Monday 28 May 2012

THE ONE THAT YOU WANT

The premier league , or nowadays the Orion Premiership, title is the ultimate sign of season's best or most consistent team. It is a huge honour.

Ask most shinty players, though, whether they would rather a have a league title or a Camanachd Cup winners' medal - and I am willing to bet that most would go for the romance of shinty's most prized silverware...the cup.


Perhaps, given time, the premiership will accrue the history, mystique and desirability of a trophy simply dripping with legendary tales and contested by heroes of years gone by. But it ain't there yet.

It gets underway for real this weekend as round two is played, and there is plenty in the draw to get excited about.

Cup holders Newtonmore have dropped below their high early-season standards, though the club, also league champions still tops the premiership. A sticky MacTavish semi-final win followed by a league draw against eleven Kingussie men last Saturday might give some hope to north division one side Beauly.

There's a second Lochaber derby in as many weeks as Kilmallie again play host to Fort William.  The home side lost out in last week's premier encounter - and a Camanachd Cup win would do nicely as a spot of revenge for Kilmallie.

Kinlochshiel are still licking their wounds after a 7-1 league mauling at Inveraray, but the Balmacara lads will need to make a quick recovery with last year's beaten finalists, Kingussie, paying a Camanachd Cup visit.

High-flying MacTavish Cup finalists Lochaber will fancy their chances against a Bute side that has struggled for goals this season. With the game at Spean Bridge, the premier league island side will find it tough against a home club currently plying its trade in north division one, but buoyed by recent cup progress.


South division one side Glasgow Mid Argyll meanwhile host joint premiership leaders Kyles Athletic. Kyles should be too strong if they have anything like a full squad to choose from, but Mid Argyll is a team with a number of good young players, and in the city they will be no pushovers.


In other games - Inveraray at home should cope with Strathglass; Kilmory won't find it easy away versus Lovat; and there is an intriguing tie on Skye when premiership side Glenurquhart cross the bridge for a fixture that might just hold in store one of the shocks of the round. But what doI know?

The weather forecast looks not too bad, and it's going to be a day of thrills and spills in this prestigious old competition.




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