Under 14 Development League
Skye Camanachd B and Lochcarron both took part in the Camanachd Association’s Under 14 Development League last weekend. This league is for teams who have not entered the MacMaster Cup and is designed to let some younger players gain experience at this level.
The West Coast sides have been drawn in a 3 team league with Boleskine where each club hosts an event which involves the 3 teams each playing each other. The league winners then go forward to play off against the winners of the other leagues.
Boleskine hosted the first event and they faced Lochcarron in the opening game. Boleskine raced into a two goal lead with goals from Ali Matheson and Ewen Fraser. Lochcarron came more into the game in the second half but couldn’t take any of the chances that came their way.
Lochcarron faced Skye B in the second game, a clash which proved to be the match of the day. Skye B had some early chances but found Lochcarron keeper Peter Hickman in fine form. Indeed Hickman and centre Finlay Stark both travelled back to Lochcarron after the games to play for the Lochcarron second team against Beauly. At the start of the second have a shot from distance from Ewen Donaldson evaded Hickman and ended up in the net to give Skye B the lead. Although Lochcarron fought hard, with Finlay Stark a constant threat, it was Skye B’s Paul MacKinnon who scored following good play by Iain MacKinnon to cement a 2-0 win.
The final game between Skye B and Boleskine was also keenly contested and eleven year old Jordan Murchison scored the important opening goal for Skye B with a neat shot following a cross from the right. Boleskine responded immediately and Ewen Fraser levelled the game. Again it was left to Paul MacKinnon to clinch the match with a second half strike into the roof of the net. Although this victory gave Skye B – for whom Martin Bruce and Ewen Donaldson were top performers on the day – maximum points, there was little between the teams in what is proving to be a very competitive league. The second round of matches take place this Saturday at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree with an 11 am start.
