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Skye Camanachd U17 Win 2018 London Shield | |
04 November 2018 Skye Camanachd U17 won the Marine Harvest London Shield, beating Fort William U17 2-1 in the final at Blairbeg. Both sides enjoyed semi-final wins the previous weekend with the Fort defeating Glenurquhart 4-1 and Skye beating Kingussie 7-0. The Fort were 2-1 winners earlier in the season when the sides met in the MacTavish Juvenile Cup semi-finals before going on to lift the trophy so this was always going to be a close affair. Scotland U17 defender Ally MacRae was missing for Fort William; ruled out with a hand injury. James Morrison returned to the Skye defence after missing the semi-final through injury. Skye struck first as Ruaraidh MacLeod hammered home a half-volley, 20 yards from goal, with the ball going low into the net, giving keeper Struan Steven no chance. Ruaraidh MacLeod got his and Skye’s second on 27 minutes and it was another great goal. This time the ball was played in to Ross Gordon and he slipped a pass to MacLeod in space and he turned and sent a shot screaming into the roof of the net, again from around 20 yards range. Fort William’s response was swift though and Greig Kelly pulled a goal back just a couple of minutes later. Kelly lobbed an effort at goal from distance and the ball dropped into the net to make it 2-1. Skye’s James Morrison was booked by referee Calum Girvan just before half time and the Islanders deservedly took their single goal cushion into the break. Skye Head Coach Kenny MacLeod introduced Calumn MacKay on for James Morrison on 59 minutes. Whilst it had been an even start to the second half, Fort William pressed hard for leveller during the last 20 minutes. However the Skye defence stayed strong with buckshee back Connor Gilpin outstanding and full back Jamie Gillies commanding. Fort Head Coach Ali Clark had brought on Victor Smith and he had a half-chance but his effort went over with Jamie Gillies challenging well. Skye then had keeper Murphy Henderson to thank for a good save to deny Victor Smith with just 4 minutes to go. Henderson also cleared the ball wide towards the corner flag before the Fort could profit from the rebound and Skye stayed in front until the end. There was little between the teams and full centres William MacKinnon for Skye and Fort William’s Lachie Shaw both played well, cancelling eachother out in the middle of the park. Ross MacKinnon and Connor Gilpin were also terrific for the Islanders. However Skye’s Ruaraidh MacLeod, whose two cracking goals made the difference, was the unanimous choice as man of the match and he was the first recipient of the Douglas MacKintosh Memorial Medal. With Ronald Ross and Graham Cormack from the Camanachd Association in attendance along with Youth Director Willie MacDonald, the Marine Harvest London Shield was presented to Skye captain Jamie Gillies. Fort William U17 from: Struan Steven: Johnny Foster, Jamie Duncan, Gordon Stevenson, Ryan Boyle: Hamish Shaw, Lachie Shaw, David Duncan: Lewis Clark, Greig Kelly, Lewis Murphy, Paul Paterson: subs Campbell Kerr, Alexander Kennedy, Victor Smith Skye Camanachd U17 from: Murphy Henderson: Jamie Gillies, James Morrison, Jamie MacKay, Connor Gilpin: Ross MacKinnon, William MacKinnon, Martin Pringle: Ruaraidh MacLeod, Taylor Matheson, Cameron MacKay, Ross Gordon: subs Archie MacDonald, Calumn MacKay, Niall MacPhee Match Referee – Calum Girvan Scorers Fort William U17 Greig Kelly (29) Skye Camanachd U17 Ruaraidh MacLeod (7, 27)
(The photograph comes courtesy of www.neilgpaterson.com) |