Penalties Heartbreak for Skye Camanachd U17s In London Shield Final. | |
15 November 2010 Skye Camanachd U17 suffered London Shield agony when they lost out to Lochaber U17 in a penalty shoot-out in the 2010 London Shield Final at Braeview Park, Beauly on Saturday 13 November 2010. Both sides were at full strength going into the final and Skye made a bright start with Will Cowie forcing Lochaber keeper Callum MacDonald to save with his feet and clear for a corner in the opening minute. Skye pressed their opponents goal without troubling the keeper in the early stages but Lochaber broke with speed after 6 minutes and Duncan MacKinnon played in Stuart Callison but his should took a deflection as it went narrowly past the post. Callison threatened again 3 minutes later when he fired over the bar with Skye claiming for a kick in the lead up to the shot. Skye took the lead 60 seconds later through Jordan Murchison. There seemed little danger when Murchison collected a pass 25 yards from goal but the youngster quickly turned his man before rifling a great drive high into the net. Skye continued to attack the Lochaber goal but they suffered a blow on 14 minutes when Will Cowie was forced to leave the field of play after being hit on the arm by a swinging caman. An x-ray at Raigmore confirmed that there was no bone damage and Chris MacLennan came on in his place. A Conor Sweeney free hit found Stuart Callison a couple of minutes later but his shot went wide of the upright. Jordon Murchison played a good cross into the Lochaber danger area after 21 minutes but the ball drifted past the post with none of the Skye forwards able to make contact. The Skye defence were caught out on 24 minutes when Lochaber broke down their left wing and Scott Knox lost his marker to collect a pass and tuck the ball past Iain MacLeod in the Skye goal to level the game. Skye introduced wing back Ruairidh Morrison for his U17 debut in place of Calum Gibb. Ruairidh Morrison and Martin Bruce combined to win possession on 36 minutes. John Gillies and Paul MacKinnon linked up from the resultant clearance but the ball was cleared to safety at the expense of a corner. Just a minute later, Jordan Murchison turned his man only to see Lochaber keeper Callum MacDonald make a fine save from his shot as he tipped the ball away for a corner. Skye full forward John Gillies received a blow to the hand during the first half but bravely played on. However it was clear at the interval that he was unable to grip his stick and he was replaced by Will Cowie who was called back into action. It later transpired that Gillies suffered a couple of broken bones in his thumb. Callum MacDonald save a Paul MacKinnon shot in the opening minute of the second half and Chris MacLennan scored from a Mark Mortimer corner moments later but his effort was ruled out for offside. A good run and shot from Stuart Callison 4 minutes into the second half produced a good save from Skye keeper Iain MacLeod. Paul MacKinnon was a constant threat to the Lochaber defence and he produced some good lead up play to set up Chris MacLennan but his shot went just the wrong side of the post. Lochaber then had their best spell in the game and pressured the Skye goal for a 15 minute period. However the Skye defence stayed firm as they stood up to several Lochaber attacks. Referee Robert Morrison had to intervene when a scuffle broke out between Lochaber’s Brennan MacDonald and Paul MacKinnon and the duo, along with Martin Bruce who was attempting to act as peace-maker, were spoken to. Skye finished the game strongly and Will Cowie played in Chris MacLennan 25 minutes into the second half but Callum MacDonald made a brilliant save to his right from MacLennan’s shot to keep his side on level terms. There was still time for both sides to produce a winner and Pat Toal shot wide for Lochaber 7 minutes from time. In the final minute, Jordan Murchison made space for himself on the left only to see his snap-shot rise just over the junction between crossbar and post. Referee Robert Morrison’s final whistle took the match into a 20 minute extra time period. Pat Toal shot inches wide of target and some resolute defending from Iain Grant prevented Stuart Callison getting a shot on goal in the first period of extra time. In the second period a good passing move between Martin Bruce, Paul MacKinnon and Will Cowie created a chance for Jordan Murchison but his rocket shot went wide of target. Lochaber’s Duncan MacKinnon saw an effort well left by Skye keeper Iain MacLeod as it went inches wide of the goal. Skye survived some pressure from a Lochaber corner in the closing seconds before the match went to the inevitable penalty shoot-out. Skye will be disappointed not to have converted any of their penalties whilst successful spot hits from Duncan MacKinnon and Scott Knox were enough to take the London Shield to Spean Bridge. Both sides put on an entertaining display in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd who were very complimentary of the shinty on show. Skye were well served by Iain Grant, Shaun Hedley and Scott MacLeod who formed a formidable defensive barrier. Martin Bruce was outstanding in midfield and Paul MacKinnon was particularly creative in attack. Lochaber can thank keeper Callum MacDonald for a couple of excellent saves whilst Danny Delaney and Brennan MacDonald were also big influences in their side. This rounds off a successful season for the Lochaber youngsters as they add the London Shield title to the MacTavish Juvenile Cup and the MacAulay Association Sixes which were won earlier in the season. Skye Camanachd U17 from; Iain MacLeod, Iain Grant, Calum Gibb, Shaun Hedley, Scott MacLeod, Ally MacLeod, Martin Bruce, Daniel Morrison (captain), Paul MacKinnon, Will Cowie, Jordan Murchison, John Gillies subs Chris MacLennan, Ruairidh Morrison, Mark Mortimer Lochaber U17 from; Callum MacDonald; Danny Delaney (captain), Jack Dignan, Barry MacDonald, Brennan MacDonald, S Kane, Conor Sweeney, Jamie MacIntyre, Scott Knox, Duncan MacKinnon, Pat Toal, Stuart Callison subs Kirsty Delaney, K Johnstone, C McCallum, P MacDonald-Wotherspoon Match referee - Robert Morrison. |