Skye Camanachd 2 Inverness 0 | |
26 March 2012 Skye Camanachd beat Inverness 2-0 in their Marine Harvest North Division 1 clash at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 24 March 2012. Skye manager Willie MacRae made three changes to the squad which beat Strathglass last weekend. Paul MacKinnon returned to the second team, John Angus MacInnes was unavailable and Alan Palmer will be absent for several weeks because of work commitments. However Danny Morrison and Iain Nicolson returned to the fold whilst Allan MacKinnon was promoted from the second team. Iain Murray started at full centre with Darryl MacIntosh moving to wing centre in place of Paul MacKinnon and this was the only change to the starting line-up. Inverness co-managers Steve Munro and James MacDougall were without the suspended James Cameron whilst Arran MacMaster, Craig Nicholson and David Higham were all injured. However they did include four familiar faces to the Skye support as Somhairle MacDonald Dougie Rankin, 1990 Camanachd Cup winner Ewen MacKinnon and James “Chips” Munro lined-up for the visitors. Former Strathglass player Scott Douglass started in attack for Inverness. Inverness won the toss and played with the wind at their backs in the first half. Skye created the first opening when Iain Nicolson found Iain Morrison at the back post but his shot went past the keeper's right post. Murchison was involved again as he set up Gilleasbuig MacDonald but the Skye forward was unable to get any real power in his shot. The home side went close on 24 minutes when Inverness keeper Adam MacMaster made a great save above his head from and Iain Nicolson shot and he turned the ball away for a corner. Skye took the lead on 32 minutes. Jordan Murchison collected a shy from the right and played the ball into the danger area. Gilleasbuig MacDonald and Iain Nicolson combined to pressure the visiting defence and as the ball broke, Iain Nicolson stretched to sweep the ball into the net to put Skye 1-0 in front. Inverness defender Fraser Stoddart suffered a cut head, which later required three stitches, in the lead up to the goal. He was replaced by James Munro who joined the attack whilst Ewen MacKinnon dropped into midfield and Danny Palumbo moved from the centre line to defence. Inverness came within a whisker of leveling the game on 43 minutes when Reece Munro broke free. However Skye defender Jamie MacDonald came from no-where to make a goal-saving tackle just as Munro was about to shoot. Adam MacMaster saved with his feet from Iain Morrison a minute before the break and the Inverness keeper cleared for a corner. This was the final chance of the half. The first chance of the second half came for the visitors as Inverness forward Somhairle MacDonald cut in from the left and sent a thundering drive on goal but Skye keeper Aonghas MacDonald made a brilliant save as he turned the ball away for a corner. Skye manager Willie MacRae brought on Allan MacKinnon to take over Iain Murray at full centre on 54 minutes. Referee John Matheson had a work with Shaun Hedley and Scott Douglas following a midfield spat moments later. Gilleasbuig MacDonald picked up a head knock on 56 minutes and he left the field to receive treatment from Dr Banks. MacDonald later required a couple of stitches and Ally MacDonald came on in his place. A back-hand shot from Somhairle MacDonald was deflected for a corner by Shockie MacLennan on 58 minutes. Danny Morrison came on in place of Iain Morrison on 62 minutes. The Skye supporters were given a scare on 63 minutes when a great effort from Somhairle MacDonald, from wide on the left, dipped just over the crossbar. Inverness keeper Adam MacMaster made a good stop with his hand from an Iain Nicolson drive on 65 minutes and the keeper cleared the danger. There was a scuffle a minute later between Darryl Macintosh and Ewen MacKinnon and Macintosh left the field to have a head cut attended to. The wound later required four stitches. Gilleasbuig MacDonald replaced Macintosh at wing centre. Danny Morrison collected a corner on 75 minutes and controlled the ball but his snap-shot went just wide of target. Iain Nicolson turned his marker on 79 minutes but, with the goal at his mercy, Nicolson got under the ball and put his effort over the bar. Iain Nicolson came even closer seconds later when he neatly turned his marker but shot just past. Gilleasbuig MacDonald made a great challenge to win the ball in midfield on 80 minutes and he played the ball forward to Jordan Murchison. However the Skye youngster’s shot drifted wide of goal. Inverness played the final 10 minutes with the four ex-Skye players – Somhairle MacDonald, Dougie Rankin, Ewen MacKinnon and James Munro – all in attack. Allan MacKinnon burst forward form midfield and fed Ally MacDonald who set up Jordan Murchison on 83 minutes but he shot wide as Skye continued to turn the screw. Skye sealed the points on 89 minutes through Jordan Murchison. Darryl Macintosh, who had come on in attack in place of Iain Nicolson, played the ball to Ally MacDonald and he found Jordan Murchison at the edge of the D. Murchison made space for himself and turned quickly before blasting the ball into the top corner of the net, giving MacMaster no chance. Skye enjoyed most of the pressure throughout the game but they were wasteful in front of goal. Shaun Hedley was the most consistent Islander and Allan MacKinnon and Gilleasbuig MacDonald were very effective when they took up midfield roles. The best Inverness players were at the back where Danny Palumbo and Peter Grace were stand-outs. Skye Camanachd from; Aonghas MacDonald, Steven Morrison, Shockie MacLennan (captain), Jamie MacDonald, Neil MacVicar, Darryl Macintosh, Iain Murray, Shaun Hedley, Jordan Murchison, Iain Morrison, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Iain Nicolson, subs Ally MacDonald, Danny Morrison, Allan MacKinnon, Inverness from; Adam MacMaster, Fraser Stoddart, Ewan MacLeod, Peter Grace, Dougie Rankin, Danny Palumbo, Davie Glass, James Ross, Ewen MacKinnon, Scott Douglas, Reece Munro, Somhairle MacDonald, subs James Munro, Stevie Munro Match Referee – John Matheson The match balls are sponsored by Nor-Dan |