Memory Lane - Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup | |
14 September 2017 Friday 6 June 1974 Skye Camanachd 2 Kingussie 2 (HT 2-1) (Skye Camanachd won on penalties) Just ahead of this weekend’s Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup clash with Inveraray, let’s take a trip down memory lane – 43 years ago in fact - and revisit when Skye Camanachd’s first won the trophy in 1974. This was the third time that the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup had been played for. The first two contests were won by the legendary Newtonmore side of the 1970s. Skye Camanachd now found themselves up against ‘More’s Badenoch rivals, Kingussie in this Friday night match at the King George V Playing Field, Portree. If the Skye squad needed any inspiration, then perhaps it came from the Portree Primary School players who completed a lap of honour with the recently won MacKay Cup before the game. This was the first time Portree Primary School had won the coveted competition and it would be 31 years before they won it again. The team included players such as Willie Cowie, Caley MacLean and Neil MacLean who would go on to be Skye Camanachd stalwarts of the future. The Skye Camanachd senior team in 1974 had John Angus Morrison in goal. Morrison was later to become Skye Camanachd’s first team manager but back then, the side was picked by a selection committee. Ian MacDougall played at a major role in defence. Brothers Andy and Willie MacPherson played in the side as did younger players John “Bodach” MacKenzie, Donnie “Digg” MacDonald, Donnie Martin and Alasdair Cruickshank. Peter “Glen” MacKinnon and Alasdair Morrison (Portree) also featured and the main goal threat came from Jock MacFarlane and Calum Murchison. Defences were on top in the early part of the match with Ian MacDougall and Donnie “Digg” MacDonald impressive for Skye and keeper Rab Muir and full back Donnie Grant putting in solid displays for the Kings. Kingussie then switched their forward line to a south two-two formation and this seemed to catch out the Islanders. Kingussie took advantage and MacPherson fired a thunder-bolt 35 yard shot into the top corner of the net, giving Morrison in the Skye goal no chance. It was then Skye’s turn to apply the pressure and on 38 minutes, Calum Murchison collected an Andy MacPherson pass and fired a shot at goal which Muir did well to stop. However Jock MacFarlane reacted quickest and flicked the ball into the net before Muir could clear his lines. Just seconds before the interval, Alasdair Cruickshank played in Calum Murchison and he held off a challenge before blasting the ball into the net to give Skye a 2-1 half time lead. The end to end nature of the game continued and it was Kingussie winger MacPherson who scored his and Kingussie’s second to level the match after 68 minutes. There was no further scoring during the regular 90 minutes, or the 10 minutes extra time, so referee Willie Batchan gathered the players for a penalty shoot-out. Batchan was one of the most famous shinty referees and went on to do tireless work for referees after his retirement. Each side took three penalties each and it took an outstanding save from Skye Camanachd keeper John Angus Morrison to keep his teams hopes alive. In the end it took sudden death penalties to separate the sides. After the first two penalties, the side were still level but when Kingussie missed, Jock MacFarlane had the chance to win the Cup for Skye and he did just that! So Skye Camanachd’s name went on the trophy for the first time. It would be five more years before they would win it again. |