Skye Camanachd 0 Glenurquhart 2 | |
25 May 2015 The Skye Camanachd first team lost two late goals to lose 2-0 to Glenurquhart in their RBS MacTavish Cup Final semi-final tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 23 May 2015. Skye manager John MacLeod went into the tie without injured pair Shockie MacLennan and Iain Nicolson. However Iain Murray passed a fitness test and he took a place on the bench with David MacInnes and John Gillies returning to the second team. Glenurquhart co-managers Billy MacLean and Dave Menzies gave Ewan Brady a pre-match fitness test on a calf muscle injury which he failed. However Ally MacKintosh returned from injury to take up a place on the bench. Lewis MacLennan was at full back with second team player / manager Iain MacLeod at full centre. This 2.30pm was featured live on Cuillin FM’s “Camanachd Live” show and, as is usual practice with such semi-finals, there was a charge at the Gate of £5 for adults / £3 concessions with U12s going free if accompanied by an adult. The charge didn’t deter the support as a large crowd gathered, including a good travelling support. A lunchtime road accident at Sligachan closed the road to Portree for a time and delayed goal judges Daniel MacRae and Rab MacAskill so Donnie Martin from Skye and Billy MacLeod from Glenurquhart took their flags for the opening stages of the game. Glenurquhart played with the wind at their backs in the first half and whilst they went into the tie in indifferent form, they started this contest well. Skye goalie Iain MacLeod was called into action on 6 minutes when a good passing move between the Glen forwards culminated in Neale Reid laying the ball off to Andrew Corrigan and keeper MacLeod was quickly across his goal-line to make a great save with his feet at his left post, deflecting the ball away for a corner. Strong play from Eddie Tembo caused problems in the Skye defence after 7 minutes but the ball was cleared for a corner on the right. Arran MacDonald took the corner and it was missed by the Skye defence and Andrew Corrigan sent a shot just the wrong side of Skye keeper MacLeod’s left post. An Eddie Tembo snap-shot went wide of goal on 10 minutes as the Glen went for the opening goal. It wasn’t all Glenurquhart in the early stages though and Lewis MacLennan did well to foil a Skye attack as Kenny Campbell and Jordan Murchison tried to create a shooting chance a couple of minutes later. Skye forced a couple of free-hits on 14 minutes but they were unable to trouble visiting keeper Stuart MacKintosh. Neale Reid flashed a shot wide of goal following another Glen corner on 16 minutes. There was then a short break in play as the official goal judges took over their duties. Skye’s Ally MacDonald received the game’s first booking when he hauled down a marauding Fraser Heath around 22 yards from goal. Skye keeper Iain Macleod made a fantastic save with his caman above his head as Fraser Heath fired a shot in from the right. Neale Reid sent the rebound into the side-netting as the tie approached the first half mid-point. A Neale Reid shot dipped over the bar on the half-hour mark as the visitors continued to have more attempts at goal. Glen goalie Stuart MacKintosh saved from Danny Morrison seconds later as Skye responded. There was a short break in play on 32 minutes as Chris MacLennan required treatment from Skye medics Dr Wilson Banks and Helen Gilpin after taking a knock to the leg. The Glen replaced Eddie Tembo with Billy Urquhart before play resumed. Stuart MacKintosh made a great save with his feet on 34 minutes from a 22 yard Will Cowie shot and the keeper cleared the ball for a Skye shy near the corner flag. Danny Morrison came within a whisker of giving Skye an interval lead a minute later. Will Cowie played a ball from the right into the edge of the D but Morrison steered the ball just the wrong side of the post as Stuart MacKintosh raced from his line to narrow the angle. Kenny Campbell disposed Michael Brady on 37 minutes and he found Danny Morrison on the Skye right. Morrison played a first-time ball across goal to Will Cowie wide on the left and Cowie’s shot rose just over the bar with keeper MacKintosh again sprinting from his line to good effect. Arran MacDonald’s shys were a useful weapon for Glenurquhart as the Skye defence dealt with some late first half pressure from the visitors. The last chance of the first half fell for Skye with Stuart MacKintosh turning a Danny Morrison drive away for a corner and the first 45 minutes passed without a goal. Glenurquhart were forced to make a change at the interval as Ally MacKintosh came on at full centre for an injured Arran MacDonald so Iain MacLeod moved to wing centre. Eddie Tembo also returned to the field of play. Skye had the elements in their favour in the second half and they had an