The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 28 November 2015 | |
29 November 2015 Kingussie remain amongst shinty’s elite as two second half goals meant they beat Kilmallie 2-0 in their Marine Harvest Premiership play-off match at the Bught Park on Saturday 28 November 2015. This was the first – and indeed the last for now at least but more of that later - Marine Harvest Premiership play-off following the league structure changes at the end of the 2014 season. Kingussie finished in ninth spot in the top league whilst Kilmallie were runners-up to Skye Camanachd in the league below. The winners would take a place in shinty’s top division next season whilst the losers would take a place in the Marine Harvest National Division. Kilmallie boss Mark MacPherson hadn’t seen his team in competitive action since they beat Ballachulish at the end of September. They had been training hard since and a few players had managed the odd appearance for the second team during October. MacPherson was forced to make changes to his usual starting twelve as wing centre Iain Robertson failed a late fitness test whilst talisman John Stewart was only fit enough for a place on the bench. North U17 player Innes Blackhall was given a start at wing centre whilst Ryan Stewart joined the attack. Kingussie co-managers Russell Jones and Davie Anderson were without Fraser Munro who served the second game of a two-match suspension for passing the disciplinary points threshold. The Kings last played at the end of October. They were less than 10 minutes away from avoiding the play-off spot before losing 2-1 to Oban Camanachd at Mossfield. They field an experienced core to their side with keeper Craig Dawson, James Hutchison, Lee Bain, John Gibson, Louis Munro and Barrie Dallas adopting the central positions and the club’s young pretenders taking up their positions in the majority of the wider areas. Kilmallie captain Liam MacDonald featured in both of Scotland’s Shinty / Hurling internationals against Ireland; scoring in the first match at the Bught Park. Kingussie defender Lee Bain was also in the Scotland squad and they would both be key players in this much anticipated 1pm encounter. The outcome would be decided on the day with extra-time and penalties if necessary. Admission to the game was a nominal £5 and £3 concessions with the proceeds split between the participating teams. The heavy rain during the previous 48 hours cast doubt as to whether this fixture would go ahead. Pitches at Mossfield and Cannich were put on stand-by but were both ruled unplayable come Saturday morning. Those in authority, including referee John Angus Gillies, gathered on the Highland Capital for a Saturday morning pitch inspection and after deliberation, word went round the shinty communication via Facebook, Twitter and various websites that it was “game on”. A postponement would have been a nightmare scenario for the games governing body with conditions unlikely to improve into December. Around 1,000 shinty supporters from across the country congregated for what was a throw-back to the winter shinty days of old. Saturday morning saw a number of shinty stalwarts look quite uncomfortable as they accompanied their partners, shuffling around various outlets in the Inverness Eastgate Shopping Centre. However by lunchtime, they were on the much more familiar territory at one of shinty’s iconic stadiums, discussing the merits of both teams and anticipating the match ahead. The Kingussie and Kilmallie supporters were noticeably of a more nervous disposition whilst the rest of the congregation were simply delighted to be able to watch a shinty match of such importance so late in the year. The battery of photographers, who have served shinty so well over the seasons, braved the elements to record each incident for posterity. It is an under-statement to say that the leaf-covered pitch was soft. However it wouldn’t have taken more than one hand to count the number of shinty pitches throughout the country which would have been deemed playable on the final Saturday of November. Kilmallie attacked towards the Town end in the first half, and the famous Bught Park breeze was their thirteenth man. There was a predictable feisty opening period to this contest. Kingussie did more of the attacking and Kilmallie defender Craig MacIsaac was twice spoken to by referee John Angus Gillies for his over-exuberant caman swinging. Kilmallie laid serious threat on their opponents’ goal on 7 minutes. Kings keeper Craig Dawson came off his line to deny Ryan Stewart and Liam MacDonald was unable to steer the rebound on target. The Kingussie goal survived another scare a couple of minutes later when a looping Innes Blackhall ball from wide on the left cleared the far-side junction between post on crossbar with