Curtain set to rise on shinty season

THE CLOCK is ticking ahead of the new shinty season, which begins tomorrow (Saturday March 4).

Marine Harvest Premiership

In the top tier, champions Newtonmore open their bid for an eighth successive league title against Lovat at the Eilan.

Lovat were the only team to beat Newtonmore last season, winning their Artemis Macaulay Cup tie at the Eilan after extra-time.

Two of Newtonmore’s main challengers last season were Oban Camanachd and Kinlochshiel, and they are due to meet in the season opener at Kirkton.

Oban Camanachd boss Iain Hay will be without 2016 captain James MacMillan who has moved abroad, while fellow defender Garry Lord is also out with a broken leg.

Promising young defender Ross MacMillan has joined Oban Celtic, whilst David Lafferty has been hampered by a serious knee injury.

However Matt Rippon has rejoined the club and has been scoring goals during the pre-season. Connor Howe is also back following a spell in the States.

Youth players Evan MacLellan, Lewis Buchanan and Daniel MacCuish have all taken their chance to shine during Oban Camanachd’s pre-season friendlies.

Lochaber and Kyles Athletic meanwhile cross camans at Spean Bridge.

Kyles are another top flight club under new management. Longstanding coach James Perlich is now in charge, taking over from Norman MacDonald.

Kyles stalwart Kenny MacDonald will continue as part of the management team.

Kyles were the only team to take league points off Newtonmore last season; drawing both their games.

Marine Harvest National Division

Inveraray were due to open their season with a match against Bute at the Winterton but the islanders’ decision to drop down a division means Beauly, who were to be the original nine team league’s free team, take their place.

There are changes at Inveraray, with veterans David Robertson and Andrew McMurdo stepping down from first team duty.

David MacPherson will divide his time between the first and second teams so expect a number of the club’s promising youngsters to burst on to the first team scene.

Marine Harvest South Division 1

Newly-promoted Kilmory open their season away to Taynuilt.

Kilmory should pose a goal threat, with 2016 Marine Harvest South Division 2 player of the year Hal Jones along with Alex Cunningham and Andrew Cunningham sure to test defences in this league.

The Kyles Athletic second team welcomes Glenorchy to Tighnabruaich. Kyles finished sixth last season, a point ahead of seventh placed Glenorchy so the signs are that this will be a close encounter.

Glenorchy’s Graham Morrice picked up a two-match suspension courtesy of a red card in the goalless draw against Taynuilt in what was the Mart Park club’s last game of the 2016 season.

Col Glen and newly promoted Tayforth will face up at Otter Ferry. The Glen will be managed this season by Brian Kennedy and Brian McNaughton with Ronnie MacVicar assisting them. They take over from club stalwart James Edgar who steps down after five years in charge.

Tayforth won promotion after winning Marine Harvest South Division 2 last season. They advertised for a new manager during the close season but have opted to continue with Ewan Menzies and Finlay Stark taking a lead role in their positions as captain and vice-captain.

Marine Harvest South Division 2

Strachur and Oban Lorn are in action at Strachurmore Sports Centre. Strachur make a welcome return to the senior ranks after taking a year away from competitive shinty.

Oban Lorn finished third in this division last season and with the top two – Tayforth and Kilmory – promoted, they should be in the mix at the top of the table. Oban Lorn duo Calum MacLean and Shaun MacIver will sit out the opening day through suspension.

The Bute and Inveraray seconds meet at the Meadows, Rothesay.

Bute finished fifth in the division last season whilst the Inveraray reserves were relegated after finishing bottom of Marine Harvest South Division 1.

Inveraray will be able to call on the experienced David MacPherson who will assist boss Graham MacPherson throughout the season.

The Winterton side have several promising U14 starlets who will get their chance to shine.

Dunoon are the free team on the opening day of the season in this seven team league. They took part in the Dropkick Murphy Sixes in Musselburgh, where they reached the semi-finals, but the weather hit their other pre-season preparations.

Bute withdraw from national division

THE Camanachd Association has confirmed that Bute have withdrawn their first team from the Marine Harvest National Division and will play in Marine Harvest South Division 1 this coming season.

A statement from shinty’s governing body advised member clubs that a request was received from Bute Shinty Club on February 11 to withdraw their first team from the 2017 Marine Harvest National Division.

Bute requested that they be allowed to join Marine Harvest South Division 1 instead and, in the process, maintain their second team in South Division 2.

Bute advised that: ‘The players are unable to commit to our first team due to family and work commitments combined with the additional travel involved with the current National League set up.

‘We consider that if we do take part in that league we will be unable to complete the fixture list and will have to withdraw during the season, this would be unfair on the other teams, it would also result in the loss of playing members of our club.’

The Camanachd Association rejected the initial letter and verbally requested the Bute chairman meet with the club’s players and managers to determine if there was any way they could be persuaded to see the National Division through this year.

The chairman reported back that there was next to no appetite for continuing in the division and they would inevitably default, sooner rather than later.

Perhaps crucially, he made a plea for continuing with two teams in some shape or form because the younger players would be the ones edged out if they were restricted to South Division 2 only.

The request was further considered by the competitions committee and by the board of directors.

Whilst the game’s byelaws state that the Camanachd Association would be minded to refuse such a request, both the competitions committee and the relevant directors reluctantly agreed to the request to sustain the participation of two teams from Bute.

Bute will, however, be deducted eight points when they commence in South Division 1 in line with the rules of the association.

Given the short notice, the Camanachd Association does not intend to re-draw the league fixtures.

Where possible, teams in the National Division scheduled to play Bute will play the team which previously had no fixture. Similarly the team in Marine Harvest South Division 1 which had no fixture will be paired with Bute.