Portree High School Girls’ Finish A Credible Second. | |
31 March 2010 The Portree High School Girls’ team enjoyed a very successful day at Ballachulish in the 3rd round of the Womens Camanachd Association Schools League on Friday 19 Match 2010.
The team left Portree on the Friday morning in plenty time for the event, allowing for the various roadworks enroute. They even arrived at Jubilee Park, Ballachulish before hosts Kinlochleven High School.
Portree’s first opponents on a dull, overcast day were Douglas / Bochar who included a couple of girls who had played for the victorious Milngavie / Bearsden team in the 2009 National U14 Development Final.
The Glasgow side put up stiff opposition but Portree enjoyed the balance of play and quickly got into their rhythm of fast movement, quick hitting with no lack of determination shown.
Ilana Paterson started in goal but swapped position with Sophie Tinney as the Islanders went looking for goals. Tinney remained in goal for most of the remainder of the tournament.
In the end the match finished goalless and the draw was to be a theme of Douglas / Bochar’s tournament as they finished the day undefeated and in third place in the competition with 5 draws and a win over Dingwall.
Next up for Portree was Ardnamurchan who had snatched a draw against title favourites Lochaber in their opening match.
Nicola MacSween was involved in a strong battle against the thrawn and steadfast Moidart defence whilst Roz Lamond in the forward line held the ball up well and she got her reward for all her endeavour when she slipped the opening goal into the back of the net.
A melee on the edge of the D allowed Alana Paterson the chance to make it 2-0 and substitute Jenny Morrison made it 3-0 with a long range effort.
Ardnamurchan did pull back a consolation goal when they beat keeper Emma Nicolson, who had take a spell between the sticks to allow Sophie Tinney a run outfield.
Portree then faced a showdown with 2009 champions Kingussie. Portree sportingly reduced their side to 6 players as the Kings Girls had travelled a player short and lost another through injury in the opening games.
Kingussie started on the attack but they found Portree full back Lorna MacRae and fellow defender Katie MacDonald – whose terrific performance staked her claim for permanent ownership of the captain’s armband – in no mood to let them past as they continually repelled the Badenoch side’s attacks.
Portree scored the only goal of the game when Paterson and Morrison combined to break and with all the time in the world, Jenny Morrison slammed the ball home to give her side an impressive 1-0 victory.
Portree’s sporting gesture to Kingussie did not end at the final whistle as Portree player Jennifer MacKinnon played for them in their final 3 games. This allowed Kingussie to field a full compliment of players and gave MacKinnon some match experience in what was her first tournament at this level.
MacKinnon also enjoyed a good run out for Portree as they went nap against a Dingwall side that were unlucky to go trough the tournament without picking up a point.
Ilana Patterson battered in the opening goal before Rebecca MacDonald, making her first start of the day, forced her way through a packed defence to make it 2-0. MacDonald added her second and Portree’s third when she slammed home a low shot. Rebecca MacDonald is a 3 year veteran of the team and niece of Skye Camanachd Social Club Chairwomen Martha Ross and her double strike was just reward for her dedication to the sport.
Paterson grabbed her third of the day to make it 4-0 and the side was then rejigged to relieve Lorna MacRae of her defensive duties. MacRae grasped the opportunity to play further forward and she stroked home Portree’s final goal to complete a 5-0 victory.
Coach Eoghan Stewart was delighted with his side’s polished performances so far as they prepared for their meeting with hosts Kinlochleven. This game turned out to be a real ding-dong battle against a side who, despite their size and age advantage, Portree have gained some very good results against in previous competitions.
Portree keeper Sophie Tinney was called into action several times in the early stages but dealt expertly with anything that came her way. In previous seasons a more youthful Portree side would have folded under such pressure but MacRae and captain MacDonald, ably assisted by Emma Nicolson and Helen Lamont, stood resolute.
Portree’s Ilana Paterson came close to scoring several times whilst Rebecca MacDonald’s raw style of play caused chaos in the host’s defence on several occasions.
Nicola MacSween was now running the show in midfield and Portree looked the more likely side to win before an injury to a Kinlochleven player brought the match to an end.
This point set Portree up for the “final” against Lochaber as both sides had identical points with each earning 3 wins and 2 draws from the first 5 games.
Portree started on the offensive and MacSween and Paterson both went close in the opening minute.
However the Lochaber side are a strong, experienced outfit and they took they lead, becoming the first side to score against Sophie Tinney in the whole competition.
Lochaber quickly added a second to kill off any Portree dreams of a maiden tournament victory.
The Portree girls continued to battle well and every Sgitheanach player got a run out against the eventual competition winners and none looked out of place. The eventual 4-0 scoreline flattered the older girls from the Fort.
Kinlochleven Head Teacher John McGlip presented the winners prizes. This included the Player of the Tournament which went to a Portree High School player for the first time as Nicola MacSween collected the award for her powerful style of play which so impressed the judges.
Mr McGlip should be thanked for organising a wonderful tournament as should Ballachulish Shinty Club for their contribution.
After the event, Portree High School Head Coach Eoghan Stewart said, “I’m so proud of all the girls. Next year we should be aiming to win the league.” Stewart reserved special praise for keeper Sophie Tinney for her performances throughout the day.
Finally, Linda MacKinnon is to be thanked for stepping in at the last minute to drive the mini bus to Ballachulish. Without her contribution, the girls would not have been able to attend the competition. |