Tough league start For Oban Camanachd

Oban Camanachd were given tough start to the new shinty season as the Camanachd Association released the 2026 fixture list.

Daniel Cameron’s side open against Newtonmore at Mossfield on Saturday 7 March 2026 before travelling to Caberfeidh a week later. 

The Oban side complete the month with an all-south double-header against newly promoted Col Glen at Mossfield and then Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich.

Oban Camanachd assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: “That’s a pretty tasty early run of fixtures, I suppose. That’s the way it is though as none of the clubs are in control of their own fixtures so everyone’s in the same boat and you take what you get. 

"At least we are at home on the opening day and, if anything, knowing that we have such a difficult game against Newtonmore, the current ‘Scottish Cup’ winners and a team that nearly won the league last year, will concentrate everyone’s minds even more for the remainder of preseason including our two friendly matches.

“We’re away to Caberfeidh the week after Newtonmore and that will be a very difficult task as we got beat at their place last season, so everyone wants to right that wrong. It’s a long trip and we know it will be a tough, tough game.

“Then we have Col Glen at home, before going away to Kyles. These are games we obviously want to win but in March, especially with the weather how it is at that time of year, you just don’t know. Our match at Kyles last season was one of the craziest games I’ve ever been involved in, played in a bog, pretty much. 

"We were two goals down twice but still managed to come back and eventually win the game 5-4. It was a game which got our season up and running and we kicked on from there and everyone saw the character in our team.

“The boys are really buzzing about it all and we all can’t wait to get going again. The other fixtures on the opening day all look like being tight matches and I think that shows just what a close title race this could be.

“It’s a long season and we don’t look too far ahead with the fixtures and with the weather coming into play, the fixture list that’s there before us right now might look a bit different going forward.

“Our preseason is ticking along nicely. We were out on Saturday morning for a 10K run to Ganavan and back and then around the town. I just cycled behind the boys, so I didn’t get embarrassed. They left Oban at 8am for the run and I’d have had to set off running at 6.30am if I wanted to get back at the same time as them. 

"Daniel Cameron and Aidan Macintyre were there too, and all the boys are really buying into everything we are asking of them. It’s been fun too and the craic has been good as always.”