There were contrasting fortunes at the Eilan as Newtonmore celebrated their seventh successive title triumph whilst Skye Camanachd drop down the Marine Harvest National Division following the shinty action on Saturday 29 October 2016.
Marine Harvest Premiership
Newtonmore 4 Skye Camanachd 1
There were mixed emotions at the Eilan where Newtonmore celebrated a seventh successive title success following a 4-1 win over a spirited Skye Camanachd side; a result which means the Islanders will play Marine Harvest National Division shinty next season.
With all of Newtonmore’s previous six title presentations taking place away from the Eilan, this was a rare chance for Paul John MacKintosh’s side to celebrate their league success with their home support.
After a year in shinty’s top flight, Skye knew that there best hope of beating the drop was to win the game by two clear goals. That unlikely outcome would have relegated Lochaber. Indeed any Skye win coupled with a heavy Kingussie loss at Tighnabruaich would also have saved John MacLeod’s side but that seemed an even less likely outcome.
Newtonmore had Glen MacKintosh, Norman Campbell, Drew MacDonald, iain Robinson and Jamie Robinson back after they missed the 2-2 draw with Kyles Athletic at the Eilan a fortnight earlier. The first four started on the bench with Jamie Robinson taking up a place in the heart of the midfield. Liam Mullender was suspended.
Skye boss John MacLeod was without Danny Morrison who was on holiday whilst Iain Nicolson was working. There were call ups for brothers Ally “Spod” MacLeod and Iain MacLeod and both started on the bench.
There was a chance for the home side when Evan Menzies pounced on a defensive slip in the opening minute but he was unable to score.
Skye made a bright start to the game and, with their centre line winning the early midfield battle; they provided plenty ball for their forward line and they had a couple of chances to break the deadlock.
However it was Newtonmore who took the lead on 18 minutes when Evan Menzies controlled the ball around 20 yards from goal before turning and smashing a shoulder-high shot into the net to make it 1-0.
Fraser MacKintosh added a second just 5 minutes later when he used all of his 6 foot 5 inch frame to stretch and take down a ball from the left at the edge of the D and he was allowed time to flick the ball home on his left side.
Although a Jamie Robinson shot from fully 40 yards out came back of the Skye crossbar on 27 minutes, Skye were always in the game and they pulled a goal back on 36 minutes. Jordan Murchison turned to get past Andy MacKintosh near the corner flag on the Skye left. It seemed too tight an angle to score but Murchison sent a rasping shot high into the net from a ridiculous angle.
Skye pressed to level the game but they were restricted to shots from distance so Newtonmore took the 2-1 lead into the break. In truth, the home side could have been further ahead had it not been for some amazing saves from Skye goalie Jamie Gannon.
‘More flexed their muscles at the interval with Glen MacKintosh, Norman Campbell and Drew MacDonald all coming on in place of Conor Jones, Jamie Robinson and David Fraser. MacKintosh went to full forward with Evan Menzies moving onto the wing.
Skye suffered an injury blow soon after the restart when Kenny Campbell took a blow to the face following a tussle with Andy MacKintosh. As Campbell was being treated pitchside, with Iain Murray on in his place, Newtonmore extended their lead. Fraser MacKintosh stopped the ball in space following a corner from the left and he made it 3-1 from with a powerful drive from 15 yards out.
Evan Menzies’ first half strike meant both he and Glen MacKintosh were on 24 goals apiece for the season. Between them, the ‘More duo have notched a combined goals haul which exceeds the overall efforts of all other clubs other than Kyles Athletic. Both had chances during the remainder of the game to finish out-right top scorer for the senior team.
Menzies came close on 52 minutes when he hit a cross from Fraser MacKintosh off the face of the post.
Skye made a second change after an hour with Ally “Spod” MacLeod introduced in place of Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod and the substitute had a chance to score but was unable connect.
Skye had some long range efforts from Jordan Murchison and Will Cowie which ‘More keeper Owen Fraser saved comfortably.
Skye’s final switch saw Iain MacLeod take over from the tiring Chris MacLennan with 20 minutes remaining. James Pringle was brought back to wing centre with MacLeod filling in up front.
