Memory Lane - 2000 / 2001 Shinty Season Part 2/20 | |
21 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. Skye’s first league match of the season was a home meeting with title chasers Fort William at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Saturday 19 August 2000 Marine Harvest National Premier Division Skye Camanachd 0 Fort William 1 Skye Camanachd made their National Premier Division debut, going down 1-0 to Fort William at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. The game went ahead despite threats of a national referees’ strike with the game officials in a dispute with the Camanachd Association over travel expenses rejuvenation Johnny “Ach” MacRae took charge of this encounter. This was always going to be a difficult encounter for Skye, who had Ewen MacKinnon and Dougie Rankin back, against a Fort William side which finished runners-up to Kingussie in shinty’s top division the previous season. Fort William travelled with a significantly stronger squad than the one that lost out to Skye in their Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup meeting at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree a fortnight earlier. Fort William threatened early on and buckshee back James Clark set-up Victor Smith and his shot went close. The pressure on the home defence continued and Gordie MacKinnon saw his shot well-saved by Skye keeper John “Podge” MacLeod. Skye made a rare early forage forward with Willie Cowie testing Fort keeper Scott Mcneil. Fort William went back on the offensive and John “Podge” MacLeod made great saves from both John MacDonald and Willie MacDonald to keep his side on level terms. The only goal of the game came on the hour mark. Willie MacDonald pushed forward from midfield and his shot from distance was saved by John “Podge” MacLeod but Victor Smith was first onto the rebound and he scored to make it 1-0. Skye tried hard to get back on level terms and Willie Cowie slipped the ball to Norman MacLeod but his back-hand effort from a tight angle hit the side-netting. John MacLean then passed up a good chance to level after Scot McNeil had saved from Dougie Rankin. Skye finished strongly and Willie Cowie, who was tightly marked by John MacLeod throughout, and Somhairle MacDonald both went close. Fort William could have ended any doubt on the outcome when Victor Smith had a chance to get his and Fort William’s second but John “Podge” MacLeod again saved well. However the final whistle meant the points went to the An Aird side. Skye gave a good account of themselves and young defender Aonghas MacDonald, who would soon captain the Scotland U18 side to a Shinty / Hurling victory over Ireland, was a stand-out in defence. Next up for the Islanders will be a trip to Mossfield to play Oban Camanachd in seven days’ time. |