Plockton High School Girls Win Cuach Camanachd Sgàthaich. | |
09 December 2009 In an absolutely pulsating spectacle on the Portree High School All Weather pitch, Plockton High School Girls lifted the Cuach Sgàthaich for girls’ shinty by defeating Portree High School Girls 4-3 after extra-time. Portree were rocked before the match when it emerged that top player Ilana Paterson had injured her back playing basketball but they were still able to call on a strong starting ten. The weather was fine after a hailstorm an hour before throw-up and a large crowd of interested pupils watched the start of the match. Plockton started well and went close a few times though Holly McCue. However, Lorna MacRae of Portree soon grabbed hold of the game and hammered a long range effort past the Plockton keeper after 5 minutes to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead. Shortly after, a long ball from Nicola MacSween found the unmarked Sophie Tinney and she hammered the ball past the keeper from 20 yards. Portree, playing with the wind, were 2-0 up and cruising. Portree’s Jenny Morrison marshaled Plockton captain Catriona Gibb well and Portree looked well on the way to victory. However Plockton got back into the game with two quick goals from the edge of the box from Tibby MacKenzie of Lochcarron with the Portree defence was unable to clear on both occasions. The match was level at 2-2 and Portree’s early efforts seemed to amount to nothing. Then Lorna MacRae scored her second with another fine long range effort and the large Portree support celebrated this fine strike from the youngster, who is still only in second year. Portree went into the interval a goal up but with the wind strengthening; it was going to be a difficult second half. The second period saw the Plockton keeper make a fine save from Portree substitute Rebecca MacDonald who put in a good shift up front. This may have been the opportunity the Sgitheanaich would rue as Plockton applied lots of pressure and McCue and MacKenzie started to lurk dangerously on the edge of the D. Plockton coach Sandra Coghill urged her players on and Portree’s opportunities became fewer and fewer with Mairi “Ach” MacRae - a fine shinty heritage there - strong at fullback for Am Ploc. Then the inevitable happened and McCue got the goal her direct style of play deserved as she leveled the match at 3-3. Plockton went all out for the winner but the Portree centre line of Roz Lamont, MacSween and Jenny Morrison dealt well with Gibb, MacKenzie and Freya Cushnie and some last ditch defending saw Portree into the golden goal extra-time period. In this sudden death period, Portree Coach Eoghan Stewart decided to go for broke and swapped Sophie Tinney with Maree Mackinnon. Unfortunately, Plockton retained the wind for the first period of extra time and this allowed them to maintain the pressure they enjoyed at the end of regulation time. With only seconds of the first period remaining, Tibby MacKenzie prodded the ball home to complete her hat-trick and the Cuach Sgàthaich was going over the bridge to Plockton. The trophy was presented to The match was real epic and both sets of players can be immensely proud of the skill and endeavour they showed and surely this match will be repeated next year and will perhaps become as renowned as the Sorley MacLean match played for by the senior boys. Maree MacKinnon was excellent in goals for Portree and she can be very proud of her efforts, playing the whole match due to the late injury to The victorious Plockton team can be delighted with the performance of Catriona Gibb, Mairi “Ach” MacRae, Holly McCue, Freya Cushnie and hat-trick heroine, Tibby MacKenzie. Special thanks go to referee Rab MacAskill, Wilma MacRuary of Although MacKenzie’s extra time winner took the cup to Plockton, Women’s’ shinty in Skye and Lochalsh was the big winner. There are many talented players in the area and with the right direction and the addition of some older heads playing at distant clubs, Skye and Lochalsh could easily become a force to be reckoned with in National Womens’ Shinty. Portree High School Girls from; Goalkeeper – Maree Mackinnon, Defence – Katie MacDonald (Captain), Helen Lamond, Emma Nicolson, Midfield – Rosalind Lamond, Nicola MacSween, Jenny Morrison, Forwards – Iona MacKinnon, Sophie Tinney, Lorna MacRae, Subs – Rebecca MacDonald, Maisie Tonagh
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