Memory Lane - 2000 / 2001 Shinty Season Part 13/20 | |
04 January 2016 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. Skye got back on the league trail when they visited the Dell to play champions-elect Kingussie.
Saturday 24 March 2001 Marine Harvest National Premier Division Kingussie 14 Skye Camanachd 0 Skye had already lost twice to Kingussie and it wasn’t to be third time lucky as they went down to their heaviest defeat of the season, losing 14-0 to Kingussie at the Dell. Skye had lost 17-0 to Kingussie at the same venue on Saturday 21 January 1989 – a year before winning the Glenmorangie Camanachd Cup. Once again, player availability for an away fixture was a concern for boss Angie Murchison and the Islanders travelled East without Willie Cowie, Aonghas MacDonald, Ewen “Crossal” MacKinnon, John MacLean, Willie MacRae, John Angus Gillies and Norman MacLeod. The make-shift Skye side was no match for Kingussie who would not only go on to win the Marine Harvest National Premier Division but also the Glenmorangie Camanachd Cup and the Tulloch MacTavish Cup. Ronald Ross was again the Kings’ ace marksman with six goals whilst a Kevin Thain hat-trick, two from Rory Fraser and goals from Ally Dallas, Michael Clark and Ally Borthwick made up their tally. |