WILL CUP SEMIS DELIVER DRAMA?

Captains Robert Walker (Bute) and Scott Robertson of Inveraray have one hand on the Celtic Cup

After the shocks, thrills and spills of last weekend's MacAulay Cup ties, in which both of last year's finalists tumbled from the competition, what does this Saturday have in store?

Well, it's semi-final Saturday in shinty's oldest competition for a start - the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup, this year known as the AJG Parcels Celtic Cup.

And in the north, we should know who will contest the Co-operative MacTavish Cup final by 4.30pm the same day.


Bute will host 20-time (yes, twenty time) winners Inveraray in the all-premier encounter at the Meadows. Inveraray won't be looking forward to this one with great relish, despite having knocked out cup holders Kyles Athletic in the quarters. The Bute boys are never a pushover, and in a league match a couple of weeks ago at Inveraray's Winterton park, there was little to choose between the teams - but it was a dour contest. Aray squeaked it 1-0, but the Brandanes will be a different proposition in their own back yard.
Inveraray may be very, very slight favourites, but I wouldn't be putting my house on picking a winner. The game starts at 3pm.

With a throw-up half an hour earlier, Aberdour enter new territory in their first Celtic Cup semi-final, with the Fifers at home to fellow south division one club, Taynuilt.

Neither has featured in the Celtic final before, so the stakes are high for these second tier clubs.

The final will be played at Strachur's new playing field on June 23 in front of the television cameras.


In the northern equivalent competition, the Co-operative MacTavish Cup, holders Kingussie travel to Spean Bridge to take on Lochaber for the second meeting in as many weeks. The north division one side will be looking to avenge last week's narrow defeat in the MacAulay Cup to premier side Kingussie, and an exciting game is guaranteed.


The other semi-final will see Glenurquhart host premier league leaders Newtonmore.  The Badenoch outfit knocked out last year’s runners-up, Fort William, from of the competition in the previous round. Having been themselves put out of the Artemis Macaulay Cup last week at the hands of Kinlochshiel, they will be determined to keep the Co-operative MacTavish Cup within their grasp.
Both matches throw-up at 2.30pm.

The final of The Co-operative MacTavish Cup will take place on June 16 at Bught Park, Inverness.

There are some exciting-looking quarter-final ties in the national junior competition, the Sutherland Cup - with Newtonmore versus Caberfeidh arguably providing the best chance of a shock.

In the Orion Premiership, Kyles Athletic return home to their Kames pitch to take on Fort William, and in-form Kinlochshiel are at home to struggling Kilmallie.