Skye Camanachd 0 Newtonmore 4 | |
19 April 2016 Newtonmore are through to the RBS MacTavish Cup semi-finals after they beat Skye Camanachd 4-0 in their last-eight tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 16 April 2016. Skye Camanachd first team manager John MacLeod made four changes to the squad which was named for the previous weekend’s postponed Marine Harvest Premiership match against Fort William. Shockie MacLennan and Iain Nicolson were working – although Nicolson was able to play for the second team at Blairbeg - and Allan MacLeod dropped out of the squad. Chris MacLennan returned after playing for the seconds last weekend and there were call-ups for David MacInnes and James Pringle. The Skye boss remained without Will Cowie and the injured Iain Murray and Ally “Spod” MacLeod. In a late change, Iain Murray suffered a broken finger in training on Thursday night so DJ Gilpin was named in his place. John MacLeod was working so second team boss Davie Pringle looked after the team in his place. Newtonmore boss Paul John MacKintosh had Paul MacArthur back in his starting line-up after he missed the previous weekend’s 3-0 win over Lochaber in their Marine Harvest Premiership meeting at Spean Bridge. Norman Campbell played his last match for at least 6 weeks as he is scheduled to have knee surgery. Keeper Owen Fraser was free of his two match suspension so he took over from Michael Ritchie in goal. Forward Fraser MacKintosh was missing. Throw up was at 2.30pm and the whole match was broadcast LIVE on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd Live show. Newtonmore won the toss and they played towards the Struan Road end of the ground in the first half. Jamie Gannon did well to keep out a Glen MacKintosh strike with the first chance of the game on 4 minutes. The Skye keeper saved with his feet after Steven Morrison had slipped on the greasy surface but the visitors had to settle for a corner. However Glen MacKintosh did put Newtonmore ahead after 6 minutes when he controlled a Paul MacArthur shy before sending a 20 yard waist-high shot into the net to make it 1-0. Skye responded and a Jordan Murchison volley a couple of minutes later was deflected by a defender past the post for a corner. Play quickly switched to the other end and Iain Robinson shot over the bar. Danny Morrison sent a shot goalwards after Chris MacLennan had flicked on a Gilleasbuig MacDonald free-hit on 15 minutes but ‘More keeper Owen Fraser saved with his feet at the expense of a corner. Skye’s Ally MacDonald made a fine covering tackle to halt a dangerous run from Iain Robinson on 17 minutes. Seconds later, Skye had to make an early change with David MacInnes replacing Allan MacKinnon who had been carrying an injury going into the game. The visitors doubled their advantage on 26 minutes when they punished the Skye defence for failing to clear their lines. Evan Menzies collected a pass from Glen MacKintosh and, with little back-lift, he sent a fine 12 yard strike past Skye keeper Jamie Gannon to make it 3-0. Skye created a half-chance from the restart but Danny Morrison was just unable to get on the end of a Chris MacLennan ball. A terrific save from Owen Fraser above his shoulder with his caman denied Kenny Campbell on 28 minutes. Jamie Gannon made a fine reflex save with his foot on 31 minutes after Chris Sellar had found Glen MacKintosh and the Newtonmore hitman shot goalwards at the second attempt. Evan Menzies then gave ‘More a 3-0 interval advantage with his second goal of the afternoon on 39 minutes. Drew MacDonald sent a corner to the back post where Menzies tucked the ball home. Owen Fraser got his foot to a Chris MacLennan shot a couple of minutes later and he deflected the ball away for a corner. The ‘More keeper then did well to clear Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod’s corner out of his D to safety. Chris MacLennan and Rory Kennedy had an accidental coming together just before Danny Morrison saw his shot flicked away for a corner by Owen Fraser. The half-time whistle came before the corner could be taken. Chris MacLennan required treatment from Skye medic Helen Gilpin but he had to come off at half-time with what later turned out to be a broken thumb and he will be sidelined for up to 6 weeks. James Pringle came on in his place. Rory Kennedy was also replaced in favour of Craig Ritchie at the same time. Paul MacArthur required treatment on 54 minutes after he was caught on the top of the head by David MacInnes’ caman. David Fraser came on seconds later as a direct replacement at left-wing centre. Both teams went through spells of possession without troubling either keeper. Newtonmore seemed to effortlessly move the ball from one end of the pitch to the other and Evan Menzies completed his hat-trick on 62 minutes following one such move. Chris Sellar played the ball to the ‘More left and Menzies picked up a reverse pass from Glen MacKintosh before sending the ball into the far corner of the net to seal the 4-0 win. Newtonmore took Glen MacKintosh off on 66 minutes and sent Neil Stewart on in his place. Jamie Gannon got his chest behind a Neil Stewart strike through a ruck of players a couple of minutes later after Iain Robinson had displayed some good wing play. A Danny Morrison shot drifted wide on 74 minutes. A patched-up Paul MacArthur returned to the field of play shortly after for ‘More with Chris Sellar withdrawn. Drew MacDonald pushed forward with MacArthur returning to the wing centre role. Jamie Gannon dived across his goal as an Evan Menzies strike flew wide and the game moved into the final 10 minutes. There was little goalmouth actions during the closing stages and Newtonmore now face Glenurquhart in the RBS MacTavish Cup semi-finals on Saturday 14 May 2016 in what is a repeat of the 2015 final. The less experienced David MacInnes and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod came away from the game with most credit in the Skye ranks. Hat-trick hero Evan Menzies and full centre Norman Campbell were tops for Newtonmore. There was a great contest between the two youngest players on the park – Skye defender John Gillies and Newtonmore forward Iain Robinson. Skye return to league duty this coming Saturday as they face another difficult challenge; against Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich. Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison, Ally MacDonald, John Gillies, Neil MacVicar (captain); Allan MacKinnon, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod; Jordan Murchison, Chris MacLennan, Danny Morrison, Kenneth Campbell; subs David MacInnes, James Pringle, DJ Gilpin Newtonmore from: Owen Fraser; Steven MacDonald (captain), Andy MacKintosh, Michael Russell, Rory Kennedy; Drew MacDonald, Norman Campbell, Paul MacArthur; Evan Menzies, Chris Sellar, Iain Robinson, Glen MacKintosh; subs Neil Stewart, David Fraser, Craig Ritchie Match Referee – Evan MacRae The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan Scores Skye Camanachd None Newtonmore Glen MacKintosh (6) Evan Menzies (26, 39, 62) |