Skye Camanachd U14 Win 2011 MacMaster Cup. | |
04 March 2012 Skye Camanachd U14 won the 2011 MacMaster Cup with a 2-1 win over Fort William U14 at the Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 17 September 2011. The game had an early through up ahead of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between Kingussie and Newtonmore but the improved weather did allow it to take place on the main Bugh tPark pitch. There was a massive goal-mouth scramble in the Fort William D on 11 minutes with Skye just unable to force the ball over the line. A minute later Fort William keeper Gary MacKay saved a long-range Will Cowie strike with his feet. Gary MacKay was again called into action on 16 minutes when he palmed away a looping shot from Stephen Murchison. AndrewGrantwent close a minute later as Skye pressed for the opening goal. It came on 25 minutes whenAndrewGrantcollected a Stephen Murchison free hit and played in Angie Grant and his rasping drive found the top corner of the net as Skye went 1-0 in front. Fort William have had much recent success in this competition and they responded a couple of minutes later when Skye keeper Raymond Gillies did well to foil a dangerous attack. Raymond Gillies was again called into action on 32 minutes as he palmed away an Alexander MacMillan effort in what was the last action of the first half. Fort William went straight on the attack from the start of the second half when a Dejan Watson went narrowly wide. Skye captain Will Cowie saw his 20 yard shot go past the post a couple of minutes late. Skye continued to attack and an Andrew Grant strike rose just over the bar 6 minutes into the second period. The same player forced a good save from Gary MacKay 3 minutes later. Raymond Gillies made a really good save with his feet 12 minutes into the second half as he stopped a shot which had come through a ruck of players. The keeper must have seen the ball late which made the save all the better. James Pringle came close to doubling Skye’s advantage when his snap-shot from a corner on the right went inches wide of goal. However Skye scored their crucial second goal 60 seconds later and it was that man Pringle who did the damage. The speedy Skye forward got on the end of a through ball and found himself one-on-one with keeper MacKay. Pringle remained the coolest player on the Bught Park pitch as he rounded the goalie before tucking the ball into the net to the delight of his team-mates and the Skye support. Holders Fort William were not about to just hand over their crown though and they pulled a goal back a minute later when Lewis Morrison fired a great shot high into the Skye net. FortWilliam’s chances of getting back into the game were dealt a blow 14 minutes from time when Jake MacPhee was sent off for a dreadful challenge on Kyle Pirie which meant the Skye youngster having to be substituted. Skye comfortably saw out the rest of the game with Andrew Grant shooting just over 9 minutes from time and James Pringle and Caitlin MacLean combining to burst through the Fort defence a couple of minutes from time but they just couldn’t get a shot on target. This was a deserved win for Skye and although their performance did not hit the hits of recent outings, they never looked to be in too much trouble in the game. There were many fine performers on the park and Skye’s Ally MacLeod showed himself to be the pick of the bunch. Skye Camanachd U14 captain Will Cowie was presented with the MacMaster Cup by Marine Harvest Managing Director Allan Sutherland. The Skye players stayed on to watch the thrilling Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final where Newtonmore beat Kingussie 4-3 after extra time. Skye Camanachd U14 from; Raymond Gillies, Iain MacLeod, Shaun Henderson, Kyle Pirie, Ally MacLeod, Ally MacCrimmon, Will Cowie (captain), Stevie Murchison, Andrew Grant, DJ Gilpin, John Gillies, Angie Grant subs James Pringle, Caitlin MacLean, Alex MacDonald Fort William U14 from; Gary MacKay, Lewis Smith, Alexander Cameron, Gregor Cameron, Michael Lawrie, Calum Shepard, Jake MacPhee, Mark Dunlop, Dejan Watson, Lewis Morrison, Zoe Smith, Alexander MacMillan, Sean Leider, Dylan Fraser, James McDermott, Michael MacLeod Match Referee – Jock Matheson Goal Judges – Evan MacRae, Gus Campbell |