Shiel keep it in family as Kennedy steps in for brother

Scott Kennedy, Kinlochshiel goalkeeper and last season’s Marine Harvest Premiership winning captain, is on holiday and will miss the west coast derby against Skye at Kirkton.

His replacement will be his older brother Graham, who was the first choice until taking a couple of years out for domestic reasons and to build a house.

Graham is celebrated for stopping a penalty with his face in a Balliemore Cup final shootout eight years ago to give the club its first national silverware.

“We’ve no worries about Graham coming in for his brother,” said manager Johnston Gill.

“He’s been playing extremely well in the second team while Scott’s been excellent in the first team.”

Shiel, who have won four league games and a cup tie and rattled in 19 goals in five games, have skipper and full back Paul MacRae back from a flu bout but Gill will make a late decision on whether the big fellow is fit enough to start.

Meanwhile, Skye, too, make a change in goal. Iain MacLeod is set to return home from a North Sea supply ship today and will take over from Ryan Harrison, who deputised last time out.

But the islanders have received a setback with policeman Ian Nicholson playing for the second team last week and sustaining a hamstring injury that may keep him out for several weeks.

This is Skye’s first game since losing 5-1 at home to Caberfeidh on March 24 and they have managed only two games this season.

“It’s not before time that we got back into action,” said manager John MacLeod. “We had a bye in the MacTavish Cup and last week was our free day but the lads have been working hard during our lay-off.

“I was very disappointed with our performance against Caberfeidh and I hope the local derby, which we missed last season when we were in the National Division, will lift our game.”

Meanwhile, Oban Camanachd, also looking for their first win, will have international Daniel Cameron missing against Kingussie at Mossfield as he starts a two-game suspension after being sent off last weekend.

Manager Ian Hay says: “We’ll miss Daniel while we’ll also be without Daniel Lafferty, who is unavailable. But there’s better news in that Matt Rippon, Daniel Sloss and Craig Macdougall are all back and will play. Lorne Dickie is on the mend but after five weeks out he may be on substitute duty.

“This is our chance to leapfrog Kingussie in the table.”

Skipper Rory MacEachan returns to the Kingussie line-up after a two-week break. Lee Bain could step up to the starting line-up.

Scott Kennedy: Will miss derby match