Things are hotting up on the shinty scene as local clubs continue their preparations for the new season.
Lochaber received a triple player boost ahead of their return to the Mowi Premiership with former Scotland international Shaun Nicolson coming back into the fold and Stuart Callison and Max Campbell providing good news on the fitness and availability fronts.
Lochaber were last in action on New Year’s Day when Ben Delaney’s double helped them defeat Fort William 4-2 to lift the Billy MacLachlan Memorial Cup for the first time.
Having won both the Mowi National Division and Ferguson Transport and Shipping Balliemore Cup double last season, Lochaber are pulling out the stops to be ready again.
Manager Ally Ferguson said: “Our preseason preparations have started well. The lads kept up their light gym work throughout the break and some were running pre-Christmas before we all started our training back in earnest during the second week of January.”
Ferguson is delighted to be able to call on the services of former player Nicolson, saying: “Shaun joined the squad for training a couple of weeks ago which gave a lift to the team and to the club as a whole.
"His experience and ability on the park, coupled with the good leadership and character he brings to the changing room, will be invaluable to us this season.
“Shaun took a couple of seasons away from the club, but we are delighted he has agreed to rejoin us again. He now relishes the opportunity to play in the Premiership again and test himself at the highest level and to do his best for the team.”
There were also positive soundings regarding both Stuart Callison and Max Campbell.
Ally added: “After missing a chunk of last season through injury, Stuart played in the New Year game, and he came through that with flying colours.
“He has now resumed training, along with most of the other lads including Max. He played a few games for us at the end of last season, but he will now start his first full senior season at the club for a few years after taking some time out and having a spell at Newtonmore.”
When Lochaber lifted the National Division title last season, they won ten and drew two of their 14 league games. However, Ferguson knows the Premiership is a major step up.
He said: “We know the challenge in front of us this season and we will prepare well and be ready the best we can.
“Having Shaun, Stuart and Max is great but Jack Dignan is working away during January and February which is not ideal, but it is what it is. Jack hopes to be back for the start of the season and he’s an important player for us.
“We are very fortunate to have a very good group of players who are all willing to roll up their sleeves up and are all raring to go.
“We have friendlies planned for throughout February starting with Inverary at home on Saturday.
“Our preparations will continue throughout February as we plan for our first Premiership game in early March.”
Lochaber’s opening preseason friendly is against Inveraray at Spean Bridge on February 3. The red and whites then travel to the Highland Capital to play Inverness a week later.
It’s Inveraray again on February 17, but this time at the Winterton.
Lochaber’s final preseason match is against Oban Celtic at Spean Bridge on February 24.
The new shinty season starts a week later on March 2, with the new fixture list due to be published at the beginning of February.
The Fort William first and second teams have a busy month of friendly matches ahead of the new shinty season.
The Fort first team play Oban Camanachd at An Aird on February 3, with the throw up time to be confirmed.
Fort then travel to the Eilan to face Newtonmore on February 10 before their annual challenge match
against Kyles Athletic a week later when they contest the Drew Ferguson Memorial Cup.
Fort round off their preseason against Lovat, also at An Aird, on February 24.
The Fort William second team play Lochside Rovers at Ganavan on February 3 before hosting neighbours Kilmallie colts at An Aird a week after.
The club still hope to arrange a friendly fixture for February 24.
The Skye Camanachd second team, who finished second in Mowi North Division 1 last season, and Lewis Camanachd, who were second in Mowi North Division 2 last term, will again contest the John “Kaid” Maclean Cup at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on February 17.
Skye are the current holders.
The Kilmallie second team got their preseason schedule off to a winning start when they beat Ardnamurchan 7-2 at Ardnamurchan High School on Saturday.
Scott Campbell grabbed a hat-trick for the visitors with Liam Cameron, Graham Mitchell, Duncan MacDougall and an own goal giving new second team manager Dugald Macphee a winning start to his second spell In charge.
Despite the wet and windy weather, Skye Camanachd were able to host the John MacKinnon Memorial Sixes at the Portree High School astro pitch.
Six teams competed with Dan Divets, captained by keeper Murphy Henderson and with Kinlochshiel’s Duncan Matheson guesting, beating the Fitness Fanatics in the final to come out on top.
The winning side was from: Murphy Henderson, Duncan Matheson, Caitlin Maclean, Caley Maclean, Seonaidh-Alex Macleod, Dan MacDonald and Ross Gordon.
The tournament awards were made at the Skye Camanachd Clubhouse afterwards:
Overall Player – Ross Gordon; Under-17 Player - Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod; Ladies
Player – Holly Maclean; Over-40s Player – Iain Murray.
There are several friendly matches scheduled for February 3.
Among those are the meeting of Fort William and Oban Camanachd at An Aird whilst the Lochaber and Inveraray senior sides clash in what should be an entertaining encounter at Spean Bridge.
Lochside Rovers play the Fort William second team at Ganavan whilst Ballachulish take on the Lochaber seconds at Jubilee Park.
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