As the match moved into the final 10 minutes, Glen MacKintosh struck the post after getting onto a Chris Sellar ball.
Evan Menzies then unselfishly set up his strike partner Glen MacKintosh but the ball wouldn’t sit for him and the chance was gone. Menzies then gathered a ball at pace inside the D but seemed to hesitate, thinking he was offside.
Fraser MacKintosh completed his hat-trick 7 minutes from time when he took an Evan Menzies cross into the D before slipping the ball past the keeper from around 8 yards to make it 4-1.
Fraser MacKintosh made a big contribution to the Newtonmore cause whilst the excellent Rory Kennedy, who started at buckshee back but then spent most of the match at full back, was a top performer in defence.
Ally MacDonald had a fine game in defence for Skye with Gilleasbuig MacDonald and Will Cowie also catching the eye.
The defeat consigns Skye to shinty’s second tier next season. They have just fallen short in a tight mid-division where only three points separate fifth placed Kingussie and Skye in ninth spot. Skye will lick their wounds and aim to come back stronger for the experience.
With Camanachd Association President Jim Barr and Chief Operating Officer Torquil MacLeod present, Steve Bracken from sponsors Marine Harvest – who are just about to enter their 30th year backing their favourite sport – was on hand to present the Marine Harvest Premiership trophy to Newtonmore captain Steven MacDonald.
Newtonmore have completed their league programme unbeaten and their only dropped points came from two draws with second placed Kyles Athletic. They add the Marine Harvest Premiership trophy to the Camanachd Cup and RBS MacTavish won earlier in the season. The Artemis MacAulay Cup was the one that got away. Their reserve team brought home the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title and the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup; all in all earning Newtonmore an undisputed 2016 Marine Harvest Club of the Year award.
Kyles Athletic 0 Kingussie 0
Kyles Athletic and Kingussie shared the points in a 0-0 draw at Tighnabruaich.
Kyles Athletic were without Callum Miller, Donald Irvine, Dunkie Kerr and long-term injury victim Grant Irvine.
Kingussie welcomed Ryan Borthwick back into their side for the first time since May and he started at buckshee back. Roddy Young kept his place in the side and he started up front with fellow sixteen year olds Ruaridh Anderson and Alexander Michie on the bench and all three performed very well.
This was a good encounter given the difficult underfoot conditions which made for a wet, heavy and slippery but playable pitch.
However it was a decent day overhead and both teams put on a good show without being able to break the deadlock.
Keepers John Whyte and Craig Dawson both made a number of good saves with Whyte perhaps just the busier of the two.
The draw confirms Kyles Athletic status as top division runners up whilst Kingussie climb to finish fifth in the league.
This was also a last game in charge at Kingussie for co-managers Russell Jones and Davie Anderson. The highpoint of their tenure came in 2014 when they beat Glenurquhart 4-0 to lift the Camanachd Cup. However they now feel that the team should be doing better than it has over the last couple of years so the time is right for someone else to come in and to try and take things forward. Their replacement will decided at the club’s AGM at the end of November.
Marine Harvest National Division
The Marine Harvest National Division fixtures are complete.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
There were no scheduled fixtures in this division.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
Taynuilt 1 Inveraray 2
The Inveraray second team came from a goal down to beat Taynuilt 2-1 at the Taynuilt Sports Field.
Mark Bergant gave Taynuilt the lead with the only goal of the first half on 12 minutes.
However Inveraray drew level shortly after the restart when Niall Shaw scored.
The winning goal came on the hour mark when David Robertson netted to give the visitors a 2-1 win.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Kilmallie W/O v Boleskine
The Kilmallie second team were given a walk-over when Boleskine were unable to raise a team for their meeting at the Canal Parks.
The Kilmallie colts still have matches remaining and they are scheduled to meet Strathspey Camanachd at the Canal Parks this coming weekend and the Lochaber seconds at Spean Bridge a week later.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
The Marine Harvest South Division 2 fixtures are mow complete.
(All throw ups were at 2.30pm unless the match report says differently. The match reports will be updated as more information becomes available)
(The picture of Skye’s Gilleasbuig MacDonald playing the ball forward ahead of Newtonmore’s Norman Campbell comes courtesy of Moreen Pringle)