Craig Dawson stretching to cover his goal. Play switched back to the other end on 10 minutes and Ryan Borthwick picked out a surging John Gibson run forward and the full centre’s attempt from the left was deflected out for a corner. Barrie Dallas released Ryan Borthwick down the Kings’ right 5 minutes later and Borthwick caused panic in the Kilmallie goal area before the ball was turned away for another corner. Kilmallie started to create a series of opportunities starting with a Liam MacDonald drive which rose over the bar on 16 minutes. Craig Dawson then saved with his feet from Liam MacDonald, turning the ball away for a corner on the Kilmallie right. Michael Rodger got on the end of the resultant corner at the back post but he delayed his shot and the chance was gone. The end to end nature of the game continued and Ryan Borthwick continued to be central to the action. First, Borthwick sent a shot fizzing past the post on 27 minutes and he then ran at pace at the centre of the Kilmallie defence just 4 minutes later. Borthwick was wiped out late by a Craig MacIsaac challenge and, with advantage played; the ball was eventually cleared for a corner. However referee John Angus Gillies was mindful of MacIsaac’s misdemeanour and he booked the Scotland U17 player once he had sprinted to the touchline to replace his broken caman. Kilmallie came within a whisker of going in front on 36 minutes when a great shot from Liam Cameron cracked back off the crossbar and Liam MacDonald put the rebound wide of target. Louis Munro shot wide from the right a couple of minutes later and it was becoming increasingly apparent that the opening goal would be crucial. With just 5 first half minutes remaining, Craig Dawson saved from Michael Rodger. A minute later, Ryan Borthwick again ran at the Kilmallie defence before laying the ball off to Barrie Dallas. The Kingussie support held their breath as Dallas struck the ball goalwards but Kilmallie’s Scotland U17 keeper Shane Gillies dived low to his right to turn the ball away for a corner. It was a quite brilliant save from one of shinty’s most promising keepers. At the other end, Liam McDonald beat his man on the Kilmallie right on 43 minutes before sending a searing shot past the post. Kingussie ended the first half on the attack with Barrie Dallas touching the ball to Ryan Borthwick who shot wide just ahead of John Angus Gilles’ half time whistle. Kingussie now had the elements in their favour but it was Kilmallie who attacked straight from the restart and Liam MacDonald played the ball forward to Michael Rodger and his shot whistled past Craig Dawson’s left-hand post. Kingussie then went close as Barrie Dallas shot wide following a 50 minute shy on the right from Scotland U21 player Rory McGregor. The Boys of the Dell went even closer a couple of minutes later when Louis Munro was allowed time to pick his spot and his 22 yard drive came back off the crossbar with Savio Genini sending the rebound wide of goal. It was evident from a quick glance at both management teams on the touchline just how high the stakes were. Mark MacPherson screamed, sometimes coherently, and a rasping Russell Jones roared instruction, both aimed at their players and match officials alike and there was no doubting their passion. The Kingussie players were surely driven on by the will to avoid the stigma of being the first squad to suffer the team’s relegation from shinty’s top flight. And they made the crucial breakthrough on 63 minutes. Ryan Borthwick had been a thorn in Kilmallie’s side during the first hour of the game and he cut open the blues back-line by going on a mazy run which cut across the defence before pulling the ball back from the left to Barrie Dallas on the penalty spot. There was still work for the Kingussie full forward to do but he hit the ball low and hard and although Shane Gillies tried to keep the ball out of the net with his feet, there was too much power in the strike and the roar from the Kingussie support greeted the game’s opening goal. Indeed Ryan Borthwick almost made it 2-0 straight from the restart but his effort went just wide of goal. Kingussie looked to turn the screw and when Savio Genini slipped the ball to Ryan Borthwick on 65 minutes, Borthwick held off his marker before shooting goalwards but Shane Gillies was equal to the strike. Kilmallie’s enforced lay-off was starting to show for the first time in the game and a minute later, boss Mark MacPherson made his first change with John Stewart replacing wing back Robbie MacFadyen who had run himself into the ground. John Stewart joined the attack with his brother Martin Stewart dropping back into defence. It was fitting that the clinching goal would come from Ryan Borthwick’s caman. He had tormented the Kilmallie defence throughout the game