There was a great turnout for the seventh John MacKinnon Memorial Sixes which took place at the Portree High School astro pitch on Saturday 8 February 2020.
The event remembers Skye Camanachd Vice President John MacKinnon who died in December 2011 as the result of a tragic accident at work.
This was the 2019 tournament and there were five teams taking part with the competition taking place just ahead of the predicted Storm Ciara which was just hours away from engulfing most of the country.
The teams played the full length of the astro pitch and they faced eachother in a round-robin format with the top four sides progressing to the semi-final stage.
John MacKinnon Sixes – Semi-Final
Witness the Fitness 1 Was the North 0
The first semi-final was between Witness the Fitness and Was the North. Witness the Fitness opened the round-robin games with 1-0 wins over Crossal Inc. and then Morrisons – with Jordan Murchison scoring both goals at one end and keeper David Grant making some impressive saves at the other. They went on to defeat Skye Divers by the same score before drawing 0-0 with Was the North to top the overall section.
As well their goalless draw with Witness the Fitness, Was the North also drew 0-0 with Skye Divers and Morrisons, either side of a 1-0 reverse against Crossal Inc., meaning they only lost one goal throughout but failed to find the net in any of the section games.
Referee Ewen MacLean got the match underway and Was the North, with the wind advantage, created most of the early chances with Aonghas MacDonald proving a handful at full forward.
However it was Witness the Fitness, playing away from the town end, who took a 1-0 interval lead when Thomas Wilson gathered possession in midfield before finding Jordan Murchison wide on the left. Murchison controlled the ball before hammering it high into the net, across the keeper.
Witness the Fitness now had the elements and they twice went close to doubling their advantage but the tie finished 1-0.
John MacKinnon Sixes – Semi-Final
Morrisons 0 Crossal Inc. 1
Morrisons and Crossal Inc. clashed in the second semi-final. Morrisons finished second in the section matches and they recovered from a 1-0 defeat to Witness the Fitness to beat Skye Divers by the same score. They then drew 0-0 with Was the North before defeating Crossal Inc. 1-0.
Crossal Inc. lost 1-0 against Witness the Fitness, also losing Elaine Nicolson to an ankle injury, before overcoming Was the North by the same score. They drew 1-1 with the Skye Divers before losing 1-0 to Morrisons.
Referee Caley MacLean took charge of this one and a first half of few chances finished scoreless.
With extra-time looming, the goal that made the difference came just seconds from the end. Crossal Inc.’s Calum Robertson whipped in a shot from the left which keeper Ryan Morrison saved with his legs. However Megan Campbell was first to react and she calmly tucked the rebound low past the keeper to send Crossal Inc. through to the final.
John MacKinnon Sixes – Final
Witness the Fitness 2 Crossal Inc. 1
After a short break, and with the effects of Storm Ciara about to hit, referee Ewen MacLean got the final underway.
Witness the Fitness, hitting away from the town end, took the lead when Jenna Beaton forced the ball over the line from close range.
However straight from the restart, Will Cowie scored a great leveller, firiing a rocket-shot from inside the centre circle and although keeper David Grant got a hand to the ball, but the force of the shot took it over the line.
Witness the Fitness regained the lead through Jordan Murchison’s shot from the right. Keeper Robbie Gordon got his feet to the ball but couldn’t keep it out and it remained 2-1 until half-time.
And with no further scoring, Murchison’s effort proved to be the winner before the squads made for the Skye Camanachd Clubhouse for soup and sandwiches where former Skye player and manager John Finlayson, himself no stranger to the John MacKinnon Sixes event, presented the Shield to Witness the Fitness captain David Grant.
2019 MacKinnon Sixes Squads from:
Witness the Fitness from: David Grant, Thomas Wilson, Jenna Beaton, Taylor Matheson, Connor Gilpin, Jordan Murchison, John Gillies, Archie Millar
Crossal Inc. from: Ewen MacKinnon, Thomas MacKinnon, Elaine Nicolson, Angie MacDonald, Will Cowie, Calum Robertson, Ian MacPherson, Robbie Gordon, DJ Gilpin, Megan Campbell
Was the North from: Murphy Henderson, Jamie Gillies, Allan MacLeod, Ally "Cleodi" MacLeod, Ross Gordon, Ruaraidh MacLeod, Aonghas MacDonald, Ceitidh Smith,
Morrisons from: Ryan Morrison, Daniel Morrison, William MacKinnon, Ross MacKinnon, Sam MacPhee, Holly MacPhee, Stephen Morrison
Skye Divers from: Calum Nicolson, David MacInnes, Ilana Paterson, James Morrison, Martin Pringle, Cameron MacKay, Robert MacQueen, Angus Gilpin
The annual award winners were:
- 2019 MacKinnon Sixes Player of the Tournament – Jordan Murchison
- 2019 MacKinnon Sixes Ladies Player of the Tournament – Ilana Paterson
- 2019 MacKinnon Sixes U17 Player of the Tournament – Ross MacKinnon
- 2019 MacKinnon Sixes Over 40 Player of the Tournament – Robbie Gordon
Thanks go out to Donald John’s café sponsored the match balls and to all those who donated raffle prizes, baking and food for afterwards.