Skye Camanachd 2 Glenurquhart 1 | |
05 June 2012 Skye Camanachd produced their best performance of the season to beat Orion Group Premiership side Glenurquhart in their Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup second round tie at Glenurquhart at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 2 June 2012. Skye Camanachd Willie MacRae had injury problems to contend with and he was without no fewer than eight players from his recognised first team squad. Jamie MacDonald missed out with a broken knee cap whilst Gilleasbuig MacDonald was still out with a broken hand. Iain Morrison also had a hand injury and Steven Morrison and Aonghas MacDonald were both on holiday. Danny Morrison and Allan MacLeod were both unavailable whilst Iain Nicolson’s work commitments meant he was unable to travel to Skye although he did turn out for the second team. Darryl Macintosh and Chris Rose were carrying injuries but they were both named in the starting line-up MacRae made five changes to the squad which lost out to Glasgow Mid Argyll in the Balliemore Cup quarter finals last weekend. Joining Steven Morrison on the absentee list were Iain Munro and Iain Nicolson, who are both on second team duty, and Danny Morrison and Scott Martin. Coming in in their place were keeper John MacLeod, Chris Rose, David Grant and Alan Palmer and John Moir who were both included in the senior squad for the first time this season. Glenurquhart co-managers Fraser MacKenzie were also some-what short of their regular squad. Scottish international Andrew Corrigan was suspended but he also had a broken toe. Injury also deprived them of Paul MacKintosh, David Girvan, Liam Girvan and Ruairidh Cameron. Billy Urquhart and Stuart Reid were also missing. The Glen had Eddie Tembo back in their ranks and he started in midfield. Both teams took time to get into the game although James MacPherson, Lovat’s new signing from Lovat, made a lively start on his debut. A Neale Reid snap-shot on the half volley from an 8 minute free-hit flew just past Skye keeper John MacLeod’s left post as the Glen started to get into their rhythm. Just a minute later all four Skye forwards combined and the ball fell to Alan Palmer at the back post but he shot wide of target. John MacLeod had to come off his line to chest away a David MacLennan cross from the left after 14 minutes and the Skye keeper cleared the danger. The Glen enjoyed a period of possession but they too often over-hit balls to the forward line, much to Neale Reid’s frustration. Referee Deek Cameron adjudged a good Neale Reid run to be halted illegally by Skye full back Neil MacVicar on 19 minutes. James MacPherson made a good run to the left to get on the end of the free-hit and his low shot was saved with his feet by John MacLeod and Shockie MacLennan turned the ball away for a corner. The Glen threatened again from a free hit a couple of minutes later. Fraser Heath found Neale Reid on the left and the pacey forward spun his marker before dribbling in on goal. However John MacLeod came off his line to stop Reid’s shot and a combination of keeper MacLeod and Shockie MacLennan cleared the ball for a corner. MacLeod took a knock in a painful area in the process. David Smart played in the resultant corner from the left and James MacPherson hit a magnificent first time shot which came back off the Skye crossbar and the visitors were ruled offside by referee Deek Cameron as they tried to convert from the rebound. David Smart collected a Fraser Heath pass from the left before shooting wide on 27 minutes. Neale Reid threatened again on 32 minutes when he picked up a pass from Neale Reid but Shockie MacLennan read the danger and cleared the ball for shy, 20 yards from the Skye goal. David MacLennan played the shy into the Skye goal area and Neale Reid got on the end of it to roll the ball into the net. Referee Deek Cameron seemed to blow his whistle ahead of the ball crossing the line and Neale Reid appeared to be pulled as he scored which led to many thinking the referee had awarded a penalty. However the referee later explained that he had simply blown a fraction early as the ball was rolling towards the line but it was his intention to signal a goal so Glenurquhart had the breakthrough with 33 minutes played. Goal Judge Donnie Martin confirmed the award of the goal. Skye responded well and they went on the attack from the throw up and John Barr got in ahead of David Grant to clear a Jordan Murchison pass. The clearance was collected by Allan MacKinnon who played the ball long to the edge of the D. Barr and Grant challenged for it and the ball dropped to Jordan Murchison. His shot was deflected into the path of Alan Palmer and he needed no second invitation as he rifled the ball into the net. Skye were level within a minute of going behind. The goal gave Skye confidence and they took the lead a couple of minutes from the break through a quite sublime Jordan Murchison strike. Shaun Hedley took a shy on the Skye right, just inside the Glen half. Jordan Murchison and Andrew MacDonald went for the ball and it broke to David Grant who slipped a pass to Ally MacDonald. MacDonald found Jordan Murchison on the Skye left and he sent a stunning 30 yard back-hand drive which bulleted into the top left corner of Stuart MacKintosh’s net to put the Islanders 2-1 in front. Alan Palmer just failed to get on the end of a Jordan Murchison cross moments later. Stuart MacKintosh made a fantastic stop with his left foot from a Jordan Murchison shot from the edge of the D and he cleared for a corner as Skye tried to increase their lead. The Glenurquhart management team took their players into the changing rooms at the break where they delivered some straight talking. Fraser Heath was taken back to defence for the start of the second period to snuff out the threat of Jordan Murchison and Lewis MacLennan was pushed into attack. Calm goalkeeping from John MacLeod cleared from Neale Reid on 47 minutes but the ball fell to Lewis MacLennan around 40 yards from goal and he fizzed a shot just wide of the right post of the Skye goal. The Glen continued