Strathspey Camanachd 3 Skye Camanachd 4 - UPDATED! | |
13 July 2014 Skye Camanachd are through to the Strathdearn Cup Final after they edged out Strathspey Camanachd 4-3 in their semi-final tie at Grantown Grammar School on Saturday 5 July 2014. This 1.30pm throw up was the first ever meeting between Strathspey Camanachd and Skye Camanachd. With Skye Camanachd co-managers Angie MacDonald and John Angus MacInnes part of the squad, Raymond MacCallum assisted from the touchline. Thomas Wilson and DJ Gilpin were added to the sixteen man squad which lost out to Kinlochshiel the previous weekend whilst David Grant dropped out as he was involved with the Islanders’ first team. Chris Campbell was a late call-off and there were starting spots for U17 player Kyle Pirie and John Gillies from the U14s whilst fellow-youngster James Pringle was on the bench. Strathspey recently boosted their squad with the addition of former Newtonmore player Mark MacDonald but they were missing the injured Martin Ross. Andy Hay and Edgars Peca provided a real goal threat. They sat second top of Marine Harvest North Division 3 so with Skye bottom of Marine Harvest North Division 2, the sides were only separated by one league place. A large home support gathered to cheer on their favourites and they were to enjoy a dramatic afternoon’s shinty. Strathspey looked sure to go ahead after 10 minutes. A loose ball was picked up by Andy Hay but from just a few yards out, Skye keeper Iain MacLeod did really well to first save with his feet and stopped the rebound before clearing the ball for a corner. Skye made the most of this let-off by taking a 15 minute lead. John Gillies hit a shot which was blocked by full back Tom McKeand, who was behind keeper Steven Shand, but Gilles whipped the rebound home from close range. Strathspey were not deflated though and they went straight up the park to equalise when Mark MacDonald continued his recent goal scoring run by converting the Strath’s first real opportunity. Skye were forced to make a change with defender DJ Gilpin coming off. Angie MacDonald came on and Chris MacLennan dropped back into defence. The Islanders began to create a number of opportunities and forced Steven Shand in the Strathspey goal to pull off several saves to keep the scores even. However the visitors got their reward when a long ball from midfield was taken out of the air by Strath wing back Bruce Grant. However the ball slightly ran away from him towards the unmarked Alan Palmer and he sent a rasping shot into the net from 12 yards to make it 2-1. Strathspey fought back for a second time and they made it 2-2 just 5 minutes later. Andrew Hay picked up mid-way through the Skye half and began a trademark run goal wards, drawing in a couple of defenders, before slipping the ball to his left where Edgars Peca was waiting and the Latvian stoked the ball home to the delight of the home support. A long range effort from the visitors produced a fine body save from Shand before he flicked the ball behind and out of the danger area. However Skye went in front for a third time from the resulting corner. A well-rehearsed move saw the ball break to John Gillies and he turned his man before striking the ball from just further out than the penalty spot into roof off the net to leave the Islanders 3-2 ahead at the break. Skye took Thomas Wilson on for John Angus MacInnes at half time. Skye tried to extend their lead from the restart and they created a number of opportunities as the home defence struggled to clear their lines. Skye came within a whisker of increasing their lead when Steven Shand, who was excellent in goal, got in the way of a fine Alan Palmer drive at his near post. The ball ran almost along the goal line and although John Gillies got to it at the back post, he was unable to turn the ball over the line and the Strathspey scrambled it away for a corner. Gillies was not to be denied though and he completed his first reserve team hat-trick on the hour mark. The youngster, who is still playing U14 shinty, found space on the right and smashed the ball high into the net from around 12 yards to make it 4-2. Strathspey showed their resilience once more and new signing Ross Clachy came on in attack and made a big difference as the home team pressed to stay in the cup. Clancy was involved as Strathspey pulled the score back to 4-3. The substitute drew out the Skye defence on the Strathspey right which allowed Mark MacDonald to find room on the opposite side. The two new boys linked and MacDonald grabbed his second of the afternoon with a well struck shot with just 12 minutes remaining. Strathspey went for an equaliser in the closing stages and almost sent the home crowd into raptures when Edgars Peca was denied by Iain MacLeod following a one-on-one with just a couple of minutes left on the clock. . Referee John Matheson’s final whistle gave Skye a place in the 2014 Strathdearn Cup Final where they'll meet Newtonmore, who overcame Glenurquhart 3-1 at Blairbeg after extra time in the other semi-final. Strathspey Camanachd from: Steven Shand; Tom McKeand, Bruce Grant, Trevor McIntosh, Keith Clark; Lawrence Belleni, Jayjay Gray, Steven Kersley; Andrew Hay, Mark MacDonald, Chris Cameron, Edgars Peca subs Graham Shand, Ross Clachy, Liam Tinney. Robert Stone Skye Camanachd from: Iain Macleod, Andrew Banks, Calum Gibb, Kyle Pirie, DJ Gilpin; Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, David MacInnes (captain), Chris MacLennan; John Angus MacInnes, John Gillies, Iain MacLellan, Alan Palmer, subs Angie MacDonald, Thomas Wilson, Daniel Morrison, James Pringle Match Referee – John Matheson Scorers Strathspey Camanachd Mark MacDonald Edgars Peca Skye Camanachd John Gillies 3 Alan Palmer |