Skye Camanachd - Camanachd Cup Winners 1990 – Part 2. | |
29 May 2010 Saturday 24 February 1990 Camanachd Cup First Round Lovat 1 Skye Camanachd 4 The omens were good at Balgate as this match was played in torrential rain – conditions with which the Islanders were hardly unfamiliar. In fact the bad weather had resulted in an enforced lay-off for several weeks ahead of this tie on planet shinty. Lovat were missing experienced defenders Charlie Mainland and Leslie Nairn and the Skye forwards tried to capitalise on this from the start. Lovat keeper Ally MacRae had to save from John MacRae in the first minute. The pressure during the first 10 minutes came all from Skye but as always in such circumstances, if you don’t take your chances, you are often punished. With jut 14 minutes gone, Lovat’s Davie Urquhart sent a shot from 20 yards past Skye keeper Bodach MacKenzie to give the home side the advantage. It took Skye a while to recover from losing a goal against the run of play but after 25 minutes they had an opportunity to level the tie when referee Brian Watts awarded a penalty for a kick by Lovat full back John Cumming. Skye’s John MacRae had the unenviable task of converting the spot hit in such dreadful conditions and it was little surprise when Ally MacRae saved his strike. This miss seemed to galvanise Skye and John MacRae in particular and just 4 minutes later her turned two defenders and set up Willie MacKinnon to level the tie. Lovat were not going to roll over though and Stuart MacRae forced a great save from Bodach MacKenzie after 34 minutes. As half time approached, referee Watts awarded a controversial penalty to Lovat. Donnie “Digg” MacDonald was the Skye defender involved but confusion surrounded his offence. Pushing and playing on without a stick was the reason given for the offence. Skye need not have worried though as the same tricky under-foot conditions which hampered John MacRae ensured that David Michie’s attempt missed the target and the match remained level at half time. The difficult conditions continued in the second half but as the hour mark approached, it was Skye who took the initiative. Wing centre Andy MacLean was having a fine game and his through ball found John MacRae at the edge of the box and the powerful forward made no mistake to give Skye the lead. Skye sensed victory and clever play between those skilful forwards Willie Cowie and Peter Gordon forced Ally MacRae in the Lovat goal into action. Skye continued to up the ante and a superb 40 yard pass from Willie Cowie found Peter Gordon, who in turn passed to John MacRae. MacRae found Ally “Stenscholl” MacDonald and he laid the ball off to Gordon, 12 yards from the Lovat goal. The keeper never saw the ball as Gordon’s shot nestled in the back of the net. Skye put the result beyond doubt on 83 minutes when man of the match Ally “Stenscholl” MacDonald fired a 25 yard shot into the Lovat net. Although this match was played in difficult conditions, it was played in a sporting manner with only one booking and this was a credit to both sides as well as referee Brian Watts. Not many people would have seen Skye as potential Camanachd Cup winners on this performance. The draw for the second round was eagerly awaited and when the names came out of the hat, it could hardly have been more difficult for the Islanders – Skye Camanachd v Kingussie. |