Memory Lane - 2000 / 2001 Shinty Season Part 5/20 | |
24 December 2015 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. After three defeats in their opening three matches, Skye knew they needed a win as Kyles Athletic visited Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Saturday 16 September 2000 Marine Harvest National Premier Division Skye Camanachd 6 Kyles Athletic 1 Skye produced their best league performance of the season to beat Kyles Athletic 6-1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree as the newly promoted Islanders won their first points in the National Premier Division at the fourth attempt. Kyles went into the game after finishing Camanachd Cup runners-up to Kingussie, losing 3-1 in the final, only three months earlier so this was a tough challenge for Angie Murchison’s side. Skye got off to a great start when Steven Morrison came deep to win possession in midfield. He fed the ball to Willie Cowie who passed to Peter Gordon and he fired past Kenny MacDonald to make it 1-0. Skye extended their lead on 29 minutes when Steven Morrison got on the end of a Somhairle MacDonald free-hit and his shot was deflected into the net off a visiting defender. A couple of minutes later it was 3-1. Steven Morrison won the ball and found Somhairle MacDonald. He lobbed a delightful diagonal ball to Willie Cowie who scored despite being impeded in the process. Skye went further ahead just 5 minutes into the second half when Willie Cowie knocked-on an Ally “Stenscholl” MacDonald corner and Somhairle MacDonald nipped in to score his second goal of the game which made it 4-0. Somhairle MacDonald got his second just 5 minutes later with what was a replica of his first goal and this gave Skye a comfortable 5-0 advantage. Skye thought they had a sixth when Willie Cowie latched onto a long ball from John Angus Gillies and Cowie beat his marker to score. However referee Finlay Ross brought the play back for a foul on Cowie, awarding the Islanders a penalty. Peter Gordon stepped up to finish from the spot to make it 6-0. Kyles got some consolation when Fraser MacDonald took a Dunkie Kerr pass and beat Skye keeper John “Podge” Macleod to make it 6-1 but it was Skye who would pick up their first points of the league campaign and record their biggest win of the season into the bargain. |