In 2005 Portree Primary School won the MacKay Cup for the first time in 31 years. However they only took 3 more years to win the competition again at a sunny Mossfield Park in Oban against local favourites Rockfield Primary School.
Portree's path to the final started away back in February when they defeated Ardnamurchan and then followed this up with good wins against strongly fancied Inverlochy and Lochaber. Last Wednesday they met a strong Kingussie team in the North Final of the competition at Invergarry and in a hugely entertaining game watched by a good crowd 4 goals from Raymond Gillies and one each from Willie Cowie and Alex MacDonald gave Portree a narrow 6-4 victory over the Badenoch team coached by ex Kingussie star Davie Anderson.
This victory meant that Portree for the fourth time in this year’s competition had to travel to Oban for the final against a strong Rockfield side who had beaten last year's winners of the trophy, Park Primary in an earlier round.
The large group of supporters from both teams who soaked up the sun and watched the final on lush Mossfield park were treated to very exciting and hard fought final which left both sets of supporters unsure of who would win right up to the final whistle.
The game started at a fast pace with Rocfield having a slight breeze behind them. However despite this it was Portree who started strongly and efforts from Raymond Gillies and Andrew Grant went narrowly past. However against the run of play it was Rockfield who took the lead after 3 minutes with a tremendous goal from about 30 yards from Ruari Kane. Portree however struck back immediately and a long pass from DJ Gilpin found Alex MacDonald wide in the right half forward position and after turning his opponent he struck home a low drive from 20 yards to bring the scores level.
Play then raged from end to end for a spell and after 12 minutes Portee took the lead for the first time when good play by the Grant cousins Andrew and Angie, ended with Angie scoring from close in.
At this stage there was nothing to choose between the teams as William Cowie at full centre for Portree urged his team on by covering every blade of the fast Mossfield Park. Against the run of play however Rockfield again levelled the scores with a neat finish from Connor Howie after 16 minutes and this was again cancelled out to put Portree ahead once more after 24 minutes by Portree wing centre Kyle Pirie who scored with a low drive from all of 40 yards. Rockfield again refused to lie down and restored parity after 26 minutes when Connor Howie who was having a good game at wing centre again levelled things with a well struck shot during a melee in the Portree goal mouth.
At this stage it was hard to predict who was going to win this exciting tussle but again Portree took the lead after 29 minutes when Andrew Grant scored arguably the goal of the game with a tremendous drive from 40 yards which flew into the top right hand corner of the Rockfield net.
Despite play continuing to rage from end to end there were no more goals in the first half and with the wind behind them the Portree coaches Willie Cowie and Neil Maclean and the travelling support looked forward to the second half with the slight breeze in their favour.
As is often the case however it was Rockfield who started the second half strongly and for the first 20 minutes they attacked the Portree defence but with Calum MacInnes at full back outstanding and well assisted by the tenacious Steven MacKinnon Portree held firm with some timely stops from both Donald Nicolson and especially young 9 year old goalkeeper James Pringle.
In the 48th minute howevewr Rockfield drew level when for the first time Portree failed to clear their lines which allowed Jamie Easton to score from close in.
Many in the large crowd expected Rockfield to go on to win after this goal but Portree again lifted their game and Jack Latton at buckshee back had his best spell of the game while William Cowie continued to battle in the centre line to try and provide ball for his forwards.
And it was a long ball from Cowie that led to the final goal of the game when it was pushed onto Portree substitute Connor Ross by Stephen Murchison in the 56th minute and when Ross then rounded his marker he ran in on goal and very neatly slipped the ball beyond the advancing Rockfield keeper.
The excitement did not end here however as Rockfield again pressed for the equaliser and in quick succession young James Pringle made two great saves with his feet to deny the energetic Pockfield players. With almost the last hit of the ball however Pringle again saved Portree with the save of the match when he a stopped a fierce drive with his stick to end Rockfield’s dreams of success.
When the final whistle went both sets of players sportingly shook hands and all the supporters present agreed they had seen a fantastic, exciting, skilfull and sporting game of shinty between two very evenly matched teams.
Portree captian Jack Latton accepted the MacKay Cup on behalf of his team and to cap a successful day the hard working and skilful Willaim Cowie was also awarded the Anne Cameron Memorial Quaich for being the man of the match although he may well have been closely pushed for this award by Calum MacInnes and James Pringle from Portree and Robert MacIntyre from Rockfield.
At the end of the match Portree Head Teacher John Finlayson paid tribute to the young Portree side and to the supportive parents who have ebcoraged the team over the last year. He also paid special tribute to team coaches Willie Cowie and Neil MacLean and also all the other parents and coaches who support not only shinty but other after school activities and sports at the school. Without their support he added successes like winning the Mackay Cup could not be achieved.
The successful Portree Team were feted on their arrival back in Portree by parents and other enthusiastioc fans and a party for all was hosted at the Skye Camanachd Clubhouse.
The good news for Portree fans is that the team will largely be the same next year with only 5 of the current squad moving onto High School in the summer with many young guns keen to take their place.