Kingussie U14 2 Skye Camanachd U14 4 | |
25 August 2013 Skye Camanachd U14 are through to the MacMaster Cup Final following their thrilling 4-2 win over Kingussie U14 in the semi finals at Castle Leod on Friday 23 August 2013. There was an end to end start to this 6.45pm throw up as both teams found their feet on the large but perfect Strathpeffer pitch. Ruaraidh MacLeod went close to opening the scoring for the Islanders in the opening stages, turning the Kingussie full back on two occasions and he was unlucky not to finish. Skye did go in front on 33 minutes when Conor Ross made some space for himself before shooting home from 20 yards. Skye goalie Jack Henderson was busier of the two keepers, saving well with his feet on 18 minutes and again a couple of minutes later. Henderson then pulled off a great save with his stick on 25 minutes after terrific strike from a Kingussie forward. Play flowed from end to end for the remainder of the first half with both defences on top and both centre lines battling hard for possession and Skye took their one goal advantage into the break. Kingussie made a great start to the second half and they equalised within a minute of the restart through Dylan Borthwick. Skye went back on the offensive and some good lead up play from Stuart Taylor saw him play the ball through to Ruaraidh MacLeod who fired an unstoppable shot past the Kingussie keeper to give Skye a 2-1 advantage. Skye had the chance to go 3-1 up after Ruaraidh MacLeod was hauled down in the box and referee Archie Ritchie pointed to the penalty spot. John Gillies stepped up to take the spot-hit but his effort was saved by the Kingussie keeper. Kingussie equalised on 55 minutes when Dylan Borthwick capitalised on some confusion in the Skye defence to square the game once more. Skye Youth Coach John MacLeod made a change on the hour mark, introducing Conor Gilpin in place of Stuart Taylor, and the switch paid immediate dividends a couple of minutes later when Conor Gilpin fired home from 12 yards to make it 3-2. Kingussie had a chance to equalise when they were referee Archie Ritchie awarded them a penalty following a kick in Skye D. However the penalty was stuck wide of Jack Henderson’s left hand post to the great relief of the Skye support and management. Kingussie continued to press the Skye defence and it took some resilient defending from Ryan Morrison and Marcus Ross to keep their team in front. Skye made another substitution on 67 minutes when Ross Nicolson replaced Anna MacDonald and again there was an immediate reward when Ross Nicolson pushed the ball home following a scramble in Kingussie goal area. This was a fantastic effort by the whole Skye squad and there were stand-out performances from Jack Henderson in goal and defenders Ryan Morrison, John Gillies and Marcus Ross. James Pringle, John MacInnes and Angus MacDonald were all excellent in centre line whilst Ruaraidh MacLeod and Conor Ross were a constant threat to Kingussie defence. Skye Camanachd U14 will now face Oban Camanachd U14, who beat Kilmallie U14 5-3 after extra time in the other semi final, in the MacMaster Cup Final on Saturday 14 September 2013, ahead on the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final at An Aird. Skye Camanachd U14 from: Jack Henderson, Ryan Morrison, Marcus Ross, Ryan O’Halloran, John Gillies, James Pringle, John MacInnes, Angus MacDonald, Conor Ross, Stuart Taylor, Anna MacDonald, Ruaraidh MacLeod, subs Conor Gilpin, Ross Nicolson, Emma Gordon Match Referee – Archie Ritchie
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