North Skye Win 2016 Ewen Morrison Memorial Cup | |
03 December 2016 North Skye lifted the 2016 Ewen Morrison Memorial Cup when they edged out South Skye following a penalty shoot-out at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 3 December 2016. A decent sized crowd, which included new Skye Camanachd first team co-managers Willie Cowie and Peter Gordon, were well-entertained at this keenly contested encounter which was in the balance until the final hit of the game. The majority of the mainland based players didn’t travel whilst work and other commitments ruled out the likes of Steven Morrison, Danny Morrison, Iain MacLellan and Thomas Wilson. The South, playing towards the Skeabost end of the ground from the start of this noon throw up, struck first, taking the lead in the opening minute. South forward Ruaraidh MacLeod took advantage when the North defence failed to clear the ball and he scored to make it 1-0. The North pressed hard for a leveller and South keeper Iain MacLeod saved with his feet from a John Angus MacInnes strike. There were strong North claims for a penalty following the ensuing goalmouth scramble. However referee John Angus Gillies waved away the pleas and the North had to settle for a corner. An equaliser was coming and it followed shortly after. Iain MacLeod was unable to clear a high Jordan Murchison ball into the D and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod shot home to make it 1-1. Jordan Murchison was starting to find his range and a turn and shot from Skye’s 2016 first team top scorer flew high into the net to make it 2-1. It was a great strike from Murchison which gave keeper MacLeod no chance. The South came within a whisker of making it 2-2 when Lorna MacRae broke forward and rounded North goalie Ryan Morrison but her Skye Camanachd Ladies team-mate Caitlin MacLean did superbly well to clear MacRae’s effort off the goal line and away to safety. Play quickly switched to the other end and Iain MacLeod saved above his head after Jordan Murchison had played in Jenna Beaton for a strike at goal. The North extended their lead when Ross Gordon found Jordan Murchison and he slotted the ball low into the net to make it 3-1 at the break. The rain got heavier and made it difficult for the players from the start of the second half. The South needed to score next and they did just that with Ruaraidh MacLeod the provider and Shockie MacLennan’s clinical finish made it 3-2. The end-to-end nature of the game continued and the North restored their two-goal cushion soon after as Ross Gordon picked out Jordan Murchison on the left and his confident finish made it 4-2 and looked to have won the game for the North. However the South fought back again and Shockie MacLennan got his second to make it 4-3 with the goal of the game. MacLennan gathered possession on the left and he got past John Angus MacInnes before crashing an unstoppable shot across the keeper into the net. The game was all-square again moments later. This time it was Shockie MacLennan with the assist as he pushed the ball to Lorna MacRae on the South right and she slammed the ball home to make it 4-4. There was a chance apiece at either end before the final whistle. First, South keeper Iain MacLeod moved to his left to save a Ross Gordon effort with his feet. Then Shockie MacLennan gathered a Lorna MacRae pass but shot just wide of target. With no further scoring, referee John Angus Gillies took the match to a penalty shoot-out at the Viewfield Road end of the ground. Each side listed an U14, ladies player and senior player. Youngsters Ruaraidh MacLeod and Ross Gordon both netted the opening spot-hits before Shockie MacLennan’s effort for the South pinged off the post. North goalie Ryan Morrison reversed roles to confidently slam home the North’s second penalty to make it 2-1. Lorna MacRae netted for the South but she and her team-mates could only watch as Jenna Beaton had the chance to win it for the North. However Iain MacLeod made a great save, high to his left, to take the contest to sudden death. The three penalty takers from each team started again but this time Ryan Morrison saved from Ruaraidh MacLeod. This gave Skye Camanachd U14 player Ross Gordon a shot at glory and he made no mistake, bulleting the ball home to give the North the win. The Ewen Morrison Memorial Cup was presented to North captain Ally MacDonald by Chrisanne MacDonald; Ewen Morrison’s niece. Skye Camanachd Chairman Douglas MacDougall and Alasdair Morrison, Ewen Morrison’s son, were also in attendance. |