Skye Camanachd U17 Coach MacVicar Reflects On U17 Success. | |
19 November 2009 Skye Camanachd U17 coach Davie MacVicar reflected on his side’s London Shield success and the team’s performance this season. This is the third time that Skye Camanachd U17 has won the London Shield which was first played for in 1989/90 when Inveraray came out on top. The Islanders previous victories in the competition came in 1996/97 and 2001/02. “This is the best team we have had in recent seasons with everyone playing their part in winning the London Shield,” he said. “For example, we had a difficult match against Kingussie at Invergarry earlier in the competition and we relied on some guys coming into the squad that night for a hard fought 3-2 victory.” The semi final gave Skye a different challenge. The team was at full strength and desperate to win having lost to Lochaber in Portree in the MacTavish Juvenile Cup earlier in the season. Lochaber went on to win that particular trophy. “We did well against a good Lochaber side in the semi final,” said MacVicar. “We had a great performance from Scott MacLeod in goals who made some terrific saves during the match and the guys who stepped up to take the penalties in the shoot-out deserve praise. We also forced the Lochaber keeper Cammy Kennedy into some fine saves. Our defence has also been very solid and along with a powerful midfield, they have made us difficult to beat.” “I think I have used 19 players in the U17’s this year and of those only Chris MacLennan, Jamie Paterson, Magnus Burd and John Gillies have not played in the second team this year. In fact several of the U17 guys are now established second team players with Martin Bruce, Ian Morrison, Neil MacVicar, Neil John Campbell, and Stewart Grant establishing themselves as first choice regulars along with Danny Morrison who was already there and is now pushing for a slot in the first team.” “In previous season’s we have had great individuals without a complete unit and lacked a bit of luck in competitions. Indeed had it not been for the loss of an own goal to Lochaber in the first round of the MacTavish Cup ending in a 3-2 defeat I feel we could have gone all the way in that competition as well.” “The guys in this team realise they are all there on merit and have something to contribute and work for each other. Some players will be too old for U17 shinty next season. They include Danny Morrison, Neil MacVicar, Neil John Campbell, Iain Morrison and of course Ally MacDonald and Stewie Grant who scored the all important goals in the final.” However whilst accepting that the team will miss these players, MacVicar will look to U14 players like Ruairidh Morrison, Chris MacLennan, Magnus Burd, Calum Gibb and Will Cowie to make the step up to U17 shinty next season. He would also like to see the likes of Ian Grant, Scott MacLeod, Jordan Murchison, John Gillies, Daniel Morrison, Ally MacDonald, Ally MacLeod and Shaun Hedley pushing to become regular players in the Skye Camanachd second team next season. Having beaten Kingussie, Lochaber and Glenurquhart along the way, the Skye youngsters are indeed worthy London Shield winners. |