Inveraray 5 Skye Camanachd 1. | |
12 July 2010 Skye Camanachd’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup run is over after they lost 5-1 to Inveraray in their quarter final tie at the Winterton on Saturday 10 July 2010. Aonghas MacDonald made 3 changes to the starting line-up which lost to Lochcarron a fortnight ago. With defender Jamie MacDonald a long term injury absentee, the last thing Skye needed was more call-offs at the back but illness and injury ruled out both AB Connor and Allan MacLeod. Shockie MacLennan returned to the side after a 5 week absence and he started in defence. Iain Nicolson and Alan Palmer also returned after missing the Lochcarron game because of work commitments. Nicolson started in defence with Palmer in attack. Somhairle MacDonald is unavailable for the rest of the month and Neil MacVicar and Iain Morrison returned to the second team. Steven Morrison recovered from a muscle strain. David Robertson started at full centre for Inveraray but Douglas Dando and David MacPherson missed out. Both sides contributed to an excellent opening period. The Skye defence of Steven Morrison, Iain Nicolson, John Moir and Shockie MacLennan did an excellent job of curtailing the lively home attack of Russell MacKinlay, Garry MacPherson, Ewan MacMurdo and Grant Griffin. At the other end, Inveraray keeper Graeme MacPherson made 3 excellent stops – from Kerr Gibb, Gilleasbuig MacDonald and Alan Palmer - to keep his side in the tie. Jamie Gannon in the Skye goal was also on form during a pulsating first half. Inveraray broke down Skye’s resistance on 40 minutes when Ewan MacMurdo made space for himself at the back post to sweep the ball home a corner from the right. This was after Inveraray had been awarded a penalty when Iain Nicolson was adjudged to have pushed MacMurdo. The award seemed harsh but Jamie Gannon made a brilliant save, stopping Garry MacPherson’s spot hit above his head with his caman. Skye got a lift from this and they leveled the tie 3 minutes before the break through Danny Morrison. Gilleasbuig MacDonald floated in a corner from the right and the ball broke to Morrison on the edge of the D. The youngster ran in and brilliantly smashed a backhand half volley into the roof of the net to score a really well taken goal. The second half brought more of the same before Inveraray took the lead again on 65 minutes through Grant Griffin with the Skye defence claiming furiously for a kick in the lead up to the goal. Inveraray were awarded their second penalty on 70 minutes. Jamie Gannon made a save with his feet but referee Colin MacDonald, who was some distance away, said the keeper kicked the ball and pointed to the spot. The Skye protests were to no avail and this time MacPherson made no mistake as he crashed the penalty into the roof of the net to make it 3-1. Skye almost leveled again when Alan Palmer closed down a Graeme MacPherson clearance and the ball deflected off the Skye forward but went agonisingly over the bar. A minute later it was 4-1 as Grant Griffin ran in on goal and slotted the ball past Gannon. Russell MacKinlay rounded off the scoring to make it 5-1 a minute later to score Inveraray’s fourth goal in an 8 minute spell. Aonghas MacDonald came off with a thigh strain and Allan MacKinnon came on in his place. Donnie Campbell came on in place of Dougie Rankin for the final 15 minutes. The winning margin was harsh on Skye as the Islanders competed well against one of the Scottish Hydro Premier Division’s top sides. There was little between the sides for the first 65 minutes but Inveraray’s superior fitness and quick passing told in the end. It also seemed that Skye let their heads go down when some refereeing decisions went against them. Next up for Skye is a league game against Inverness at the Bught Park. Aonghas MacDonald’s side now just has the league to concentrate on and they will look to put a winning run together and climb up the table. Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison (captain), Iain Nicolson, John Moir, Shockie MacLennan, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kenny Campbell, Kerr Gibb, Dougie Rankin, (Donnie Campbell), Alan Palmer, Danny Morrison, Aonghas MacDonald, (Allan MacKinnon) sub Stewart Grant, not used Match Referee – Colin MacDonald |