Kilmallie 2 Skye Camanachd 4 | |
14 September 2015 Skye Camanachd will play top flight shinty for the first time since 2002 after they twice came from behind to beat Marine Harvest National Division title challengers Kilmallie 4-2 at the Canal Parks on Saturday 19 September 2015. Kilmallie manager Mark MacPherson was without Stephen MacAllister so Iain Robertson started at full centre. Skye boss John MacLeod made two changes to the squad which beat Glasgow Mid Argyll in the league a fortnight earlier. Danny Morrison and Kenny Campbell both returned to the starting line-up in place of Chris Rose and David MacInnes who were on the bench that day. Both Skye and Kilmallie went into the match with two league matches remaining. Skye topped the table, holding a two point advantage over second place Kilmallie and they knew a win would give them the title and promotion to the Marine Harvest Premiership. However any other outcome would mean the title destination wouldn’t be settled until the last game of the season. Both teams showed real intent from the throw up and both sets of forwards tested their opponents defence during the early exchanges. Skye’s Shockie MacLennan shot into the side-netting on 4 minutes. A Jordan Murchison rocket shot seared past the post on 10 minutes and Shockie MacLennan shot over the bar just 3 minutes later. Skye keeper Iain MacLeod saved well with his feet on 15 minutes. Danny Morrison had a chance to open the scoring form 12 yards out but Kilmallie goalie Shane Gillies produced an outstanding save to deny the Skye forward. It was to be Morrison's last piece of action as he had received a knock in the opening minute which he unable to shake off. Iain Nicolson took over at wing forward. Liam MacDonald found time and space on 22 minutes and he sent a low shot past Iain MacLeod to put Kilmallie 1-0 ahead. Skye responded well and a Kenny Campbell effort went wide. The leveller came on 25 minutes when Will Cowie scored following a Jordan Murchison free-hit after Shockie MacLennan had been fouled around 15 yards from goal. Cowie controlled the ball at the back post it and although his first attempt was blocked, he managed to swivel and drive the ball on his back-hand across the goal into the far bottom corner of the net to make it 1-1. The game was now moving from end to end and Kilmallie’s John Stewart restored the home side’s advantage with a really good finish on 33 minutes. Skye again looked for equaliser and Jordan Murchison went close. A chance fell for Shockie MacLennan on 44 minutes but he was thwarted by Shane Gillies in the Kilmallie goal. Referee Lachie Wood’s half-time whistle saw Kilmallie lead 2-1 at the break after a fairly even first half. The second half started at a frantic pace and Iain MacLeod produced a great save with his stick to deny Michael Rodger. MacLeod saved again on 47 minutes but his side were back on level terms a minute later. The move started in the centre of the park when some good play from Gilleasbuig MacDonald won possession for Skye and he played the ball down the line to Shockie MacLennan who in turn switched the play to the other side of the park. Iain Nicolson beat his man to the high ball and from around 20 yards out. Nicolson turned his opponent as the ball dropped and he sent a lovely drive into the bottom left hand corner of the net to make it 2-2. Skye, for whom midfielder Allan MacKinnon was terrific throughout, had keeper Iain MacLeod to thank for a superb double-save on 70 minutes as the outcome remained in the balance. Skye made a change with Iain Murray replacing Kenny Campbell at wing centre on 71 minutes. Iain MacLeod’s double-save proved a turning-point as Skye took the lead for the first time in the match on 72 minutes. Jordan Murchison ran onto a rebound off keeper Shane Gillies and he cracked a shot from a tight angle on the right. The ball hit the keeper on the shoulder before dropping on the goal-line. There was a huge melee and Shockie MacLennan managed to force the ball home although the keeper may have got the final touch. Kilmallie fought hard but Skye’s fitness helped them finish strongly and Jordan Murchison, who has been a prolific scorer for the side all season, sent a terrific low drive into the corner of the net to make it 4-2 with just seconds remaining. The goal came from a free-hit on the left hand side of the park. Murchison peeled away to the back post where Will Cowie spotted him in space and played the free-hit towards him. Murchison turned his man and hit a back-hand shot into the far away bottom corner of the net from around the penalty spot. There wasn’t much time before referee Lachie Wood, who controlled the match well throughout, blew the final whistle, much to the delight of the large travelling Skye support. Whilst the whole Skye squad gave their all, Allan Mackinnon turned in a superb display at wing centre. Skye Camanachd will be presented with the Marine Harvest North Division trophy following their final league match of the season against Beauly at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 26 September 2015. Kilmallie will be tough opponents for whoever eventually occupies the Marine Harvest Premiership play-off spot. However with just one league match remaining, they will have to contend with the difficulties associated with the play-off game not taking place until the end of November. Kilmallie from: Shane Gillies; Alan MacDonald, Robbie MacFadyen, Craig MacIsaac, Peter Carmichael; Liam Cameron, Iain Robertson, Ryan Stewart; Michael Rodger, Martin Stewart, Liam MacDonald (captain), John Stewart; subs Mark Graham, Andrew MacAllister, Aaron Sandison Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Steven Morrison, Ally MacDonald, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Neil MacVicar; Will Cowie, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Allan MacKinnon; Jordan Murchison, Shockie MacLennan (captain), Danny Morrison, Kenny Campbell; subs Iain Murray, Chris MacLennan, Iain Nicolson, Match Referee – Lachie Wood Goal Judges – John Angus Gillies, |