Skye Camanachd 1 Glasgow Mid Argyll 2 | |
30 May 2012 Skye Camanachd lost 2-1 to Glasgow Mid Argyll in their Balliemore Cup quarter final tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 26 May 2012. Skye boss Willie MacRae made five changes to the squad which beat Inverness the previous weekend. Keeper John MacLeod, Ally “Cloudy” MacLeod, John Angus MacInnes and Ally “Spod” MacLeod all returned to the second team. Chris Rose missed out with an ankle injury. Iain Munro returned in goal whilst Shaun Hedley was back after injury and he started at wing centre. Iain Grant and Neil John Campbell were called up from the second team and Scott Martin was added to the squad for his first appearance of the season, Neil John Campbell started in defence in place Skye captain Shockie MacLennan who had been ill all week and was only able to take a place on the substitutes’ bench. He was joined on the bench by Iain Grant and Scott Martin. Gilleasbuig MacDonald and Jamie MacDonald remained on the injury list and Iain Morrison was still unavailable. GMA manager George Hay also had a few selection headaches. He was without goal scorer Mark Bain, ex-Lovat player Tom Smith, Angus MacKintosh and the injured Ally Andrew and he travelled with just 13 players. A number of players from both sides had come through the Portree Primary School and Milngavie & Bearsden ranks and had been playing shinty against eachother since they were around nine years old at the annual Milngavie & Bearsden competition which the Portree team enter each year. Players who participated included Neil John Campbell, Shaun Hedley, Jordan Murchison, Neil MacVicar and Iain Grant from Skye and GMA’s Iain Love, Brendan McLoone, Ryan Harrison, Finlay MacMillan, Garry Love and Craig Anderson. Throw up was at the earlier time of 1.30pm as most of the GMA squad travelled up the road the previous day. This arrangement allowed GMA to return home at an earlier time. Skye played with a slight wind at their backs in the first half in what had been the warmest day on the Island this year. The early exchanges were cagey with Jordan Murchison seeing a shot saved with his feet by GMA keeper Paul Creighton and visiting forward Craig Anderson passing up a shooting opportunity. GMA had to make an early change with John Boyd coming on in place of Andy Behan. John Boyd, a policeman in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, showed his dedication by finishing his shift at 6am and travelled north to play in the game. He left Portree immediately after the final whistle and arrived back in Glasgow to start work again at 9pm that evening, Neither keeper was troubled much throughout the first half with neither side able to conjure up any real opportunities. However Skye made the break-through 3 minutes from the break. Iain Nicolson launched a free-hit from the centre line into the GMA goal area. Paul Creighton saved Neil MacVicar’s shot with his feet and raced from this line to try and clear the danger. However he was closed down by Danny Morrison and Ally MacDonald and as MacDonald dispossessed the keeper, the ball broke to Neil MacVicar who blasted a waist high effort into the side of the net to give the home side a 1-0 lead at the break. GMA started the second half much the brighter and this set the tone for the remainder of the match. The visitors played a clever free-hit at the start of the half and Skye keeper Iain Munro was forced to make a good save from Craig Anderson to preserve Skye’s lead. Iain Munro saved again with his feet 5 minutes later; this time from Andy Mathie. Craig Anderson played a one-two with Garry Luke from a free-hit on the hour mark but his shot flew wide of goal. GMA were enjoying most of the pressure and Skye keeper Iain Munro flicked away a dangerous ball into the D with Euan Forsyth ready to pounce and the Islanders custodian cleared first time for a shy near the corner flag on the GMA left. However Fulton Ross played the shy right across the goal area and nobody picked up Euan Forsyth’s run and he swept the ball into the net to make it 1-1 with 64 minutes played. Skye boss Willie MacRae immediately introduced Shockie MacLennan at full centre in place of Iain Murray. Skye had a scare on 69 minutes when Andy Mathie got onto the end of a long ball from Finlay MacMillan and he lost his marker and showed good pace as he raced through on goal. He was challenged by Steven Morrison but Mathie was adjudged to have kicked the ball before he hit the ground. However GMA went in front a couple of minutes later. Ryan Harrison played a long free-hit which was chested down by Craig Anderson and the Scotland U17 forward beat his man before driving into the net to put the visitors 2-1 in front. Seconds later, Finlay MacMillan played a free-hit to Craig Anderson but this time he shot wide. Euan Forsyth was denied by a super save from Skye keeper Iain Munro on 77 minutes as he spread himself to his left to keep the ball out of the net. Steven Morrison was yellow carded for bringing down Andy Mathie a couple of minutes later. Skye manager Willie MacRae withdrew Ally MacDonald on 82 minutes and pushed Iain Nicolson into attack with Iain Grant coming on in defence. Skye were unable to get the equalising goal which would have taken the tie into extra-time and GMA ran out deserved 2-1 winners. Skye’s Shockie MacLennan was booked in injury time. GMA deserved their win and they go on to play Lochaber in the semi-finals. The South side’s best players were Ryan Harrison, Finlay MacMillan and Craig Anderson Steven Morrison was one of the few who earned pass marks for Skye. Skye Camanachd from; Iain Munro, Steven Morrison, Iain Nicolson, Neil John Campbell, Allan MacKinnon, Darryl Macintosh, Iain Murray, Shaun Hedley, Jordan Murchison, Ally MacDonald, Danny Morrison, Neil MacVicar, subs Shockie MacLennan (captain), Iain Grant, Scott Martin Glasgow Mid Argyll from; Paul Creighton, Jonathon Oates, Iain Love, Brendan McLoone, Ryan Harrison, Fulton Ross, Finlay MacMillan, Andy Behan, Garry Love, Euan Forsyth, Craig Anderson, Andy Mathie sub John Boyd Match Referee – Daniel MacRae The match balls are sponsored by Nor-Dan |