Memory Lane - 2000 / 2001 Shinty Season Part 10/20 | |
30 December 2015 As Skye Camanachd look forward to their first season in shinty’s top division since 2002, let’s look back to the 2000 / 01 season, Skye’s first year in the national top tier. The Islanders only spell in the National Premier Division came when they won promotion from the National League Division 1 after a final-day win over Lochcarron at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree at the end of the 1999 / 2000 season. Skye joined Fort William, Glenorchy, Kilmallie, Kingussie, Kyles Athletic Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd in an eight team top flight in hope of winning the championship but with a definite aim of avoiding finishing bottom of the table which would mean relegation. The league and cup matches kept alternating as Skye Camanachd travelled to Battery Park for a derby meeting with Marine Harvest National Division 1 high-fliers Lochcarron in the second round of the Macaulay Cup.
Saturday 3 February 2001 Macaulay Cup Lochcarron 4 Skye Camanachd 0 Skye were knocked out of the Macaulay Cup by neighbours Lochcarron who ran out 4-0 winners at Battery Park. Skye had pipped Lochcarron to a place in shinty’s top division at the end of the previous season but Lochcarron would eventually win promotion to shinty’s top division at the end of the 2001 / 02 season. All the goals came in the first half with Davie MacKenzie, Iain MacKenzie (twice) and youngster Ross Brown all on target for the home side. Lochcarron would go on to reach the Macaulay Cup Final where they would lose out to fellow Marine Harvest National Division 1 side Inveraray. First half goals from Garry MacPherson and Russell MacKinlay and a 57 minute Euan McMurdo strike gave Inveraray a 3-0 win. |