Skye & Lochcarron Do Ally “Mor” Proud - UPDATED! | |
16 October 2021 Skye Camanachd won the inaugural Alasdair Morrison Memorial Cup following a thrilling 4-3 victory over Lochcarron at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 16 October 2021. Pairc nan Laoch’s biggest crowd of the season gathered from near and far for this much anticipated contest with Skye second team manager Allan MacLeod handing over touchline responsibilities to Steven Morrison. Skye featured a mixture of first team, second team and U17 players for the match with U14 skipper Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod coming off the bench to make an impressive contribution in defence. Lochcarron, with manager Murdo John Fraser unavailable, travelled with a strong squad although injuries restricted Peter MacKenzie and David Bauermeister to places on the bench. There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up to mark the previous day’s passing of Skye stalwart Cal MacKinnon. Skye opened towards the Skeabost end of the ground and they enjoyed the early pressure. Ross Gordon needed treatment from Skye medic Helen Gilpin after suffering a leg knock but was able to continue. Lochcarron came more into the game and Ben Dalgety and Gregor Cushnie forced a fine double save from Skye keeper Ryan Morrison on 11 minutes with the visitors having to settle for a corner on their right. Skye defended the initial corner but when Paddy MacInnes sent the ball across for a second time, Sandy Urquhart fired into the net from the back post but he was clearly offside so the effort was ruled out. Skye’s Danny Morrison had only played one practice match over the previous three years but showed he has lost none of his touch when he put Skye in front on 12 minutes. Ian MacPherson’s long ball found Jordan Murchison in space on the Skye left. Murchison’s low ball across the front of the D was missed by Kenny Cushnie and Danny Morrison crashed the ball over the keeper’s right shoulder to make it 1-0. Jordan Murchison turned Dougie MacKenzie soon after to get onto Ross Gordon’s pass down the middle but the ball didn’t run on the bobbly surface and Lochcarron eventually managed to scramble the ball away after Iain Cameron had saved from Archie Millar. Millar went close again from the resultant corner but Cameron was again equal to his effort. Lochcarron levelled when Gregor Cushnie blasted home a great strike from the right on 20 minutes after Ben Dalgety and Paddy MacInnes combined down the right wing. Skye’s younger players were making the most of their opportunity and defender William James Sutherland had to replace his stick after it shattered when he made a good blocking challenge. At the other end, Archie Millar cut in from the right and his strike was just wide of target. Skye regained the lead on 33 minutes when Jordan Murchison gathered Daniel Morrison’s ball from the left before working himself into a shooting position. Murchison’s effort was saved with his right foot by Iain Cameron but Danny Morrison showed his poacher’s instincts to turn home the rebound on his backhand from close range. Gregor Cushnie flashed a shot wide following Crisdean Finlayson’s long ball forward as Lochcarron looked to level for a second time. When Ian MacPherson won possession on the Skye left, Jordan Murchison and Archie Millar combined and the ball broke to Danny Morrison who fired home on his backhand from the right, completing his hat-trick to make it 3-1 on 36 minutes. Substitute Angus Gilpin, on for Archie Millar, burst into the D from the Skye right when Daniel Morrison played on Sam Macphee’s ball from midfield but Lochcarron managed to force the ball away for a corner with the last chance of the first half. Angus Gilpin took Jordan Murchison’s low ball from near the corner flag on the left before shooting wide early in the second half. Lochcarron went on to have their best period in the game and when Skye failed to clear Kenny Cushnie’s ball forward from the middle of the park on 51 minutes, Gregor Cushnie made them pay as he slammed the ball into the top corner of the net to the keeper’s right. Almost straight from the restart, Ryan Morrison did well to tip Angus Urquhart’s high ball from wide on the right away for a corner on the Lochcarron left. Daniel Morrison’s strike from the left was saved with his legs by Iain Cameron before Lochcarron levelled the contest on the hour. Sandy Urquhart played on Dougie MacKenzie’s goal-hit and Gregor Cushnie turned Jamie Gillies before running in on goal and tucking the ball low into the net to make it 3-3. Jordan Murchison and Danny Morrison both went close for Skye before Lochcarron almost went in front on 63 minutes but Ryan Morrison did well to keep out Ben Dalgety’s effort. Sandy Urquhart should have scored from the rebound but the ball went across goal before being pushed away for a corner. It was now game on and Dougie MacKenzie and David MacCuish were effective at the back for Lochcarron as Skye tried to get back in front. Iain Cameron came off his line to halt Jordan Murchison’s run into the D after Ross Gordon had touched on a David MacInnes ball from midfield, Skye, with Scott MacLeod now on, forced a series of corners but the closest they came was a Jordan Murchison strike from a central position which came off the keeper’s left post. Lochcarron pushed the ball away from a corner before Ross Gordon could profit. However the winning goal came from the resulting corner on 67 minutes when Jordan Murchison, who was involved in all four Skye goals, played Daniel Morrison’s corner from the left on to Ross Gordon and he hammered the ball high into the net from the Skye right. It was a goal fit enough to win any game. Lochcarron’s Gregor Cushnie almost produced a late leveller but his outrageous over-head flick went just by Ryan Morrison’s left post with referee John Angus Gillies sounding the final whistle just moments later. Skye youngsters William James Sutherland, Archie MacDonald, Archie Millar, Angus Gilpin and Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod impressed throughout and will be looking forward to next season already. There were after-match presentations to referee John Angus Gillies and his goal judges Donnie Martin and George Hendry before Sarah Corrigall and Laura MacKay made their man of the match selection, an excellent choice in Skye’s Danny Morrison who just edged out Lochcarron’s Gregor Cushnie. Lochcarron captain Douglas MacKenzie led his team up before John Angus Morrison handed over the Alasdair Morrison Memorial Trophy with Skye skipper Ian MacPherson and Danny Morrison in attendance. Both teams and the bulging crowd did Ally Mor’s memory proud. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison: Jamie Gillies, William James Sutherland, Allan MacLeod, Sam Macphee: Archie MacDonald, David MacInnes, Ian MacPherson (captain): Danny Morrison, Archie Millar, Ross Gordon, Jordan Murchison: subs Daniel Morrison, Angus Gilpin, Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod, Scott MacLeod Lochcarron from: Iain Cameron: Dougie MacKenzie (captain), Kenny Cushnie, Fraser Stewart, David MacCuish: Angus Thorburn, Crisdean Finlayson, Sean MacCuish: Ben Dalgety, Paddy MacInnes, Sandy Urquhart, Gregor Cushnie: subs Peter MacKenzie, David Bauermeister Match Referee – John Angus Gillies Goal Judges – Donnie Martin & George Hendry
Post match note: There was a collection at the match for the local MacMillan Nurses and a huge thanks goes out to all who contributed. Post-match note: the magnificent sum of £1,017 was raised.
Click on the following link to watch match highlights. |