Memory Lane - 2000 / 2001 Shinty Season Part 4/20 | |
23 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 were on the hunt of their first league points of the season as they set off for the Canal Parks to play Kilmallie.
Saturday 9 September 2000 Marine Harvest National Premier Division Kilmallie 7 Skye Camanachd 4 Skye Camanachd were back on the road as they headed for the Canal Parks but they suffered a third successive top division defeat, losing 7-4 to Kilmallie. The Islanders had a break a week earlier as Willie Cowie, Dougie Rankin and Ewen “Yogi” MacSween were all part of the North squad which beat their South counter-parts 4-3 at An Aird, under the watchful eyes of the Scotland selectors ahead of the following month’s Shinty / Hurling international against Ireland. After two defeats in their opening two fixtures, Skye knew they needed to get points on the board and quickly. Both sides were a player short going into the game – David Neilson for Kilmallie and Skye’s Aonghas MacDonald, who captained the Scots U18 in their Shinty / Hurling encounter with Ireland U18. Skye were also minus Ally “Stensholl” MacDonald, Ewen “Crossal” MacKinnon and Norman MacLeod. It was first blood to Kilmallie, who played with the wind in the first half, as Scott Rodger shot them into an 11 minute lead. There was worse to come for Skye as Kilmallie’s Lachie Innes latched onto a long ball to score, making it 2-0 with 25 minutes played. Skye pulled goal back a couple of minutes later when a long shy from John Angus Gillies dropped into the Kilmallie goal area and Somhairle MacDonald shot through a ruck of players to make it 2-1. Skye got themselves back on level terms a minute before the break when Peter Gordon got on the end of a John MacLean corner and he touched the ball to Somhairle MacDonald who produced a great finish for his and Skye’s second goal of the game. Kilmallie regained the lead early in the second half when another Scott Rodger strike made it 3-2. Steven Morrison twice went close for Skye as the outcome of this game remained in the balance. Skye capitalised on a set-piece chance to level once more. Kilmallie full back Alex MacNicol fouled Willie Cowie. John MacLean chested down the free-hit down and he struck the ball home to make it 3-3. The supporters were certainly being entertained and it was the home crowd who would cheer next as Scott Rodger and John Stewart combined with Stewart scoring to put Kilmallie 4-3 in front. However Skye immediately drew level once more. Peter Gordon played the ball to Steven Morrison who drew full back Alex MacNicol before slipping the ball to Willie Cowie and he finished in style to make it 4-4. Kilmallie regained the lead a minute later when Donald Lamont took advantage of a mistake by Skye keeper John “Podge” MacLeod and he netted to make it 5-4. This time there was to be no Skye comeback with a goal-bound Peter Gordon shot blocked by Alex MacNicol. Kilmallie sealed the win with two late goals. Lachie Innes got his second when he scored following a corner on 85 minutes to make it 6-4. As the match moved into injury time, Scott Rodger completed his hat-trick when he punished hesitancy in the Skye defence to make it 7-4. It was a tough outcome for a Skye side who put so much into the match but with three defeats in their first three games, they were finding just how tough life in the top flight would be. |