Portree Primary School Win 2013 MacKay Cup! | |
25 June 2013 Portree Primary School won the MacKay Cup with a 5-0 win over Kyles at An Aird, Fort William on Saturday 22 June 2013. Portree, coached by David Pringle and former Kyles Athletic Camanachd Cup winning captain David Taylor, went into the final after wins over Glenurquhart Primary School and Kingussie Primary School. Keeper Murphy Henderson was passed fit to play after going over his ankle just a couple of days before the final. However the influential Mark MacQueen had an arm injury which meant he was only able to start on the substitute bench. Kyles are coached by Kyles Athletic stalwart Dan MacRae and their players come from an amalgamation of Tighnabruaich Primary School and Kilmodan Primary School. They had recorded impressive wins over Park Primary School and Rockfield Primary School on their road to the final. Portree started with the elements at their back on what was a wet and windy day in Fort William. Portree had a couple of early chances before Gregor Christie put Portree ahead on 11 minutes. Ryan Macaskill made it 2-0 on 18 minutes to the delight of the large Portree support that had travelled to the game. Bailey Hallas got Portree’s third a couple of minutes later as the Islanders took control of the game. It was 4-0 when Connor Gilpin netted 3 minutes before the half time break. Kyles played with wind advantage in the second half and they came much more into the game with Primary 4 players Finnon Kennedy and Archie Wyatt showing nice touches in attack. However it was Portree’s Connor Gilpin who scored the only goal of the second half – his second of the afternoon - to make it 5-0. Portree introduced all their substitutes with the injured Mark MacQueen getting a 15 minute run out. Portree keeper Murphy Henderson made an outstanding save above his head with his caman from a fierce Connor Kennedy shot. Cally McNaughton of Kyles was selected as man of the match by referee John MacLeod. There is a Skye connection as Cally’s Granny is a sister of Skye Camanachd Vice-President Iain MacKenzie from Kyleakin. The MacKay Cup was presented to Portree captain Jamie Gillies by Schools Camanachd Association Chairman Colm O’Rhu. There was a reception for the winning Portree Primary School team at the Skye Camanachd Clubhouse on the Saturday evening and the players then prepared themselves for the Shinty World Cup tournament on the following Monday. Kyles bounced back from the disappointment of losing the final by winning both the P5 and P7 competitions at the Taynuilt Sixes the following day. Cally McNaughton of Kyles was again named player of the tournament for the P7 competition with Finnon Kennedy being presented with the inaugural Sheena Cameron Memorial Shield for the player who has shown most endeavour and plays shinty in the best spirit of the game. Portree Primary School from; Murphy Henderson, Jamie Gillies (captain), Arran MacKinnon, Jonathan Smith, Bailey Hallas, Connor Gilpin, Dan MacDonald, Martin Pringle, Gilleasbuig MacVicar, Gregor Christie, Ryan Macaskill, Mark MacQueen, Calum Grundy, Leon Miles Shinnie Match Referee – John MacLeod |