SENIOR players with Aberdour Shinty Club could return to competitive action this year after a revised league structure was announced.

The Camanachd Association, the game's governing body, last week revealed details of the set-up for 2021 that will be utilised when adult contact sports are allowed to resume.

Last month, non-contact, outdoor sport and exercise in groups of up to 15 for adults, and 12-17 year olds, was allowed to resume, while outdoor contact sport for the latter age group was set to return this week.

May 17, however, currently remains the indicative date that outdoor contact sport for adults can resume but, in preparation, the Camanachd Association have outlined a structure of nine leagues for this year.

Aberdour, who last year had been set to play their first-ever season in the National Division – the sport's second tier – after promotion, only for the outbreak of COVID-19 to stop that after playing just one match, are in one of three 'senior' leagues, each comprising of six teams.

Lisa MacColl's side are in Mowi Senior League C, alongside Glasgow Mid Argyll; Inveraray; Kyles Athletic; Oban Camanachd; and Oban Celtic.

Fort William, Glenurquhart, Kilmallie, Kinlochshiel, Lochaber and Skye are in League A, while Beauly, Caberfeidh, Kingussie, Lovat, Newtonmore and Strathglass make up League B.

In addition, six further divisions – North A, North B, North C, South A, South B and Central – have also been created, with Aberdour's second team set to play in South B.

There, they are joined by Bute 2, Col-Glen, Glasgow Mid Argyll 2, Kyles Athletic 2 and Tayforth.

Burton Morrison, the Camanachd Association's competitions director, commented: "The approach taken by the competitions committee was to provide clubs with the opportunity to play as many games as possible in the restricted calendar.

"We have developed a competitive league structure, for this season only, which provides most clubs with 10 league matches, whilst reducing the amount of travelling involved.

"These fixtures will of course be complimented by the full array of cup competitions, the draws for which will be taking place over the next three weeks. My thanks go to both the competitions committee for their help in pulling together the structure, and the Camanachd Association Board for ratifying the plans."

Derek Keir, CEO of the Camanachd Association, added: "The structure proposed will allow all of our clubs and members to return to the game they love and to do so in a regionalised competition.

"We at the Camanachd Association have been heartened by the progress that many clubs are making in their return to training in line with COVID Guidance.

"We look forward with hope and plan cautiously for a safe return to shinty and ensuring that opportunities will be safe and fun for all."