Skye Camanachd v Kilmallie
Saturday 26 July 2008 – Brae View Park, Beauly
The 17 man Skye Camanachd first team squad will train tomorrow night ahead of Saturday’s Balliemore Cup Final against Kilmallie.
Manager Ally Morrison should have a full squad to choose from with injured pair Steven Morrison and Jamie MacDonald benefiting from being unused substitutes in Saturday’s home defeat to Caberfeidh. Somhairle MacDonald who is on an extended holiday in Canada is the only absentee. Morrison will also need to decide between Jamie Gannon and Ross Graham for the goalkeeping position and he has alternatives in defence, midfield and attack.
There will certainly be no complacency in the Skye camp after suffering successive defeats to Kinlochshiel and Caberfeidh since they beat Glenurquhart in a thrilling semi final at Drumnadrochidt.
Skye’s route to the final started with a comprehensive 11-0 home victory over Tayforth. They followed that up with a 4-2 away win in a tricky tie away to Glasgow Mid Argyll. This led to an away semi final against Glenurquhart where an Iain Nicolson strike deep into extra time had Skye come out 3-2 winners.
Kilmallie started their campaign with a narrow 2-1 win away to Caberfeidh. They followed that up with 4-1 win at Strachur and they beat Glenorchy at home by the same score in the semi final.
The teams have met at Canal Parks in North Division 1 this season when an Alan Palmer hat-trick helped Skye to a 6-1 win. Somhairle MacDonald, Ally MacLennan and Kenny Campbell were also on the score sheet. However Skye manager Ally Morrison feels this result will have no bearing on Saturday’s clash and it will if anything make Kilmallie even more determined.
Kilmallie had the advantage of playing on Beauly’s Brae View Park last Saturday where they defeated the home side 5-3.
Skye have made the Balliemore Final twice already. Each time they have lost out in penalty shoot-outs, first to Lochcarron in 1999 and then to Strathglass in 2003. The team have not taken silverware back to the island since their famous Camanachd Cup win in 1990 and the large support leaving Skye for the final will be hoping its third time lucky.
The match referee is Ron Kennedy.
Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon, Ross Graham, Steven Morrison, Dougie Rankin, AB Connor, John Moir, Alan MacLeod, Ian Nicolson, Shockie MacLennan, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Jamie MacDonald, Kerr Gibb, Kenny Campbell, Alan Palmer, Ally MacLennan, Gareth Roberts, Aonghas MacDonald.