Skye Camanachd 0 Kinlochshiel 0 | |
25 June 2018 Skye Camanachd gained a creditable 0-0 draw with league leaders Kinlochshiel at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 23 June 2018. Skye manager John MacLeod was working so assistants Donnie “Digg” MacDonald and Ian “Dowel” MacLeod looked after the side along with second team manager Kenny MacLeod. They were without Kenny Campbell and Iain Nicolson who were both unavailable whilst Will Cowie failed a fitness test, joining Ally MacDonald and Iain Murray on the injury list. Kinlochshiel were looking to bounce back following the disappointment of the previous week’s cottages.com MacTavish Cup Final defeat to Newtonmore. John MacRae was ruled out with a back injury whilst Conor Cormack, who has been playing with a niggling injury, started on the bench. Manger Johnston Gill gave youngsters Duncan “WD” MacRae and Duncan Matheson starts in the wing forward positions. Throw up is at 2.30pm and the whole match was broadcast LIVE online and on radio on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. Skye captain Jordan Murchison won the toss of the coin and opted to play with the wind advantage in the first half, shooting towards the Viewfield end of the ground. And Murchison sent an early shot over the junction between post and bar as Skye started well. Jordan Fraser struck a bouncing 25 yard shot towards the Skye goal which was saved by Skye keeper Iain MacLeod and turned away for a corner. Martin Pringle then got away from his marker and his effort was saved low by his left post by ‘Shiel custodian Scott Kennedy. Kennedy then saved from both Pringle and Murchison following the resultant corner. Skye were on a roll and Jordan Murchison took an Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod pass and made space before shooting an inch the wrong side of the post. Skye had a set-piece chance when Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod was fouled. John Gillies found Jordan Murchison who whipped a bouncing ball on target. Scott Kennedy made a fine reflex save and Ruairidh MacLeod sent the rebound just wide. Play quickly switched to the other end and Keith MacRae shot wide although he probably had more time than he realised and the contest remained scoreless after 25 minutes. Jordan Fraser got away from Jamie Gillies on the ‘Shiel right but Connor Gilpin did very well to get his body in the way to block Fraser’s effort at the expense of a corner. Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill made changes on 30 minutes, taking off wing centre Duncan “DA” MacRae and bringing on Conor Cormack in defence with Donald Nixon pushed forward into his more accustomed wing centre role. Just 5 minutes later, Finlay MacRae picked our a run from Keith MacRae down the ‘Shiel right but Iain MacLeod got his body behind MacRae’s strike from a tight angle and the visitors had to settle for a corner. Iain MacLeod then used his hand to swipe away a dangerous bouncing ball from Donald Nixon, struck from the middle of the park. There was plenty of goalmouth action and Iain MacLeod used his stick to deflect away an Oliver MacRae cross and Skye quickly broke forward but they were unable to trouble Scott Kennedy and the first half ended goalless. ‘Shiel’s Duncan Matheson needed treatment early in the second half but he was able to continue after attention from medic Chris Nixon. On 55 minutes, Skye’s Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod was cautioned when referee Graham Cameron booked him for preventing Donald Nixon from taking a quick free-hit. Keith MacRae drove wide when the set-piece was eventually taken. Ruaraidh MacLeod got onto a ball into the D but his effort came off the keeper’s right post. The Islanders were eventually awarded a free-hit and then a corner but the ‘Shiel defenders threw their bodies in the way to block a number of attempts at goal. ‘Shiel brought on Ali Nixon and Scott MacLean for Jordan Fraser and Duncan Matheson just after the hour mark. Just 5 minutes later, Ally “Cleodi MacLeod, who was having a good game, won possession in the Skye midfield and Jordan Murchison got onto a long ball from Martin Pringle and he took a touch before sending a shot just past Scott Kennedy’s right post. Skye’s Ruaraidh MacLeod was next to require treatment after challenging with Paul MacRae and Ross Gordon came off the bench in his place. The visitors were awarded a free-hit wide on the left when Jamie Gillies was penalised for a push in the back on Scott MacLean. Donald Nixon took