Shinty: Oban Camanachd defender to miss start of the season through suspension

A suspension carried forward from the end of last season means Oban Camanachd’s Louie MacFarlane will miss the first two games of the new season.

It’s a problem manager Daniel Cameron is only too well aware of, and he’ll use Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Lochaber at Mossfield to identify a solution for the Scotland defender’s absence.

Oban Camanachd assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: “Louie was sent off in the last game of last season at Newtonmore for two very soft yellow cards which took him through the 30 points disciplinary threshold.

“We’re now without him for the league games against Newtonmore and Caberfeidh which is a huge miss, but we’ll have to deal with it. Any team in the league would miss a player of Louie’s calibre.

“We’ll try out a few different things against Lochaber before deciding on how to play without him. Louie played 90 minutes against Col Glen last weekend, and he’s been playing football with Oban Saints throughout the winter, so his fitness is fine, and it won’t be a problem if he sits this one out.

“We have Gary McKerracher back in defence this year whilst Daniel MacVicar played there to good effect last season, and we’ve young Calum MacMillan too so we’re not short of alternatives.

“Lochaber looked good in their recent 8-2 win over Kilmallie; they are a side who know how to score goals.”

MacLachlan to wear armband

Lovat were relegated from the top-flight last season, and they host Col Glen who replaced them.

Lovat’s Marc MacLachlan missed the end of last season with a hand injury, but he’s fit again and captains Lovat this season.

His manager Iain Nicolson said: “Marc was chosen for the captaincy because of his continued dedication and commitment to the club.

“He rarely misses a training session or game and leads by example by giving maximum effort in everything he does around the team and indeed the whole club.

“He deserves the opportunity to lead the team this year, and we all aim to have a successful season.”

Shiel boss feeling optimistic

Kinlochshiel travel to Blairbeg to play Glenurquhart, who have former boss Iain MacLeod back in charge.

Shiel manager Willie MacRae said: “We won’t have Conor Cormack and WD MacRae as both are working whilst Ollie MacRae is in New Zealand for another month. John MacRae has looked really good in our pre-season training.

“He seems to have put his injury problems behind him, and this is the fittest I’ve seen him for a long time. I wish I could have had him at this level of fitness last year when his back problem really hindered him, so he’ll be a real asset this season. David Falconer is fit again too.”

Kingussie play a second successive friendly against Mowi National Division opposition when they host Glasgow Mid Argyll. It will be a game against his former club for Calum McLay who joined the Kings during the close season and debuted in last week’s 5-0 win over Inveraray.

Both Newtonmore and Kilmallie suffered postponements last week and they meet at The Eilan. ‘More’s Conor Jones’ strike against Skye has been named as 2025 Mowi Goal of the Season.

Kyles Athletic meet Inveraray at The Dunoon Stadium whist Beauly welcome Caberfeidh to Braeview Park.

Skye forced to postpone friendly

The match between Fort William and Skye Camanachd at An Aird was a midweek postponement.

Skye manager Kenny MacLeod said: “A sickness bug and bouts of flu have affected a number of our players, so we’ve reluctantly had to call the game off.”

Fort manager Scott McNeil added: “I would have been without several players so it would only really have been a bounce game anyway.”

The match would have been refereed by Deek Cameron who was persuaded to come out of retirement to take charge, and he will put his vast experience to good use as Fort William’s designated goal judge for the forthcoming season.

[Source: Press and Journal]