Sgitheanaich Involved As Alba Drive To Victory At Iomain Cholmcille X | |
16 October 2017 Skye Camanachd’s Ally Spod MacLeod, Ally Digg Macdonald, David MacInnes and Ryan Morrison all played their part for Alba as Scotland’s Gaelic Speakers won the Gaelic Shinty / Hurling international, Iomain Cholmcille, against Ireland’s Fir Uladh in Fort William on Saturday 14 October 2017. For the first time ever, the festival was held as part of the Royal National Mòd and a big crowd gathered at Lochaber High School for a day of thrills and spills. After An Aird was declared unplayable due to wet weather, the rules of the game were changed to make a really intense spectacle with shinty goals and smaller sides meaning there were no points over the bar. Fans were treated to a great but heated hurling playoff between Cumann Micheál Breathnach and Fir Uladh in the morning. Fir Uladh won through to the final 4-3 with goals from Naoise O Caireallain agus Frankie O Ceallaidh cancelling out the goals by Maidhc and Breandan O Conghaile. Then it was the youths turn, with Alba Òg taking on Gaelcholaiste Dhoire for the Cupa Bhòrd na Gàidhlig. This was an entertaining game 3-1 to the young Scottish Gaels who were managed by GMA and Uist’s Angus MacInnes. Goals from Jamie MacLeod and Hamish Shaw were the difference. It is hope this fixture will lead to a touring Alba Òg side. Jamie Gillies of Skye Camanachd was captain, and Calum Gillies and William Sutherland also played important roles. Alba Head Coach, Doneil MacLeod was delighted when his men got off to a good start with a comprehensive 5-1 warm up win against Micheal Breathnach. Local Fort William boys Jack Fraser, Mark Fraser and Lachie Shaw were joined on the score sheet by Skye's Ally MacDonald. The Alba women were beaten 4-0 but not disgraced against Cois Fharraige, who won the Corn Sgáthaich trophy for the second year running. Sorcha Ni Fhrighil had the pick of the four goals and also won the player of the day, Lochaber’s Claire Delaney was awarded Alba’s player of the day. Caitlin MacLean was also excellent, playing alongside Skye team-mates Kathryn Dibble, Sara Jane Ferguson and Izzy Law. The men’s Corn Cholmcille match was a fantastic spectacle in which Fir Uladh defended stoutly, but also where Alba, in particular young superstar Shaw, was denied by the posts on several occasions. However, Alba’s player of the day and winner of “Sàr-chluicheadair an Latha” Jack Fraser broke the deadlock, then his brother Mark made it three and then Uist and Beauly’s Ewen Campbell made it 4. Sean MacLeod finished the game on the park, making him one of only three Alba players to have played at the first Iomain Cholmcille in 2007 and the tenth anniversary tournament. Alba’s captain Graham Black, from North Uist, currently playing for Aberdeen lifted the trophy presented by Allan Campbell, president of An Comunn Gàidhealach. Allan was also joine din the very entertained crowd, by Shona MacLennan of Bòrd na Gàidhlig who presented Corn Sgàthaich agus Cupa Bhòrd na Gàidhlig. They both talked of how encouraged they were by the work that Iomain Cholmcille has done over the last decade to encourage Gaelic speaking in sport and to hear teh young men and women using it all day as they played. Eòghan Stiùbhart, co-ordinator of Iomain Cholmcille for the last ten years said “We are very thankful to An Comunn for allowing us to hold Iomain Cholmcille as part of Mòd Loch Abar in our special tenth year and we’d also liek to thank Colmcille for their support every year. It was an incredible day and we were very happy to show how team sports should be at the heart of developing Gaelic.“ Results from Iomain Cholmcille – Gaelic Shinty / Hurling Internationals Hurling Play-off Fir Uladh 4 – Micheál Breathnach 3 Cupa Bhòrd na Gàidhlig Alba Òg 3 – Gaelcholaiste Dhoire 1 Shinty / Hurling Exhibition Alba 5 – Micheál Breathnach 1 Corn Sgáthaich – Shinty / Camogie Cois Fharraige 4 – Alba 0 Corn Cholmcille Alba 4 – Fir Uladh 0 |