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Newtonmore 4 Skye Camanachd 2 | |
14 July 2016 It’s Newtonmore who progress to the Camanachd Cup semi-finals after they beat Skye Camanachd 4-2 in their quarter-final tie at the Eilan on Saturday 9 July 2016. Newtonmore manager Paul John MacKintosh welcomed Evan Menzies back for this 2.30pm throw up after he missed the previous weekend’s league win over Lochaber through suspension. Rory Kennedy and Andy MacKintosh returned after injury but Fraser MacKintosh, who also missed the Lochaber match through injury, was still out. Skye Camanachd manager John MacLeod made three changes to the squad which drew 2-2 in their Marine Harvest Premiership meeting with Fort William at An Aird a week earlier. Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Iain Nicolson and David MacInnes were unavailable. Captain Neil MacVicar returned to the defence following injury and there were places on the substitutes’ bench for Neil John Campbell and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod. Newtonmore put Skye under pressure from the throw up and Skye goalie Jamie Gannon made a terrific save with his foot after Jamie Robinson had drilled the ball goalwards from the ‘More right. Gannon they threw himself to his left to keep out a David Fraser shot from a similar position at the expense of a corner before getting his body behind a Norman Campbell ball drifted in from wide on the right. Skye defender John Gillies limped off a couple of minutes later and he was replaced by Chris Rose. Skye survived the early ‘More onslaught and a James Pringle shot went wide of ‘More keeper Owen Fraser’s left post mid-way through the half. Skye made a positional switch with Iain Murray going into forward line and Will Cowie taking over at wing centre. Newtonmore took the lead on 25 minutes. Steven MacDonald played a free-hit from inside his own half into the dander area and Neil Stewart was first to the ball. Stewart’s initial shot was saved by Skye keeper Jamie Gannon but Evan Menzies got to the rebound just ahead of the keeper and he stretched to force the ball over the line to make it 1-0. John Gillies returned in place of Chris Rose for Skye after treatment from Skye medic Dr Wilson Banks. Jamie Gannon pulled off a terrific save with his caman from a Glen MacKintosh shot which took a deflection off Neil MacVicar on its way towards goal. It was almost constant one-way traffic towards the Skye goal and Evan Menzies got his and Newtonmore’s second goal with just a couple of first half minutes remaining. Menzies blasted a 20 yard shot high into the net after the Skye defence failed to clear a Paul MacArthur corner from the left. Gannon then denied Evan Menzies a first half hat-trick when he turned the ball away for a corner a minute later after Norman Campbell had plated the ball in from the right. A Neil Stewart drive from the right was turned away for a corner as the Skye keeper stood between his side trailing by a bigger margin at the break. Skye started second half well and, couple of minutes after the restart, ‘More keeper Owen Fraser made a good stop with his feet to keep out a Jordan Murchison shot from the left. The Skye rear-guard were defending well but the Islanders fell further behind on 55 minutes when Norman Campbell collected a Paul MacArthur ball from the left. Campbell, in a central position 20 yards from goal, held off his marker before turning to his left and sending a drive high into the net to make it 3-0. Skye responded and a Kenny Campbell shot from the left went low across the face of the goal. Newtonmore introduced Iain Robinson in place of Jamie Robison with Norman Campbell dropping back to full centre. A Danny Morrison shot from right was deflected for a corner by keeper Fraser. The action returned to the other end and Neil Stewart sent the ball past Gannon’s left post before Gannon used his feet to save an Iain Robinson shot. Skye made a switch with Ally “Cleodi” Macleod coming on for Iain Murray on 65 minutes and, shortly after, Neil John Campbell replaced James Pringle in the forward line. Skye goalie Jamie Gannon was by far the busier of the two keepers and he had to stretch to palm away a Neil Stewart strike after Iain Robinson had played the ball in from the right and Skye full back Neil MacVicar knocked the ball away for a corner. Gannon then had to race off his line to thwart Iain Robinson after the Newtonmore youngster had got away from his marker down the right wing. The inevitable ‘More fourth goal arrived on 70 minutes when Glen MacKintosh took the ball out to the left wing before crossing low outside the D and Neil Stewart swept the ball on to Iain Robinson who created a bit of space for himself by knocking the ball to the right of advancing keeper Gannon and he showed great composure as he sent a low shot into the net to make it 4-0. A 20 yarder from Skye substitute Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod was expertly dealt with by Owen Fraser as the tie moved into the final 15 minutes. Glen MacKintosh and Neil Stewart shots fizzed wide of target as the home side searched for more goals. Chris Rose came back on for Skye, this time for wing centre Ally “Spod” MacLeod, with 10 minutes remaining. The Skye substitutions seemed to aide them as an attacking force and, with 6 minutes remaining, a superb 20 yard shot from Jordan Murchison flew past Owen Fraser to make it 4-1. Kenny Campbell played the ball in from the right and Murchison took a touch before finishing in style. Jamie Gannon saved well with his hand from Iain Robinson on 86 minutes before clearing the ball and was called into action again a minute later. Skye were awarded a penalty on 88 minutes when referee Deek Cameron penalised Owen Fraser for playing the ball whilst on the ground. Jordan Murchison made no mistake from the spot hit, sending a low shot into the corner of the net. Skye will be most pleased with their defensive performance with keeper Jamie Gannon a stand-out and Neil MacVicar also starring. They finished the game well and substitutes Chris Rose, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and Neil John Campbell made a positive contribution. Newtonmore, for whom Steven MacDonald controlled the play at buckshee back, deserved their place in the last four of the Camanachd Cup and the sides meet in league action at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree this coming Saturday. The sides meet again this coming Saturday; this time in the Marine Harvest Premiership at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Newtonmore from: Owen Fraser; Rory Kennedy, Michael Russell, Andy MacKintosh, Steven MacDonald (captain); David Fraser, Jamie Robinson Paul MacArthur,; Evan Menzies, Neil Stewart, Glen MacKintosh, Norman Campbell; subs Iain Robinson, Drew MacDonald, Iain Richardson, Chris Sellar Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon; Neil MacVicar (captain), John Gillies, Steven Morrison, Ally MacDonald; Iain Murray, Kenny Campbell, Ally “Spod” MacLeod; Will Cowie, James Pringle, Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison; subs Chris Rose, Neil John Campbell, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod Match Referee – Deek Cameron Match Scorers Newtonmore Evan Menzies (25, 43) Norman Campbell (55) Iain Robinson (70) Skye Camanachd Jordan Murchison (82, 88 pen)
Click on the following link to watch video highlights of the tie Shinty Camanachd
(The picture of Skye Camanachd first team manager John MacLeod comes courtesy of Donald Cameron) |