Skye Camanachd 2 Kingussie 6 | |
17 July 2011 Skye Camanachd’s Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup run is over after the Islanders lost 6-2 to Kingussie in their semi final meeting at Craigard, Invergarry on Saturday 9 July 2011. Skye manager Davie MacVicar made two changes to the squad which drew with Fort William in Marine Harvest North Division 2 the previous weekend. Forward Iain MacLellan was injured and manager MacVicar dropped out of the squad. Ross Graham returned to start in goal and Shaun Hedley, Jordan Murchison and Andrew Grant all won a place in the starting line-up. Kingussie manager Peter Dickson was minus Rory Borthwick but he other-wise had a strong squad to choose from. Kingussie enjoyed some early pressure and Iain Grant did well to keep Duncan Davidson away from a Kevin Thain ball from the right on 4 minutes. Ross Graham made a good save with his feet from a Russell Menzies shot moments later and the Skye keeper cleared the ball in the air to avert the danger. Skye responded and Magnus Burd set up Jordan Murchison after 7 minutes and Robbie MacPherson in the Kingussie goal did well to save Murchison’s effort. A minute later a Magnus Burd shot from the left fizzed across the face of the Kingussie goal. Kingussie took the lead after 10 minutes. A ball forward from Iain Grant was intercepted by Michael Clark and he played a long ball to Kevin Thain. Thain, who, with his back to goal, challenged for possession with Skye’s David Grant but referee Robert Baxter penalised the Skye defender on the advice of goal judge Robert Morrison to award Kingussie a soft free hit. Thain took the free hit and he found Martin Dallas who darted to his right and lost his marker before firing the ball past Ross Graham at his left post to put Kingussie 1-0 in front. Skye leveled after 15 minutes. A Mark Mortimer free hit from the Skye left was flicked into the danger area by Jordan Murchison. Three Kingussie defenders had the chance to clear but their clearance only fell to Andrew Grant 15 yards from goal and he showed no hesitation in slamming the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1. Kingussie returned on the attack from the throw up and a Kevin Thain shot from the left went just past the Skye goal. Kingussie regained the lead after 21 minutes. Greg MacRae played a long pass to Kevin Thain and he quickly diverted the ball into the path of Martin Dallas. The Skye defence closed in on Dallas but the ball broke to Thain who rifled a low shot past Graham to make it 2-1. Skye boss Davie MacVicar was forced to make the the first chance of the afternoon when Scott MacLeod had to come off to be replaced by Ally MacLeod. Skye came within a whisker of squaring the game on 29 minutes when Ally MacDonald latched onto an Allan MacKinnon ball from the right but his shot came off Robbie MacPherson’s right post. Referee Robert Baxter awarded Kingussie a penalty after 34 minutes after again consulting with goal judge Robert Morrison. Skye keeper Ross Graham was penalised for played a ball on the ground to deny Kevin Thain after he had collected a Russell Menzies pass and wriggled through the Skye defence. There was little protest from the Skye players and Kevin Thain smashed the spot hit over Ross Graham’s right shoulder into the net to make it 3-1. Skye tried to fight back and an Allan MacKinnon shot moments later flew just wide of goal. Skye’s Mark Mortimer was replaced by Stewart Grant after 36 minutes. Ross Graham did well to get his body in the way to block a fierce Kevin Thain drive after 39 minutes. Thain was again denied when Ross Graham saved with his hand a minute later. Russell Menzies came deep to collect a Greg MacRae pass on 43 minutes and he played a superb ball forward to Kevin Thain who engineered enough space to crack a shot low into the net to complete his hat-trick and give Kingussie a 4-1 lead. Skye pressed in the closing stages of the half and Jordan Murchison went close but it was Kingussie who took the 4-1 lead into the break. Ross Graham