early set-piece opportunity after Lewis MacLennan fouled Kenny Campbell on the Skye right but Will Cowie’s attempt from Allan MacKinnon’s free-hit was blocked and cleared. Glenurquhart then had a set-piece chance on 49 minutes when Neale Reid was brought down just outside the D and a goalmouth scramble followed with Fraser Heath in the thick of the action but, to the relief of the home support, Skye’s Ally MacDonald cleared the ball for a corner. John Barr was warned by referee Innes Wood a couple of minutes later for a foul on Will Cowie who was heading goalwards. Will Cowie just failed to get on the end of a Kenny Campbell cross from the left on 55 minutes. Kenny Campbell won a free hit around 18 yards from goal a minute later when he may have preferred advantage to have been played as he broke clear for goal. Jordan Murchison was next to attract the referee’s attention and he was shown a yellow card for a wee kick-out at Euan Lloyd on the hour mark. Lewis MacLennan did well to deflect away a Jordan Murchison bullet-shot for the safety of a corner a minute later. Kenny Campbell allowed a Jordan Murchison pass to run onto Allan MacKinnon but his 20 yard shot went over the bar. John Barr was booked for a late challenge on Kenny Campbell on 63 minutes and the Skye player required treatment before the free-hit was taken. Skye forced a total of four free-hits in quick succession but they were unable to breach the Glen defence. The Skye forwards were unable to get on the end of an inviting ball from Chris MacLennan into the Glen D on 68 minutes. James MacPherson came on for Glenurquhart on 69 minutes and he took over the right wing forward position. Skye continued to press and Danny Morrison shot wide of Stuart MacKintosh’s left post on 72 minutes. For all Skye’s pressure, they were not working visiting keeper Stuart MacKintosh. As the second half went on, it became clear that the opening goal would be crucial. A mazy Neale Reid run from just inside the Skye half on 76 minutes caused problems in the Skye defence with Iain MacLeod called on to save Reid’s effort with his feet before clearing the ball for a corner. Iain MacLeod saved a James MacPherson drive from the resulting corner and MacLeod did well to get the ball away under pressure from Andrew Corrigan. The rain started to get heavier as the forecast predicted but still both defences stood firm. The break-through came with just 7 minutes remaining as Glen’s Iain MacLeod played the ball down the right and Fraser Heath played a flick into the path of Neale Reid who got just ahead of his marker and he took a touch before turning the ball into the net to make it 1-0. Kenny MacLeod came on for Skye in a straight swap for Chris MacLennan with just 5 minutes remaining. Skye pushed forward in an attempt to get the goal which would force extra-time and a Kenny Campbell scoop into the D was cleared on 86 minutes. Glenurquhart sealed the win with just a minute remaining. Fraser Heath played a one-two with Neale Reid and although Heath saw his initial shot blocked by the Skye defence, he slammed the rebound into the net to make it 2-0. Skye keeper Iain MacLeod came off his line to clear a high ball from his name-sake Iain MacLeod into his goal area as the tie moved into stoppage time. Billy Urquhart came back on for scorer Heath in the closing seconds. In the end, Glenurquhart took their chances and following almost 3 minutes of minutes’ stoppage time, referee Innes Wood’s final whistle signalled justified celebration from the Glenurquhart support. The best players for both sides were in defence. Lewis MacLennan was outstanding for Glenurquhart full back whilst Euan Lloyd did well against Jordan Murchison. At the other end of the park, Skye’s Steven Morrison was commanding whilst buckshee back Neil MacVicar is establishing himself as an important member of the side. Glenurquhart have now reached their third consecutive RBS MacTavish Cup Final and after two defeats to Lovat, they will now face Newtonmore at the Bught Park on Saturday 13 June 2015. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod: Steven Morrison, Ally MacDonald, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Neil MacVicar: Allan MacKinnon, Gilleasbuig MacDonald (captain), Chris MacLennan: Will Cowie, Jordan Murchison, Danny Morrison, Kenny Campbell: subs Kenny MacLeod, Stewart Grant, Iain Murray Glenurquhart from: Stuart MacKintosh: Lewis MacLennan, Michael Brady, Euan Lloyd, John Barr: Arran MacDonald, Iain MacLeod, Connor Golabek: Andrew Corrigan (captain), Fraser Heath, Neale Reid, Eddie Tembo: subs Billy Urquhart, Ally MacKintosh, James MacPherson, Stuart Reid Match Referee – Innes Wood Goal Judges – Daniel MacRae & Rab MacAskill Linesmen – Douglas MacDougall & George Stewart The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |