Skye Camanachd Saturday Shinty Shorts | |
29 July 2015 There was a busy day’s shinty at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 25 July 2015. Skye Camanachd stay second in the Marine Harvest National Division after their 3-2 win over Inverness in their 3pm throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye manager John MacLeod was without injured pair Steven Morrison and Shockie MacLennan whilst Inverness boss Drew Mcneil travelled with just twelve players with Somhairle MacDonald, Craig Nicolson and Davie Duncan amongst his absentees. Inverness started brightly and Skye had to withstand some early pressure. However the Islanders took the lead on 29 minutes when Danny Morrison collected a Will Cowie pass on the Skye right. Morrison tried to pick out Kenny Campbell but the ball rebounded back to him off an Inverness defender and he tucked the ball past keeper Adam MacMaster to make it 1-0. Skye doubled their lead on 34 minutes. There was a scramble in front of the Inverness goal and with no one in the visiting defence taking responsibility to clear the danger; Jordan Murchison pushed the ball into space before running forward to score from just inside the D. Kenny Campbell made it 3-0 just 5 minutes before the break with a low shot into the net after some terrific set-up play from Allan MacKinnon. Skye goalie Iain MacLeod made a tremendous save from James Cameron early in the second half but Cameron got his goal on 62 minutes when he sent a powerful shot into the back of the net following a cut-back on the left. Inverness cut Skye’s lead to a single goal on 71 minutes when Michael Price cut the ball back to Charlie MacDonald and he blasted the ball into the net to make it 3-2. Indeed Inverness came close to drawing level when James Cameron fired goalwards but Iain MacLeod made a brilliant save with his right foot. The win keeps Skye in the title race but they will have to produce an improved performance to match Balliemore Cup winners Beauly at Pairc nan Laoch next weekend. League leaders Skye Camanachd came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with third place Caberfeidh in their noon throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Skye laid siege on the Caberfeidh goal from the throw up and a combination of some great saves from visiting keeper Roy Mutter and some wayward finishing prevented the Islanders from taking the lead. And they were made to pay on 25 minutes when Gavin McLachlan punished some slack defending to put Cabers ahead. Worse was to follow for Skye as Ben MacDonald swivelled before firing home from a free-hit on the right with 33 minutes played. With Skye second team manger Davie Pringle unavailable, first team boss John MacLeod looked after the side and he delivered a stern half-time team talk and he saw his side attack from the restart. Skye pulled a goal back on 64 minutes when Iain Nicolson held the ball up before slipping a pass to John Gillies who crashed a clean shot into the net to make it 2-1. Skye drew level on 74 minutes. This time scorer John Gillies turned provider as he set up Iain Nicolson who sent a great drive high into the net to make it 2-2. Each side had a chance to score a winning goal before referee Evan MacRae’s final whistle. Skye had a let-off 4 minutes from time when defender Stewart Grant some-how managed to stretch across the goal-line as to clear the ball with Andrew MacMaster in close attendance. Then, with a minute to go, there was panic in the Caberfeidh defence as a Scott MacLachlan goal-hit fell at the feet of Skye full forward Iain Nicolson but he was unable to get any power in his shot and McLachlan blocked his effort before clearing the ball. With second place Glengarry losing to Aberdeen University, Skye stay top of the table. After the first and second team games, a Skye Camanachd XII and the Skye Camanachd Ladies both played challenge matches against the visiting English Shinty Association at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 25 July 2015. The Skye Ladies were 4-0 winners in their match whilst the ESA triumphed 4-2 in the mens’ match. Skye Camanachd U17 will not be in action now until after the summer break. Skye Camanachd U14 will not be in action now until after the summer break. |