Memory Lane - 2000 / 2001 Shinty Season Part 16/20 | |
07 January 2016 As Skye Camanachd look forward to their first season in shinty’s top division since 2002, let’s look back to the 2000 / 01 season, Skye’s first year in the national top tier. The Islanders only spell in the National Premier Division came when they won promotion from the National League Division 1 after a final-day win over Lochcarron at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree at the end of the 1999 / 2000 season. Skye joined Fort William, Glenorchy, Kilmallie, Kingussie, Kyles Athletic Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd in an eight team top flight in hope of winning the championship but with a definite aim of avoiding finishing bottom of the table which would mean relegation. Skye were back on home turf as Kilmallie visited Pairc nan Laoch Portree as the Islanders’ battle for league points continued.
Saturday 14 April 2001 Marine Harvest National Premier Division Skye Camanachd 3 Kilmallie 3 Skye Camanachd followed up last weekend’s 4-4 draw with Glenorchy by collecting another important point from a 3-3 draw with Kilmallie. However Skye will feel that they should have taken both points after leading 3-0 at half time. Skye started well and Somhairle MacDonald soon had the ball in the net. However his effort was disallowed by referee John Sloggie who had blown for a foul on Willie Cowie in the build up to MacDonald’s shot. Skye took the lead when Dougie Rankin played a long ball forward from the middle of the park and Somhairle MacDonald did well to take the ball under control before beating keeper Iain Robertson to make it 1-0. It wasn’t all Skye though and Kilmallie’s Alex MacNicol was unlucky when his effort came back off the post. Skye doubled their advantage when, from 20 yards out, Peter Gordon sent a brilliant back-hand drive into the back of the net to make it 2-0. Skye went 3-0 up on 21 minutes. There was some good lead-up play from Willie Cowie who carved up a chance for Somhairle MacDonald and he did well to get his second goal of the afternoon. Skye could have put themselves out of sight but a Peter Gordon effort rebounded back off the post. Kilmallie were boosted when John Stewart sent a powerful drive into the Skye net with the visitors’ first attack of the second half to make it 3-1. The Canal Parks side had the chance to further reduce the deficit when they were awarded a penalty but Alex MacNicol sent the spot-hit over the bar. Then Skye had an opportunity to restore their three-goal cushion when they were awarded a some-what soft penalty. Justice was perhaps done when Peter Gordon’s effort from the spot went wide of the goal. Kilmallie set up a thrilling finish when Peter Jackson forced the ball over the line following a goalmouth scramble on 82 minutes to make it 3-2. Skye were now hanging on and disaster struck for the Islanders with just a couple of minutes remaining. There was confusion at the back between Skye keeper John “Podge” MacLeod and defender Allan “Goa” MacLeod and the ball ended up in the net off MacLeod’s caman. Kilmallie had completed an unlikely come-back, coming from 3-0 down to gain a hard-earned point. Skye were now in sixth place in the eight-team league as they continued their battle to avoid finish in the bottom place relegation spot. Next up was a trip to play Kyles Athletic at Tighnabruaich in a fortnight’s time. |