North Division 1
Beauly 3 Skye Camanachd 4
Skye Camanachd have gone top of North Division 1 following their 4-3 win over Beauly at Braeview Park. This was the only top division match played at the weekend and the win leaves the Islanders a point ahead of reigning champions Kingussie with both sides having 4 games remaining.
However Skye had to fight through every minute of this match against a Beauly side whose performance made a mockery of their second bottom position in the league.
Skye had the better of the early exchanges on a heavy pitch with the forwards starting to find their range. The islanders were unlucky not to take the lead when a Willie Cowie thunderbolt hit one post and ricocheted onto the other post before Beauly keeper Gary MacDonald gratefully cleared the danger.
Beauly fought hard to get back in the game and one Sandy MacKay snap-shot flew just inches wide off target.
Skye took the lead midway through the first half. Peter Gordon played a dangerous ball in from the left to John MacRae in the full forward position. MacRae made just enough space for himself to turn and blast the ball past MacDonald and put his side 1-0 ahead.
Skye continued to press and they increased their lead 10 minutes later. This time Willie Cowie found himself in space around the penalty spot and he made no mistake as he lashed the ball past MacDonald.
Skye were starting to play some good shinty but a defensive lapse 5 minutes from the break allowed Sandy MacKay a chance in front of goal and he crashed the ball past John “Bodach” MacKenzie to reduce Skye’s interval lead to a single goal.
Skye restored their two goal advantage just 5 minutes into the second half. Full centre Caley MacLean made a surging run from midfield, beating 3 Beauly players, before scooping the ball to John MacRae who netted his second goal of the game.
Skye should have gone on to see out the remainder of the game but Beauly were having none of it. Beauly full centre Stephen MacLean was having a tremendous battle with Caley Maclean in the midfield and he urged his side on.
Beauly forced a couple of corners and they pulled a goal back from the second of these. The ball was cleared by the Skye defence but only as far as Stephen MacLean around 40 yards from goal. MacLean sent a blistering drive which flew into the Skye net. It was a great goal from Stephen MacLean which seemed to inspire his team mates.
Beauly forced another corner 5 minutes later. The ball was played across the goal where Skye full back Duncan MacDougall attempted to control the ball with his chest. However the ball came off MacDougall’s arm and the referee had not hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Sandy MacKay stepped forward to take the penalty and he made no mistake, squaring the match at 3-3.
There were still 15 minutes to play and Skye knew that it would take a supreme effort to secure both points.
The pitch was now getting really heavy, especially around the Beauly goalmouth, and this didn’t help the Skye forwards.
Skye mounted a series of attacks and they got their reward 7 minutes from time. Andy MacLean pushed forward from his wing centre position. His initial shot stuck in the mud by Maclean followed it up to crack the ball into the net for the winning goal.
Skye Camanachd Ross Cowie was happy to win what was a testing game for his side and his players showed great attitude.
Skye Camanachd had collected 18 points from 10 games played, a point ahead of Kingussie who had also played 10 matches. Skye and Kingussie each had 4 games remaining. Skye had home matches against Beauly, Kinlochshiel and Kingussie and an away trip to Fort William.
Kingussie had a home match against Beauly whilst they had away trips to Newtonmore, Caberfeidh and a potential league title-decider against Skye Camanachd in Portree.
Skye’s next outing would be a stern test away to a Fort William side who had already taken three out of four points against Kingussie.
| P | W | D | L | PTS |
Skye | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
Kingussie | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
Fort William | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
Newtonmore | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Caberfeidh | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 8 |
Lovat | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
Beauly | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Kinlochshiel | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 |