to press without really threatening the Skye goal as the Skye defence stood firm. Glenurquhart made a change on 56 minutes as Ewen Menzies came on in attack in place of James MacPherson. The visitors continued to press with Skye limited to the odd breakaway. However the Skye defence of Neil MacVicar, Shockie MacLennan, Neil John Campbell and Allan MacKinnon continued to repel each attack. A bouncing Jordan Murchison ball to the edge of the D on 58 minutes was palmed away by Stuart MacKintosh and the ball was cleared. Seconds later, a deep ball into the D from Aaron MacDonald on the Glen right was chested away by Skye keeper John MacLeod who then swept the ball away. Alan Palmer was just unable to get on the end of a Jordan Murchison cross on 62 minutes and Stuart MacKintosh cleared the danger. Shaun Hedley was having a great tussle in midfield with David MacLennan as Skye fought for more possession. Neale Reid showed his threat when he turned at the edge of the D he but he lacked a composed finish as he blazed the ball over on 65 minutes. Neale Reid seemed sure to score on 68 minutes. Ally MacKintosh broke up a Skye attack and played the ball long to Ewen Menzies. He found David Smart who switched the ball to Neale Reid on the edge of the D but Shockie MacLennan flew in to make a goal saving challenge as Reid was about to pull the trigger and MacLennan cleared the ball for a corner. Shaun Hedley put in a good challenge to thwart David MacLennan on 72 minutes. The ball broke to David Smart but his shot was saved with his feet by John MacLeod and the keeper then quickly flicked the ball out for a Glen corner on the left. Alan Palmer needed treatment from Skye Camanachd medic Dr Wilson Banks after being caught in the face by a swinging caman on 75 minutes. Euan Lloyd replaced Eddie Tembo, who seemed to be suffering from a hamstring problem, on 77 minutes. Referee Deek Cameron had a word with David Smart for a reckless swing on 78 minutes. A weaving Chris Rose run put Skye on the attack a minute later and Stuart MacKintosh had to come off his line to deny Ally MacDonald and clear the danger. Glenurquhart re-introduced James MacPherson with 11 minutes remaining as they tried to get back on level terms. There was a massive goalmouth scramble 10 minutes from time when Neale Reid weaved his way into the Skye D. His effort was saved with his feet by John MacLeod as the Skye defenders swamped the goal-line to clear the ball. James MacPherson shot over a minute later and Neale Reid shot wide as Glen continued press. Iain Murray came on at full forward on 83 minutes for David Grant who had worked tirelessly all afternoon for Skye. Deek Cameron had to get involved on 84 minutes when David Smart and Shaun Hedley clashed. Smart went in late on Hedley and the Skye player retaliated. Cameron flashed the yellow card to both players and they both shook hands before resuming battle. The large Skye and Glen support were looking at their watches for different reasons as often as they were looking at the field as the clock ran down. A James MacPherson shot rose over the bar on 87 minutes. Skye fought for their lives and no one put in more effort than Shaun Hedley who was immense in the closing stages. Neil John Campbell and Shaun Hedley both cleared Glen attacks in the closing seconds. John MacLeod ushered a James MacPherson shot past the post as the game entered stoppage time. Glen were awarded a free hit just inside the Skye half, two minutes into stoppage time. Lewis MacLennan found James MacPherson but he was denied by a great Shockie MacLennan challenge. The ball fell to Ewen Menzies but his effort was blocked. The ball then broke to the left where David Smart crashed a shot goalwards. It looked a goal all the way until John MacLeod produced a breathtaking save as he stretched to palm the ball over the bar for a corner, to the relief of the home support. Lewis MacLennan collected Fraser Heath’s corner and made for the touchline before cutting the ball back to Fraser Heath and his ball into the goal area was stopped by Neil John Campbell before keeper John Macleod cleared into midfield. Ally MacKintosh played the ball back in to Fraser Heath who tried to find Euan Lloyd but Allan MacKinnon cleared. The wave of late attacks from the visitors continued and the ball was played back into the Skye goal area where James MacPherson collected possession but fired over the bar with 48 minutes played. John MacLeod played the goal-hit and referee Deek Cameron sounded the final whistle to the delight of the home support. Glenurquhart were clearly disappointed but magnanimous in defeat and no side wants to exit shinty’s premier competition. However they were well served by John Barr and Fraser Heath. David MacLennan put in a power of work on the Glen left and Neale Reid was always a threat in attack. Every Skye player played their part in a win which came on the 22nd anniversary of the Islanders famous Camanachd Cup win in 1990. The difference in performance compared to last week’s disappointing Balliemore Cup defeat to Glasgow Mid Argyll was night and day. Shockie MacLennan played a captain’s role and both he and Allan Mackinnon were rocks in an outstanding defensive performance. Darryl Macintosh and Shaun Hedley put in power-house performances in midfield and what a find Chris Rose is proving to be at full centre. Jordan Murchison’s goal was something special whilst David Grant put in a tough shift, keeping Scottish international John Barr fully occupied. Skye Camanachd from; John MacLeod, Neil MacVicar, Shockie MacLennan (captain), Neil John Campbell, Allan MacKinnon, Darryl Macintosh, Chris Rose, Shaun Hedley, Jordan Murchison, Alan Palmer, Ally MacDonald, David Grant, subs Iain Murray, Iain Grant, John Moir, Glenurquhart from; Stuart MacKintosh (captain), John Barr, Andrew MacDonald, Ally MacKintosh, Lewis MacLennan, Aaron MacDonald, Eddie Tembo, David MacLennan, James MacPherson, David Smart, Fraser Heath, Neale Reid, subs Ewen Menzies, Euan Lloyd, Fraser MacKenzie, Drew McNeil Match Referee – Deek Cameron The match balls are sponsored by Nor-Dan |