AND WE'RE OFF...

Shinty's 2013 league season go underway today (March 2) - with not too many shocks on the opening round of matches up and down the country.

Neil Robertson (l) of Fort William under pressure from Inveraray's Lewis MacNicol

Fort William travelled to Argyll to face 2012 Camanachd Cup finalists Inveraray, and it was one of those opening day matches where the players looked rusty. No matter how many pre-season friendlies you play, or the number of training sessions players endure - nothing matches real combat.

A young Fort William squad lined up against vastly experienced Inveraray counterparts. And experience told in the end.

The home side dominated for large chunks of the game, with Aray keeper Graham MacPherson largely untested in a goalless first half. But Inveraray could and should have been a couple of goals to the good by the time Billy Wotherspoon blew his whistle for the break. With Fort struggling to clear their defensive lines and 'Bingo' Robertson playing well in the centre, only some profligate finishing prevented Inveraray from scoring.

The second half continued in much the same vein, but with (thankfully) less of a running commentary from the players on every refereeing decision.
Inveraray were on top, and eventually the pressure from the Loch Fyne-side men told as veteran Garry MacPherson, 30 yards from goal, gleefully rattled home the only goal of the game, around ten minutes into the second half.

This seemed to spur on Fort William, and the home defence had to look sharp as Fort began to assert some pressure of their own.

As play swung from end to end, MacPherson was called into action in the Aray goal while his Fort counterpart, Paul MacKay, pulled off a number of alert saves.

It looked all over when rangy young Inveraray forward, Lewis MacNicol sent a screamer goalward - only to see it rattle off MacKay's crossbar.

In the end, Inveraray held out reasonably comfortably in a game which had all the hallmarks of a season opener.

Inveraray did enough to win, but will need to make pressure count if they are to make a dent on this year's silverware.

Fort William seemed short of experienced players and were lacking sharpness - but that will come with games and they can only improve as important players return to the squad.