Brothers ruled out for Skye

GOALSCORING MacDonaldS MISS Balliemore Cup SEMI-FINAL AGAINST Glenurquhart

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Skye, who have never won the Balliemore Cup but were runners up in 1999 and 2003, are without three key players for tomorrow's semi-final against Glenurquhart at Drumnadrochit.

Goalkeeper Ross Graham is best man at his brother's wedding and his place between the sticks goes to Jamie Gannon, a former Highland League footballer with Fort William.

Goal-grabbing brothers Sorley and Aonghas MacDonald are also out injured and are likely to be missing from the Skeanachs line-up for some time. Aonghas has a persistent hip problem while Sorley, a teacher in Inverness, who has a pulled hamstring, is going to Canada for a month during the school break.

Glenurquhart, whose only defeat this season was to Kingussie in the MacTavish Cup final, have not won this trophy since winning twice on the trot in 1990 and 91, when managers Dave Menzies and Billy Maclean played.

Full back John Barr, sent off in the MacTavish final, returns from suspension so Glen are at full strength.

Unpredictable Kilmallie face South First Division side Glenorchy at Canal Park in the other semi. Glenorchy, beaten finalists in the Celtic Society Cup last weekend, have never reached this final but have good experience up front in Keith MacIntyre and Des McNulty. Kilmallie, runners up in 1997 and winners in 1992, look to Martin Stewart, Ross Lavin and Trevor Jackson to find gaps in the Argyll defence.

In the Marine Harvest Premier Division, the remarkable Strathglass revival will be severely tested when the Cannich troops visit second top Fort William, who are at last finding their scoring touch.

Fresh from thumping Kingussie in the MacAulay Cup, Newtonmore are looking to close the four-point gap at the top with their Badenoch neighbours and fit-again Cameron Binnie may be involved in their tricky visit to Kyles Athletic, only two points behind them.

Kingussie look to bounce back by winning against Oban Camanchd at Mossfield and wait for a late decision on Ronald Ross's problem knee. In an all-Argyll duel, Celtic Society Cup winners Inveraray host second bottom Bute, who now badly need to start picking up points.

In the North First Division, Lochcarron and Beauly try to get their title challenges back on track after defeats last time out. Lochcarron host bottom club Inverness while Beauly hope their defensive frailties are healed against Caberfeidh at Strathpeffer.