|
Written by Gordon Neish
|
|
Thursday, 04 March 2010 11:31 |
|
THE new shinty season opened at Scottish Hydro’s Pitlochry power station on Monday, as the draw for the first round of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup was made.
24 teams will battle out over six rounds to reach shinty’s showcase final, which will this year be played at Bught Park in Inverness on Saturday September 18.
Kinlochshiel face a tough away trip to Kilmory in the first of two preliminary ties, with the other providing arguably the tie of the round between Kilmallie and Beauly.
The other ten teams involved in today’s draw received a bye to the first round proper where Inverness will host Strathglass in a local derby.
Shinty representatives from North and South met at primary sponsor Scottish Hydro’s Pitlochry base to watch the draw being made. Among them was forward and record goal scorer Ronald Ross, whose Kingussie team will join proceedings at the second round stage along with the other ten Scottish Hydro Premier Division sides. Ross said: “Kingussie’s main priority for the season ahead is the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup. It was a huge disappointment not to make the final last year, but hopefully that will not be the case this year.”
On the draw, Ross said: “The Kilmallie v Beauly tie should be a close encounter with both teams looking to go a long way in the competition. Both would probably fancy their chances against Taynuilt in the next round so it’s a chance for them to get through and perhaps face a Premier Division side in the second round.”
Duncan Cameron, President of the Camanachd Association was looking forward to another exciting competition after helping to draw the first round.
He said: “Last year, the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup produced some fantastic games, culminating in one of the most memorable and exciting finals in the competition’s history. Hopefully we can look forward to more of the same this year. Kilmallie v Beauly should provide a great spectacle to kick-start the competition and all the teams will be hoping to progress to the second round with the prospect of facing Premier Division opposition.”
The Scottish Cup draw marked the start of the 2010 shinty season, with the first round of Scottish Hydro Premier Division fixtures taking place on Saturday, March 6.
THE DRAW
Preliminary Round, March 27
Kilmallie v Beauly
Kilmory v Kinlochshiel
First Round, April 24
Lochcarron v Lochaber
Kilmallie or Beauly v Taynuilt
Caberfeidh v Kilmory or Kinlochshiel
Inverness v Strathglass
Glenorchy v Oban Celtic
Skye v Ballachulish
|
|
Last Updated on Thursday, 04 March 2010 20:17 |
All our news in one feed