Glenurquhart 2 Skye Camanachd 1 | |
22 April 2019 Glenurquhart recovered from the loss of an early goal to beat Skye Camanachd 2-1 in their cottages.com MacTavish Cup quarter-final tie at Blairbeg on Saturday 20 April 2019. Glenurquhart’s Calum Smith had a hamstring injury but was also working off-shore. However James MacPherson returned to the squad after a holiday break and he started on the bench. Skye started James Pringle in place of Iain MacLellan who dropped onto the bench. Chris Rose was added to the squad which won at Oban Celtic the previous weekend. Skye looked dangerous from the throw up and they took the lead on 5 minutes when John Gillies played in Jordan Murchison who took a touch before flicking the ball up and smashing home an unstoppable volley. The Glen immediately made changes in defence with wing centre Cameron MacKintosh dropping back to mark danger-man Murchison and this seemed to settle the hosts. Glenurquhart went on the offensive and Ewan Brady rattled the crossbar. It then took an incredible save from Skye goalie Ryan Morrison kept the Islanders ahead. First Morrison parried a Brady piledriver before he used his legs to keep out Finlay Ralston’s drive; saving by his post. The Glen suffered a blow when Michael Brady limped off with what looked like a hamstring problem. Neale Reid was causing Skye problems and he equalised when he got onto a Connor Golabek pass on 25 minutes before smashing the ball high into the net. Glenurquhart dominated the last 20 minutes of the half with Skye’s defence dealing with almost everything and, when they didn’t, keeper Ryan Morrison could be relied on. At the other end, John Gillies forced a smart Stuart MacKintosh save before the Islanders created the final chance of the half when, from a tight angle, James Pringle hit the side-netting with a good strike. Skye started the second half brightly, moving the ball around nicely but they lost Ross Gordon who had to come off after twisting his knee. He was replaced by Iain MacLellan. There was a touch of controversy surrounding the winning goal on 51 minutes. With full back Jamie Gilles approaching the ball to clear, the Skye camp felt he was pushed in the back and, as he fell, Oliver Black found Connor Golabek who slipped the ball home. Referee Martin MacLean awarded the goal, much to Skye’s disappointment. Stuart MacKintosh was now the busier of the two keepers, making some excellent saves from Jordon Murchison, Will Cowie and especially a John Gilles effort which required a gravity-defying stop. Skye introduced Stewart Grant in place of William MacKinnon and wing centre and Grant offered more creativity and almost scored from distance with a dipping shot which Stuart MacKintosh did well to judge. With John Gillies and Will Cowie dictating, Skye dominated the closing stages but Glenurquhart were dangerous on the break and Neale Reid had an opportunity to make it 3-1 but he blazed the ball over the bar. Stuart MacKintosh then made a fantastic reaction save from Will Cowie right at the death. Glenurquhart saw out the remaining minutes in what was a very good, end-to-end game with both keepers – Glen’s Stuart MacKintosh and Skye’s Ryan Morrison – impressing the supporters. The match was billed as a shoot-out between two exciting forward lines but it was perhaps how the respective defensive units adjusted that made the difference. The win was bitter-sweet for the Blairbeg whilst as well as losing Michael Brady, Ally MacKintosh also came off with a hamstring injury whilst Lachie Smith’s booking looks set to trigger a suspension. Glenurquhart from: Stuart MacKintosh; John Barr, Ally MacKintosh, Michael Brady, Lachie Smith; Finlay Ralston, Michael Fraser, Cameron MacKintosh; Ewan Brady, Connor Golabek, Neale Reid, Oliver Black; subs James MacPherson, Cairn Urquhart, Cameron Bremner, Eddie Tembo Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison; Jamie Gillies, Martin Pringle, James Morrison, Iain Nicolson, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, John Gillies, William MacKinnon; Jordan Murchison, Will Cowie (captain), Ross Gordon, James Pringle; subs Iain MacLellan, Stewart Grant Match Referee – Martin MacLean Scorers Glenurquhart Neale Reid (25) Connor Golabek (51) Skye Camanachd Jordan Murchison (5) |