and had showed enough confidence to run at the opposing defence time and time again on what was a difficult surface. Borthwick’s goal came on 71 minutes following another Rory McGregor shy on the right and he smashed the ball low into the net to make it 2-0. Kilmallie immediately made their second change with Mark Graham coming on for the skilful Innes Blackhall whilst Kingussie introduced James Falconer for Rory MacGregor. Falconer joined the attack with Savio Genini dropping back to make a telling contribution in the closing stages at wing centre. Kingussie substitute James Falconer won a free-hit just outside the D when he was hauled back on 75 minutes. However Kilmallie keeper Shane Gillies darted off his lime to clear Barrie Dallas’ free-hit. The creative forward play always attracts the main focus of any match reporter’s attention but Kingussie defender Lee Bain was to be admired for intercepting promising forward play between John Stewart and Liam MacDonald on 78 minutes. A Kilmallie goal at this stage would have set-up a grandstand finish but the assured Craig Dawson saved from Liam MacDonald with just 10 minutes remaining. However it was Kingussie who almost increased their lead further when the dynamic Ryan Borthwick made just enough space to hit a 22 yard high shot but Shane Gillies stretched to tip the ball to safety with his caman, just under his crossbar. Kilmallie’s Martin Stewart displayed his usual combative qualities. He attracted cheers from the Kilmallie faithful and jeers from the Kingussie support – deservedly at times – and he collected a booking for a late swing at Louis Munro on 83 minutes. Some seething supporters screamed for a straight red card but referee Gillies was more considered and administered a card of the yellow variety. Stewart also absorbed a couple of heavy challenges without complaint. In other words he can “give it” but he can also “take it” in return and this was to be his final action as he was replaced by Andrew MacAllister. Kingussie’s Chris Holleysong was a late replacement for Garry Munro who finally succumbed to an earlier knock as the side safely saw out the final minutes. The final whistle signalled safety for a Kingussie squad who have had greater successes but perhaps none more important than this one. They were deserved winners over the 90 minutes and in Ryan Borthwick, they had the game’s shining light. Lee Bain and John Gibson were also worthy of mention. Kilmallie, for whom Stephen MacAllister and Liam Cameron were best, will retreat to the Canal Parks to regroup. However, as their motion to the Camanachd Association Annual General Meeting the previous evening to have two-up / two-down promotion / relegation between the Marine Harvest National Division and the Marine Harvest Premiership won favour, Mark MacPherson’s side will be amongst the favourites to make the step up to shinty’s top flight next season without the need to negotiate a play-off. The game might not have been a true classic but if commitment to the cause and sheer endeavour from the muddied players were to be true measures, this clash would certainly hold its own with the best of them. The rewards for the victors were so high that this meeting came into the powder-keg category and referee John Angus Gillies deserves great credit for his common-sense approach and the way he managed the players during the game’s flash-points. The fact he was entrusted with such a high-profile encounter speaks volumes for how he is regarded within the game and also suggests it can only be a matter of time before he is selected to take control of one of shinty’s major finals. Finally, Inverness shinty club also deserve great credit for hosting the final event of the 2015 shinty season; manning the gate, running the raffle and ensuring the support staved off hypothermia by serving teas and coffees (and some tasty treats) throughout, until their over-worked urn called it a day. The players, managers and supporters of both teams will perhaps disagree but it is a pity that shinty will be denied such an exciting climax to the 2016 season of Scotland’s finest sport. Kingussie from: Craig Dawson; James Hutchison, Garry Munro, Rory MacKeachan, Lee Bain; Rory McGregor; John Gibson, Callum Grant; Louis Munro (captain), Ryan Borthwick, Savio Genini, Barrie Dallas; subs James Falconer, Chris Holleysong, Darren Hanlon, Robert Mabon Kilmallie from: Shane Gillies; Allan MacDonald, Robbie MacFadyen, Craig MacIsaac, Peter Carmichael; Liam Cameron, Stephen MacAllister, Innes Blackhall; Michael Rodger, Ryan Stewart, Liam MacDonald (captain), Martin Stewart; subs John Stewart, Andrew MacAllister, Mark Graham, Aaron Sandison, Bryan MacKay Match Referee – John Angus Gillies Goal Judges – Evan MacRae, John Matheson Linesmen – Archie Ritchie, Calum Girvan |