The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Reid exit big blow in midst of Glen’s struggle
Forward decides to take break from game
Glen Urquhart forward Neale Reid has shocked the Drumnadrochit club by deciding to take time out from shinty.
The decision by the former under-21 cap, who has been in the first team since he was 16, is a major setback to Glen, who are three points above the relegation zone.
Manager Iain Macleod revealed: “Neale is going to take a break from the game. I don’t really know why but he says he’s not enjoying it and has made up his mind to take some games off.
“I’ve no idea when he’ll be back but his absence will be a real miss to the team.”
After a bright start to the season, Glen have won only one game in nine and have no shortage of problems for tomorrow’s Lovat’s international winger Lorne MacKay is a doubt for their Marine Harvest Premiership visit to second-top Kinlochshiel due to work.
Manager Fraser Gallacher said: “Lorne is now self-employed and he’s so busy he hasn’t been able to train with us for eight weeks. He didn’t play last week and I don’t know yet if he’ll make Saturday.
“Hopefully Lorne’s work Marine Harvest Premiership visit to champions Newtonmore.
Young defender Euan Lloyd picked up a thigh injury last week and Macleod said: “It’s a serious problem and Euan is probably out for the rest of the season.
“That’s a great pity as he’s been playing so well that we were putting him forward for the under-21 international squad.
“Andy Corrigan and Billy Urquhart are unavailable but goalkeeper Stuart Mackintosh is back.”
Newtonmore, meanwhile, have drawn a veil of silence over a couple of injuries to key players before the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup quarterfinal against Kyles Athletic a week tomorrow.
Steven Macdonald, who has been playing up front, will not face Glen as he is serving a one-game suspension, while Michael Russell is injured.
“We’ve one or two other injuries but we won’t advertise them,” said manager Paul John Mackintosh. “We’ll just see how they go.” pattern will eventually clear up to enable him to play regularly but we’ll take it week by week.”
Craig Mainland is injured and misses the trip to Balmacara in which a win would lift Lovat level with the Wester Ross men.
Colin MacDiarmid will be missing for Shiel as he serves a four-game suspension, while Gordon Macdonald is still out injured. Shiel who beat Lovat 4-2 at
Newtonmore are seeking to close a six-point gap between them and table toppers Kyles Athletic.
They will be aiming to Kiltarlity on April 11 with the help of two goals from Keith MacRae are bidding to complete a league double over them.
Oban Camanachd raider Aidan MacIntyre is at a wedding and will be missing tomorrow when they play their first Marine Harvest Premiership game since May 20.
They visit bottom club Lochaber, two points below them, with Oban seeking click back into scoring form after netting only 13 goals in eight league games, with Kyles Athletic slamming 26, Oban 21 and their first league win since April 8.
Manager Ian Hay said: “We’ve played in three different cup competitions since we last had a league fixture and it’s like coming out of cold storage as far as playing for points is concerned.
“Aidan MacIntyre’s absence is a disappointment and a couple of younger lads will play for Lochside Rovers in their Sutherland Kinlochshiel 17, all from the same number of games. “We haven’t been scoring this season and too often Cup tie at Glen Urquhart. This is a big test as a win would put us four clear of Lochaber. A loss would put us level with them.”
Lochaber hope to have international Shaun Nicholson available again, while Lachlan Campbell, who retired from the first team last year, is helping out up front as they push to get away from trouble.
Glasgow Mid Argyll, level with the Spean Bridge Glen Mackintosh is left up front on his own. But Evan Menzies’ comeback last week showed he can make space for Glen.” men, bid to break their Kyles Athletic jinx at Paterson Park, Yoker.
Mid Argyll have lost five games in a row – three of which were against Kyles, who beat them 3-0 in the Celtic Society Cup, 7-0 in the Camanachd Cup and 2-0 in the Macaulay Cup.
In the Sutherland Cup, the colts of Kingussie and Newtonmore meet at the Dell. Midfielder Alex Macmillan is out of the Fort William side for tomorrow’s bid to reach their first Balliemore Cup final when they face Inveraray at Taynuilt.
Macmillan, 19, has a broken finger and co-manager Victor Smith said: “Alex will be a big miss. He’s been our best player. He got a rap on the finger last week but, typically, played the full 90 minutes before the extent of it became clear. It’s broken in several places. He’ll be out for a while.”
Fort also have Lewis Clark on holiday but are boosted by the return of Sean Cameron at full back and Smith added: “We’ve not played Inveraray this year and were in different leagues last year, so it’s a guessing game but we’re looking forward to it.”
Fort have never won this trophy as they were usually ineligible as a top-flight team, while Inveraray’s sole success was in 2001. But the Winterton Park men have reeled off five straight wins and rattled in 26 goals, with
“I don’t really know why but he says he’s not enjoying it” “Alex will be a big miss. He’s been our best player”
Fraser Watt getting seven and Alan Macdonald six.
Caberfeidh, who await the winners, were beaten 5-1 by Inveraray in the Camanachd Cup and player-manager Ruaridh Graham and his men carry confidence into this tie.
Fort, however, have only been beaten by Newtonmore this season.
In the National Division, unbeaten leaders Caberfeidh have problems for their home game with bottom club Inverness.
Manager Jodi Gorski said: “Ryan Mackay has picked up a suspension, Colin Maclennan is off on holiday and we have to wait on Jamie Mackintosh, who has a hamstring problem.”
Ally MacKerracher returns from a three-match ban for Oban Celtic’s game away to Beauly, who have won three in a row.
Elsewhere, unbeaten Skye host Strathglass in a dress rehearsal for next weekend’s Camanachd Cup quarter-final at Cannich.