Skye Camanachd 6 Ballachulish 1. | |
25 April 2010 Skye Camanachd beat Ballachulish in the first round of the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 24 April 2010.
First team manager Aonghas MacDonald made 2 personnel changes to the side which beat Strathglass the previous week. Jamie MacDonald recovered from a hamstring strain started at full back in place of Steven Morrison who was unavailable. Dougie Rankin was also missing for the tie against his former club and Alan Palmer started in his place. Shockie MacLennan was switched to buckshee back with Gilleasbuig MacDonald moving to wing centre to allow Kenny Campbell to take up the full centre berth. Iain Nicolson started at full forward. Neil MacVicar and 15 year old Jordan Murchison started on the bench along with 1990 Camanachd Cup winner, the evergreen Willie MacRae.
Skye attacked from the throw up and they took the lead after only 2 minutes. Alan Palmer cut in from the right and his low, hard cross was turned into his own net by a Ballachulish defender.
Skye went two up after 16 minutes. Gilleasbuig MacDonald played in a corner from the left and his brother Somhairle MacDonald timed a great run in on goal and placed the ball neatly into the net.
The Skye forwards had several chances to increase their advantage during the remainder of the first half but they seemed to take it in turn to either pass up the opportunities or see their attempts blocked by visiting keeper Kenny Michie.
Ballachulish’s best opportunity was a neat break forward on 25 minutes when the lively Andrew Young turned his marker and played a delightful diagonal pass to Grant MacKenzie but the full forward shot wide.
Skye made it 3-0 just 5 minutes into the second half. Allan MacLeod slipped the ball forward to Kerr Gibb on the centre line. Gibb released Allan MacKinnon down the Skye right and he turned his marker and sprinted for goal. MacKinnon then unleashed a rocket shot from 25 yards which flew across Michie into the net for a terrific goal.
On 57 minutes, Iain Nicolson came deep and lofted a long ball on the Ballachulish goal. Keeper Michie blocked his effort but Somhairle MacDonald reacted first to tuck the ball into the net to score his second and make it 4-0.
The Islanders now looked like scoring in every attack and they made it 5-0 on the hour mark with a goal of the highest quality. Allan MacKinnon found Somhairle MacDonald in space on the Skye right. MacDonald made for the by-line before playing a cross into the danger area. Ian Nicolson failed to connect with the ball but Alan Palmer was running in behind him and he crashed a shot past the keeper, hitting the stanchion in the process.
With 30 minutes remaining, Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald took the opportunity to introduce 18 year old Neil MacVicar in place of Gilleasbuig MacDonald in the centre line. He also brought on 15 year old Jordan Murchison for his first team debut in place of Iain Nicolson in attack.
The large traveling Ballachulish support were cheering on 80 minutes when their side pulled a goal back. Ballachulish were awarded a free hit on their left for a shove on Andrew Young. Skye failed to clear the resultant cross into the goalmouth and as the ball pinged from player to player, Andrew Young took the chance to smash it high past Jamie Gannon, giving the keeper no chance.
With 4 minutes remaining, Allan MacKinnon turned his man and made for goal. He spotted Jordan Murchison unmarked to his right and unselfishly played in the young forward. With the Skye support willing Murchison to score a debut goal; his effort was cleared for a corner.
Skye completed the scoring when Kerr Gibb played the resultant corner across goal and Somhairle MacDonald nipped in at the back post to complete his hat-trick.
So the 6-1 win means Skye await Monday’s second round draw. They can also reflect on a couple of great goals from Allan MacKinnon and Alan Palmer and a satisfying hat-tick from Somhairle MacDonald. Kenny Campbell was dominant in the centre line and Shockie MacLennan looked commanding in the buckshee back role.
Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon (captain), Jamie MacDonald, Allan MacLeod, AB Connor, Shockie MacLennan, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, (Neil MacVicar), Kenny Campbell, Kerr Gibb, Somhairle MacDonald, Allan MacKinnon, Alan Palmer, Ian Nicolson, (Jordan Murchison) sub Willie MacRae, not used
Match Referee – Innes Wood
The Match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan. |