had to dive to his right to turn away a Kevin Thain shot on 47 minutes after the Kingussie man was set up by team mate Martin Dallas. Ross Graham saved with his legs from Martin Dallas after 48 minutes and Kingussie tried to extend their lead. Skye went on to enjoy some pressure without really working King’s keeper Robbie MacPherson. Kingussie boss Norman Dickson made his first change when he replaced Greg MacRae with Peter Dickson after 51 minutes. A great shot from Stewart Grant on 55 minutes saw Robbie MacPherson do well to stop the ball under his crossbar and the Kingussie keeper managed to scramble the ball away. Kingussie went 5-1 up on 62 minutes. Duncan Davidson intercepted a Shaun Hedley pass and played the ball down the Kingussie left to Peter Dickson. He sprayed the ball across goal to Kevin Thain and the Kingussie hit-man made enough space to turn and shoot low past and unsighted Ross Graham to make it 5-1. Skye manager MacVicar moved full back David Grant to full forward with Scott MacLeod returning to action in defence. Full forward Magnus Burd was withdrawn and Iain Grant was given the task of picking up Kevin Thain. Martin Dallas played in Kevin Thain on 64 minutes but Ross Graham saved Thain’s shot with his feet and Martin Bruce cleared the danger with the Kingussie forwards ready to pounce. Ross Graham did well to get his hand to a Kevin Thain rocket shot after 70 minutes. Thain’s strike was from fully 30 yards and with very little back-lift, he powered the ball on target. Scott MacLeod played a free hit to Shaun Hedley on the Skye right on 74 minutes. Stewart Grant burst forward from midfield and tried to reach Hedley’s deflected ball into the middle with his out-stretched caman but he was unable to make any proper contact. Brian Mabon replaced Russell Menzies for Kingussie after 75 minutes. Skye made their final substitution a minute later with captain John MacLeod coming on for David Grant whilst Kingussie introduced Ryan MacWilliam. Some keepy-uppy from Kevin Thain on 77 minutes created an opportunity Martin Dallas but a Martin Bruce challenge was enough to force Dallas to shoot wide. An Allan MacKinnon shot fizzed across goal when he was played in by a Jordan Murchison free hit from the left a couple of minutes later. Mark Mortimer returned to action in place of Andrew Grant on 80 minutes. Skye pulled a goal back on 82 minutes when John MacLeod scooped a ball to the edge of the D. Jordan Murchison took a touch to his left before driving the ball past MacPherson to make it 5-2. Stewart Grant launched the ball into the Kingussie goal are a minute later and Robbie MacPherson had to look alert to clear the danger. Skye then forced a couple of corners in quick succession but the Kingussie defence remained strong. However it was Kingussie who had the final say in the last minute of the game when Martin Dallas broke through the middle of the Skye defence before sending a devastating shot past keeper Graham to make it 6-2. Kingussie were worthy winners and Skye struggled to contain Kevin Thain throughout the game. Martin Dallas was also a stand out as were Michael Clark in midfield and Stuart Downie in defence. It wasn’t to be for Skye but Kevin Thain’s finishing power made the difference. Keeper Ross Graham, defender Iain Grant and Allan MacKinnon in midfield were best for Skye. Skye Camanachd from; Ross Graham, David Grant, Iain Grant, Scott MacLeod, Martin Bruce, Allan MacKinnon, Shaun Hedley, Mark Mortimer, Ally MacDonald, Andrew Grant, , Jordan Murchison, Magnus Burd subs Ally MacLeod, Stewart Grant, John MacLeod (captain), Daniel Morrison, John MacKenzie Kingussie from; Robbie MacPherson, Rory Wink (captain), Scott MacIntyre, Stewart Downie, Hamish Anderson, Jake MacPherson, Greg MacRae, Michael Clark, Martin Dallas, Russell Menzies, Duncan Davidson, Kevin Thain subs Peter Dickson, Brian Mabon, Ryan MacWilliam, Rory MacGregor, Mike Falconer Match Referee – Robert Baxter Goal Judges – Robert Morrison, Billy MacLeod The match balls are sponsored by Nor-Dan |