it and his ball to the back post was missed by a Skye defender and Shiel’s Keith MacRae hit the side netting. Ruaraidh MacLeod came back on for Skye with Iain MacLellan withdrawn. Conor Cormack brought down Skye’s Ruaraidh MacLeod with a rugby tackle and Stewart Grant played the free-hit to Jordan Murchison who took a touch before unleashing what looked a net-bound shot. However Scott Kennedy dived to his right to turn away the ball with his caman. It was a magnificent save with the ball behind the keeper when he made the stop. The ball remained in play and when it was turned back into the D, Kennedy used his leg to stop a bouncing ball on his line and Skye had to be content with a corner with 16 minutes left. Scott MacLean had to come off to change his boots after one of them burst so Jordan Fraser returned. ‘Shiel’s influential forward Keith MacRae went down with just over 10 minutes remaining after appearing to twist his knee and Scott MacLean came back on in his place. James Morrison did well to stop the ball and play it out for a corner under pressure from Scott MacLean. Jordan Murchison fired past the post at the second attempt with just 6 minutes remaining. Ali Nixon sent a good ball across the face goal after a scramble in the dangerl area but there were no takers and John Gillies stepped in to clear his lines. With just a couple of minutes remaining, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod played in a shy from the Skye right and Martin Pringle sent Jordan Murchison racing down the right wing. Murchison got away from Paul MacRae and Scott Kennedy was forced to sprint from his line. Kennedy spread himself to block the initial shot. Murchison retrieved the rebound but, with two defenders on the line, Kennedy deflected the ball away for a corner with his stick. ‘Shiel broke from the corner and Jordan Fraser played the ball into the middle but Scott MacLean’s effort went wide. ‘Shiel finished the game on the attack but, after 3 minutes stoppage time, referee Graham Cameron’s final whistle was loudly greeted by the Skye support. There appreciation was as much in recognition of the attitude and effort expanded by their young players - against the odds - as it was in welcome of the team’s third league point of the season. The Skye defence included U17 players Jamie Gillies, Connor Gilpin and James Morrison along with 18 year old John Gillies who turned in a man of the match performance. Stewart Grant had a great game at full centre, ably assisted by the tireless James Pringle at wing centre whilst Martin Pringle and Jordan Murchison had fine matches in attack. Skye had Kinlochshiel on the ropes at times but they were unable to land the knock-out punch that would have yielded a surprise win. The Islanders don’t have a fixture this coming Saturday but they must look to build on the momentum as vital home meetings with Oban Camanachd and Lochaber loom large on Saturday 7 July 2018 and the Saturday after. Kinlochshiel certainly missed John MacRae’s physical presence in attack and there may well have a MacTavish Cup hangover of sorts from the previous week. The performances of keeper Scott Kennedy and youngsters Duncan “WD” MacRae and Duncan Matheson were probably the most pleasing things for the large visiting support. Whilst there would have been disappointment as the team returned south without the win, perhaps the fact they got out of Portree with a point, when they could have had little complaint if they’d departed empty-handed, could yet prove to be important come the end of the season. Manager Johnston Gill was very complimentary of Skye’s performance but he will no doubt demand more of his squad as they host Kingussie in the Artemis MacAulay Cup semi-finals this coming Saturday. Skye Camanachd from; Iain MacLeod; Jamie Gillies, Connor Gilpin, James Morrison, John Gillies; Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Stewart Grant, James Pringle; Martin Pringle, Iain MacLellan, Ruaraidh MacLeod, Jordan Murchison, subs Allan MacLeod, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Daniel Morrison, Kenny MacLeod Kinlochshiel from: Scott Kennedy; Finlay MacRae, David Falconer, Paul MacRae (captain), Mark MacDonald; Duncan “DA” MacRae, Donald Nixon, Oliver MacRae; Ali Nixon, Jordan Fraser, Keith MacRae, John MacRae; subs Scott MacLean, Duncan “WD” MacRae, Duncan Matheson Match Referee – Graham Cameron Goal Judges – Willie Cameron & Donnie Martin Scorers Skye Camanachd None Kinlochshiel None The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |