Skye Camanachd U14 4 Fort William U14 2 | |
28 August 2016 Skye Camanachd U14 are through to the MacMaster Cup Final after they beat Fort William U14 4-2 in their last-four tie at Braeview Park on Friday 26 August 2016. The tie was originally scheduled for Craigard but an unplayable pitch meant the venue was changed to Braeview Park on the previous evening. The match took place on tight pitch but the surface was in superb condition. This 6.45pm throw up was to be played to a finish with 10 minutes each-way extra-time and penalties if necessary. The sides had met at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree a week earlier in Marine Harvest North Division 1. Skye won that encounter 6-3. Skye made a strong start to the Strong Skye start, with a couple of long-range shots from Dan MacDonald couple going wide. Then Mark and Holly MacLean combined and Ross Gordon fired just wide. The early pressure paid off as Skye took the lead after just 5 minutes. A rehearsed set-piece paid off when a Mark MacQueen corner from the left was finished off by Ross Gordon. Fort William came fighting back and Skye keeper Murphy Henderson did well to tip the ball over the bar following a Lachie Shaw lob from the half-way line. Skye went back on the attack and they doubled their lead on 20 minutes. A long ball from Christina MacDonald found Dan MacDonald who turned round his man to the touch line and cut the ball back across the D for Abby MacLean to score. Fort William then sent a couple of shots wide with one effort from Victor Smith going past the post from inside the D. Play swung from end to end as the first half drew to a close with Skye’s Jamie Gillies and Lachie Shaw from Fort William having a great battle in the middle of the park. Just as they did in the first half, Skye made a powerful start to the second period. Mark MacQueen shot over following good build up play from Holly MacLean whilst a low Ryan Macaskill shot went wide of goal. Then Ross Gordon broke through and squared the ball for Holly MacLean but the goalie made a smart save. Skye were not to be denied though and they went 3-0 ahead on 48 minutes. Jamie Gilles played the ball to Ross Gordon and he found Abby MacLean who rounded off the move with a cool finish. Skye Youth Coach Willie MacDonald made his first change on 50 minutes when Niall MacPhee came on for Holly MacLean. Fort William reduced the deficit 52 minutes when David Duncan scrambled the ball home with Skye claiming for at least one kick in the lead up to the goal. Fort William’s chances suffered a blow on 55 minutes when wing centre Paul Paterson got his marching orders from Neil Ferguson for swinging his stick at Mark MacQueen. Skye’s Cameron MacKay took over Liam MacPhee before the match restarted. Skye made their final change as Archie MacDonald replaced Abby MacLean on the hour mark. Fort William were hampered by the one-man advantage and they fell further behind on 65 minutes. This was a lovely team goal from Skye with Jamie Gillies, Ross Gordon and Dan MacDonald working the ball to Ryan Macaskill who calmly sent fired the ball home from the right hand side. Fort William pulled a goal back at the death when Victor Smith turned and hit the ball home to make it 4-2 with just a couple of minutes remaining. This was a great team display from Skye against difficult opposition. Skye full back James Morrison did another good marking job on Victor Smith whilst Christina MacDonald played the captain’s role and she was a rock in the middle of the Skye defence. Mark MacQueen was menacing throughout the whole game whilst Abby MacLean was always composed in front of goal. Lachie Shaw was again a stand-out for Fort William. Skye will have to wait to see who their MacMaster Cup Final opponents will be as the second semi-final between Oban Camanachd U14 and Kingussie U14, scheduled for the same evening, was postponed as the heavy rainfall during the day left An Aird unplayable. This tie has been rescheduled for Friday 2 September 2016 whilst the 2016 MacMaster Cup Final takes place at An Aird on Saturday 17 September 2016. Skye Camanachd U14 from: Murphy Henderson; James Morrison, Gilleasbuig MacVicar, Liam MacPhee, Christina MacDonald (captain); Ryan Macaskill, Jamie Gillies, Mark MacQueen; Ross Gordon, Holly MacLean, Abby MacLean, Dan MacDonald; subs Niall MacPhee, Cameron MacKay, Archie MacDonald Scorers Skye Camanachd U14 Ross Gordon (5) Abby MacLean (20, 48) Ryan Macaskill (65) Fort William U14 David Duncan (52) Victor Smith (68) Match Referee – Neil Ferguson |