Skye Camanachd 8 Boleskine 0 | |
14 October 2015 Marine Harvest North Division 2 league champions Skye Camanachd rounded off their season in style with an 8-0 win over Boleskine at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 10 October 2015. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle made five changes to the 15 man squad which beat Inverness to clinch the Marine Harvest North Division 2 title last weekend. John MacKenzie was injured whilst Calum Gibb and Neil John Campbell were in Ireland with the Alba squad ahead of Iomain Cholmcille 8. Iain MacLellan and Chris MacLennan were on holiday. Regular buckshee Stewart Grant has moved abroad whilst Jamie Gannon was still out but both have been important players throughout the season. There were call-ups for Skye U17 players Ross Nicolson and Jack Henderson whilst another youngster, U14 player Martin Pringle was a late addition to a 16-man squad. Chris Rose and Kyle Pirie were included and was included as was 17 year old Will Cowie who took a place on the substitutes’ bench before moving to the USA for the winter months however he didn’t play. This 2.30pm throw up was also sixth placed Boleskine’s final game of the season and they travelled a few players short of their first choice squad. The whole match was broadcast LIVE on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd Live show. The overnight rain had left the pitch heavy, making it difficult to play flowing shinty. Skye played towards the Struan Road end of the ground in the first half. There was a slow opening to the match but Angie MacDonald gave Skye a 6 minute lead when he controlled a long ball from John Gillies at the edge of the D before lobbing Boleskine keeper Craig Pirrie to score. Skye almost added a second a couple of minutes later when Angie MacDonald steered the ball into the path of James Pringle but Craig Pirrie saved well with his feet. A clever ball goalwards from Ross Nicolson was chested down by keeper Craig Pirrie and the ball was cleared for a corner. Skye doubled their advantage on 17 minutes when Boleskine defender Hamish Stoddart turned a John Gillies corner into his own net under pressure from James Pringle. Boleskine veteran Neil Ferguson came deep to collect the ball on 19 minutes but his low drive form distance was stopped by Skye keeper Ryan Morrison who then managed to get the ball away. Skye created a lot of chances with Angie MacDonald and James Pringle going close on a number of occasions but Craig Pirrie, who seemed to be enjoing his busy afternoon, was equal to their efforts. Skye boss Davie Pringle changed things just after the half hour mark. Thomas Wilson came on at wing centre and Angie MacDonald came off. John Angus MacInnes went to full forward with John Gillies going to buckshee forward. Daniel Morrison made it 3-0 on 36 minutes when he beat his man before sending a brilliant 35 yard strike which nestled in the top corner of the net. Craig Pirrie saved well from John Gillies a minute later. The Skye centre line was on top of the game and if the ball did pass them, buckshee back Chris Rose, who was marking Boleskine's dangerous Neil Hope, mopped up the danger. Skye’s Jack Henderson made his second team debut at half time and Angie MacDonald came back on, replacing James Pringle. Skye’s John Angus MacInnes then scored twice to make it 5-0. His first goal came on 47 minutes when he knocked an Angie MacDonald cut-back from the by-line into the net. His second came courtesy of some neat aerial inter-play with Angie MacDonald around the penalty spot which MacInnes finished off by flicking the ball high into the net to make it 6-0. The Skye forwards were now playing some nice shinty and Boleskine were showing signs of tiring. John Angus MacInnes completed his hat-trick on 66 minutes with a low 20 yard drive from the left. Skye reshuffled again and full back David Grant and full forward Angie MacDonald swapped positions whilst James Pringle returned to the field in place of Daniel Morrison. Boleskine keeper Craig Pirrie made a point-blank save from James Pringle on 69 minutes and it didn’t look like being Pringle’s day in front of goal. David Grant made the best of his opportunity up front on 70 minutes when he collected a DJ Gilpin pass and took the Boleskine back-line by surprise with a blistering shot from wide on the left which beat the keeper inside his left post. It was a great strike and probably the pick of the afternoon’s goals. David Grant got his second just 3 minutes later to make it 8-0 when he sent a backhand drive inside Pirrie’s left post after playing a one-two with John Gillies. Skye gave a second team debut to Martin Pringle on 77 minutes and he almost scored from a rebound shortly after coming on. Skye closed out the rest of the game and Boleskine, whose top performer was keeper Craig Pirrie, played in good spirit, hard enough but fair, and at the end of the match, the visitors showed their class when they crossed camans to form a “Guard of Honour” for the Skye players as they went forward to receive the league trophy. The presentation was made to Skye captain David MacInnes by Marine Harvest Site Manager John Angus Gillies, introduced by Camanachd Association Competitions Director Keith Loades, and Gillies also refereed the game. Skye last lifted this particular trophy in 1982 under a different league structure and it has been some time since the Skye seconds won a league competition. The win rounds off a fine season for the Skye reserves who have put in so much hard work and showed great commitment over the last 12 months. They have a great team spirit and have pulled together on a number of occasions when they have been up against it to achieve some fantastic results. They will now have to set-it-up for a season in Marine Harvest North Division 1 next year and plans for that have started already. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison; David Grant, Kyle Pirie, DJ Gilpin, Chris Rose; Ross Nicolson, David MacInnes (captain), John Gillies; John Angus MacInnes, Daniel Morrison, James Pringle, Angie MacDonald; subs Thomas Wilson, Jack Henderson, Martin Pringle, Will Cowie Boleskine from: Craig Pirrie; Graham Black; Hamish Stoddart, Gavin Butterworth, Sandy Fraser; Craig Hazel, John Fraser, Michael Pirrie; Neil Hope, Ross Anderson, Sam Evans, Neil Ferguson; sub Duncan MacPherson Match Referee – John Angus Gillies The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |