CUP QUARTERS AND A PREMIER CRACKER

Pic courtesy of DJ MacDonald

Some great games are in prospect today, with cup quarter-finals in the south and north.
The stand-out tie in this year's AJG Parcels Celtic Cup features Inveraray and Kyles Athletic at the home of the famous yellow and black.


Many peoples' choice of ideal final contenders, the Argyll premier league teams lock horns in today's quarter-final round after contrasting fortunes in the first few weeks of the league season. Inveraray have struggled to find scoring form in spite of some dogged defensive performances. Kyles have found plenty of goals, but have not yet found the consistency that characterised last season's heroic league campaign. A stand-out display of fast shinty against an equally-impressive Newtonmore side at the Eilan a few weeks back was followed by a depressing defeat to an eager and skilful Kinlochshiel - a loss that might yet be costly when the points are tallied up at season's end.

This may be Aray's best chance of silverware this year, while Kyles hold the trophy. It will be a fascinating game.

Last season's beaten Celtic Cup finalists, Oban Camanachd, will have to be on their mettle to progressing an away tie against premier side Bute. The Oban side's scoring form has deserted them after taking two matches and extra time to get past Glenorchy in the Camanachd Cup. But Bute are similarly finding goals hard to come in league competition. This one could be a dour, low scoring struggle. But having just typed that statement, no doubt it will turn out a 9-5 thriller on the beautiful Isle of Bute.

In the north, the Co-operative MacTavish Cup quarters see Newtonmore travelling to face Fort William at Invergarry - and this will be an intriguing test of more than Fort's cup credentials. To beat the league champions today would be a real fillip for Fort William, and might just send out a message that they are real premiership title candidates.

MacTavish holders Kingussie are also on the road from Badenoch towards Lochaber, where they will face Kilmallie. Media reports suggest that their goal machine, Ronald Ross - who has been banging in the goals without being fully fit in recent weeks - might be coming close to conceding defeat in the fitness battle for this season. Without Ross in the opposition ranks, Kilmallie will fancy their chances. With him, even as a sub, the odds favour the champs.

Elsewhere, the season's Orion Premiership surprise package, Kinlochshiel quietly take on Lovat, another good side this afternoon in the only top tier fixture. The cup quarters may have the headlines, but this league tie looks like being an entertaining prospect.

Kyles along with Fort William will be eyeing the result closely, with the winner - Kinlochshiel or Kilmallie - due to strengthen their own position at their expense.

Get out and see a game.

It's gonna be great.