kevin Bartlett, who moves from Caberfeidh.
Michael Delaney will be keen to see his side get off to a winning start continuing the goalscoring exploits of their storming North Division One title triumph.
Kingussie make the difficult trip to Kirkton to face Kinlochshiel, the side they met on opening day last year and who sprang a surprise at The Dell by winning 5-3 on their Premiership debut.
Worse was to follow for the Badenoch men with the return fixture at Kirkton in mid-August resulting in a 6-1 rout for Shiel.
Kings’ cause will not be helped by the absence of prolific hitman Ronald Ross, who looks set to miss the early part of the season at least.
Shiel look set to be without keeper Graham Kennedy and defender Calum MacLean for some weeks, while midfielder Steven Callander has decided to call-time on his playing career.
The West Coasters, however, have signed Dave Glass from Inverness, with the experienced Glass able to operate in defence or in midfield.
With Peter MacIntyre calling it a day at the end of last season, the management role at Fort William has been taken on by ex-players Victor Smith and Adam Robertson who had been running the club’s reserve team.
The two highly experienced former internationalists begin their competitive career with a trip to Argyllshire to meet Inveraray, who will also have a new face in charge.
The Loch Fyne-side club have had to advertise for a new manager after the resignation of John Smylie at the end of the 2012 season. Fort were 2-0 winners at The Winterton last April and made it a league double over Aray with a 5-3 home victory in August.
Kyles Athletic renew acquaintances with Oban Camanachd at Tighnabruaich with newly-promoted Oban being handed a tough opener against last year’s runners-up.
The six-team North Division One gets under way with teams meeting each other three times over the course of the season.
Clubs will be chasing a top three finish to guarantee themselves a place in National Division One for the 2014 season with the bottom three clubs left to compete in a lower standard North Division One the following year.
Kilmallie will be targeting a quick return to the Premiership and they get their season started with Beauly as visitors to Canal Parks.
Duncan Kelly is the new man the helm at the Caol club and the former Scotland manager will be relishing the challenge.
Beauly will not be an easy obstacle to overcome with the Braeview Park side desperate to capitalise upon the undoubted potential they possess.
At Cannich, Strathglass host Caberfeidh in what could be a fairly evenly matched contest with Strath boosted by the return to their ranks of Scott Douglas in an attacking role.
Last year’s runners-up Skye have home advantage against Inverness, who have promoted Allan MacLeod to the first-team manager’s role after the shock departure of Callum McLeod in early February.
The islanders look set to take full points against a city side who failed to raise a team for their trip to Portree last year and who may find this year’s North Division One campaign a very demanding one.
