The Skye Camanachd second team lost 4-1 to Marine Harvest North Division 2 league leaders Glengarry at Invergarry on Saturday 31 July 2010.
Skye second team manager made 6 enforced changes to the previous week’s line up at Kilmallie. Shaun Hedley, Eoghan Stewart, John “Spod” MacLeod, John “Podge” MacLeod and Neil John Campbell were all unavailable and Neil MacVicar was called up to the first team.
With a succession of other players unavailable on the day, it was a depleted squad of 13 that made their way to Invergarry on the Saturday morning.
Michael Nicolson returned in goals with brother Ryan Nicolson coming in at full forward for his third outing of the season. Ally MacDonald recovered from an ankle injury and replaced Shaun Hedley in a defensive role. Player / manager MacVicar starting at full centre and 15 year old Chris MacLennan started on the bench.
With the exception of the suspended Michael Brady, Glengarry were at full strength.
With former international Stephen Cameron at full centre, Glengarry took the game to Skye from the throw up. Despite being under pressure in the early stages, the Skye defence held firm.
Glengarry’s first real chance came on the quarter hour mark when a cross field pass found Martin Cameron in space and his first time drive was well saved by Skye custodian Michael Nicolson.
As Skye started to settle, they began to create one or two openings of their own. Their best opportunity came when Ally MacLeod played in Ryan Nicolson who fired across the face of the Glengarry goal.
As Glengarry continued to press for an opening, Michael Nicolson again came to Skye’s rescue with a save from the experienced Stuart Gregory.
The Skye defence continued to frustrate their more experienced opponents with 17 year old Ally MacDonald and 16 year old Scott MacLeod putting in some telling tackles.
Skye continued to make life difficult for the home side and indeed felt they had scored when ‘Garry keeper Gordon MacDonald sliced a Darryl McIntosh corner into the roof of his own net when trying to clear. To the surprise of the Skye forwards the goal was ruled offside with no Skye players inside the D.
With half an hour gone, the Skye cause was hampered further when player / manager MacVicar pulled his hamstring as he stretched to prevent Steven Cameron from getting a shot on target. In the reshuffle that followed Darryl MacIntosh took over at full centre with Ryan Nicolson moving to at wing centre and MacVicar taking up the full forward role.
While Glengarry maintained a grip on the game Skye were not without their chances and Jordan Murchison fired just wide following good work by Malcolm Moir.
MacVicar’s injury would see him leave the field with just under 10 minutes of the half remaining. 15 year old Chris MacLennan came on for his second appearance of the season.
Half time arrived with the game goal-less but with the knowledge that Darryl MacIntosh had received a nasty blow to the hand early in the first half which left him unable to hold his stick.
The second half saw MacIntosh take up the full forward position with Malcolm Moir dropping back to full centre role.
Glengarry made positional changes of their own which would have a telling effect. Steven Cameron moving to full forward where he fired in a quick fire hat-trick in 46, 55 and 58 minutes of the second half.
This knocked Skye’s confidence and they suffered a further blow when MacIntosh, who was proving to be a mere spectator at full forward, had to leave the field of play so the Islanders played out the closing half hour with only 11 players.
Skye, to their credit, continued to compete for every ball and restricted Glengarry to one further goal when Stuart Gregory netted on 75 minutes with a sublime half volley from the edge of the box after being set up by Steven Cameron.
Michael Nicolson ensured there were no further goals, saving from both Matthew Clark and Stuart Gregory.
Skye’s endeavour was rewarded in 89 minutes when a monstrous free hit from David Grant, in the right wing back position, found Jordan Murchison in space and he rifled a 25 yard drive into the roof of the net for a spectacular finish to the game.
Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, David Grant (captain), Ally MacDonald, Scott MacLeod, Iain Grant, Darryl MacIntosh, Davie MacVicar, (Chris MacLennan), Daniel Morrison, Jordan Murchison, Ally MacLeod, Malcolm Moir, Ryan Nicolson,
Match Referee – Dougie Cameron