Kyles Athletic 5 Skye Camanachd 1 | |
16 July 2015 Kyles Athletic beat Skye Camanachd 5-1 at Tighnabruaich to reach the last four of the SSE Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup on Saturday 11 July 2015. Kyles Athletic boss Norman MacDonald was without influential defender Andrew King so Thomas Whyte dropped back into defence with Innes MacDonald starting at wing centre. Skye Camanachd first team manager John MacLeod was forced to make three changes to the squad which beat Beauly 2-1 in their league encounter at Braeview Park a week earlier. Kenny MacLeod and Kenny Campbell were both unavailable so John Gillies and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod were added to the squad and they started on the bench. Steven Morrison pulled out with a knee injury so Iain Murray took his place in a revamped defence. Shockie MacLennan remained on the injury list. Skye were late in arriving as the players and officials assisted at a road traffic accident so throw up was delayed to 2.45pm. Kyles started very quickly and they took the lead within the opening minute. The home side broke forward from the throw up and when the ball broke to Roddy MacDonald, he punished hesitancy in the visiting defence by drilling a shot past Skye keeper Iain MacLeod to make it 1-0. Skye had a chance to equalise on 5 minutes but Jordan Murchison’s shot was saved by John Whyte in Kyles goals. Kyles doubled their lead on 9 minutes. Skye goalie Iain MacLeod saved well from Grant Irvine but Dunkie Kerr followed up to score. Iain MacLeod was back in action a minute later, saving with his feet. A Chris MacLennan shot was deflected for a corner on 15 minutes and a couple of minutes later, at the other end, Iain MacLeod did well to clear with feet and Kyles threatened once more. Skye started to settle into the game and Allan MacKinnon sent a drive over the bar on 25 minutes whilst John Whyte made a good stop from a Danny Morrison effort on 36 minutes. However the Kyles forward line always looked dangerous and Roddy MacDonald got his second on 37 minutes when he was allowed time and space to control a ball from a corner and he dribbled into the D before scoring to make it 3-0. Roddy MacDonald completed his hat-trick to make it 4-0 just 3 minutes later when he shot through a ruck of players past an unsighted Iain MacLeod to score. Kyles grabbed a fifth goal on 68 minutes. Skye keeper Iain MacLeod made a brilliant save from Roberto Zavaroni but Roddy MacDonald was on hand to finish from close range. Skye pulled a goal back on 70 minutes when an Iain Nicolson shot was adjudged to have been kicked by John Whyte in the Kyles goal by referee Robert Baxter. Will Cowie dully stepped up to fire the spot-hit high in to the Kyles net to make it 5-1. Skye made some changes on 72 minutes as John Gillies came on for Iain Nicolson, Stewart Grant replaced Chris MacLennan and Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod took over from Gilleasbuig MacDonald. In the ensuing re-shuffle, Will Cowie dropped back to full centre and John Gillies took up the full forward role. Skye continued to press and were unlucky not to get a second when a John Gillies 20 yarder crashed onto the bar and over the top of goal. The Skye defence continued to work hard for the final minutes with Kyles always looking to add to their tally. It was a much improved second half showing from Skye but Kyles deserve their place in the last four of shinty’s top competition. Roddy MacDonald was their top player whilst his younger brother Innes MacDonald had a good first half in the midfield area. Skye keeper Iain MacLeod and his back-line of Iain Murray, Neil MacVicar, Ally MacDonald and Ally “Spod” MacLeod worked tirelessly right up until the final whistle. Danny Morrison looked in the mood in the Skye forward line whilst Will Cowie also deserves a mention. Skye now have a league programme to concentrate on and their remaining seven Marine National Division fixtures commence with a trip to Jubilee Park to play Ballachulish this weekend. Kyles Athletic from: John Whyte: Callum Miller (captain), Donald Irvine, Cameron Keith, Thomas Whyte: Robbie MacLeod, David Robertson, Innes MacDonald: Roddy MacDonald, Grant Irvine, Dunkie Kerr, Gordon Whyte: subs Roberto Zavaroni, Ross MacRae, Gavin Martin Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod: Iain Murray, Neil MacVicar, Ally MacDonald, Ally “Spod” MacLeod: Allan MacKinnon, Gilleasbuig MacDonald (captain), Chris MacLennan: Will Cowie, Jordan Murchison, Danny Morrison, Iain Nicolson: subs John Gillies, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Stewart Grant Match Referee – Robert Baxter |