Memory Lane – Season 1986 / 87 – Part 25. | |
13 December 2009 Reigning champions Kingussie knew that a victory over Skye Camanachd would make them North Division 1 champions for the second year in a row. This match was played at Lochcarron’s Battery Park as Skye & Lochalsh District Council had closed down the King George V Playing Field for a 6 month period in order to carry out some essential pitch maintenance work. Only a sparse crowd came to watch the game but they were treated to an entertaining afternoon’s shinty. Some of Kingussie’s one touch play was a joy to watch and although their defence was prone to the odd lapse, keeper Rab Muir was in excellent form between the sticks. Indeed a combination of good goalkeeping from Muir and the Skye forwards hitting the frame of the goal on several occasions meant that it could be argued that the final score flattered Kingussie. Steven Borthwick put the Kings ahead after just 5 minutes. However Skye responded a minute later when an inch perfect ball from Willie Cowie found Willie MacKinnon and he laid the ball off to Shorty Murchison. However the chance went a begging as Murchison shot wide of the post. Skye went on to enjoy their best period in the game but they were unable to turn their superiority into goals. Skye were prone to the beak-away attack and after 21 minutes the visitors broke with pace and Kevin Thain was on the end of a sweeping move to make it 2-0. Worse almost followed when a Kingussie shot beat Skye keeper Ian “Dowel” MacLeod but full back Calum Murchison cleared the ball off the goal line. Skye were still very much a force in the match but they were frustrated when Kingussie went 3-0 up through that man Thain again. Things went from bad to worse for Skye a couple of minutes into the second half when keeper MacLeod put through his own goal to make it 4-0. Skye refused to fold and Dugald “Horace” Ross collected a Willie Cowie pass and fired in a great shot which Muir turned onto the crossbar and away for a corner. Muir then saved well from Willie MacKinnon and it was then Duncan MacDougall’s turn to hit the frame of the goal as his rocket shot came off the bar. Davie Borthwick scored his second goal mid-way through the second half to make it 5-0 but there was still time for the Skye forwards to hit the post before the final whistle blew. So Kingussie were champions for the second season in a row and it would be 2006 before another shinty team beat them to the league title. |