Memory Lane - 2000 / 2001 Shinty Season Part 9/20 | |
29 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. Skye returned to league action and the top division big games kept coming as Newtonmore visited Pairc nan Laoch, Portree.
Saturday 11 November 2000 Marine Harvest National Premier Division Skye Camanachd 2 Newtonmore 1 Skye Camanachd collected two more valuable league points following a hard-fought win over Newtonmore at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. Newtonmore travelled to Skye occupying second spot in the table. Skye were sixth in the eight-team league. The Islanders cause wasn’t helped by a number of absentees. Skye boss Angie Murchison was without Willie Cowie, Ally “Stenscholl” MacDonald and John MacLean. Newtonmore travelled without Evan Cheyne. Skye took the lead after 7 minutes. Davie Pringle battled hard to win possession and he found John Angus Gillies who played in Somhairle MacDonald with an inch-perfect pass. There was still plenty for Somhairle MacDonald to do and he held off the attentions of three Newtonmore defenders before crashing the ball into the roof of the net, past keeper Paul MacArthur, to make it 1-0. Both sides then went close as first Fraser MacKintosh for, ‘More and then Willie MacKinnon for the home side hit the post. Skye doubled their advantage after 31 minutes. Steven Morrison saw an initial shot locked by a defender but the ball rebounded fell kindly for him and he slotted the ball past an unsighted keeper to make it 2-0. Steven Morrison then became the third player to hit the frame of the goal as his shot came back of the post. Newtonmore came within a whisker of reducing the deficit on 63 minutes when a Norman Campbell free-hit caused problems in the Skye defence and Fraser MacKintosh shot just wide of target. Skye had chances to seal the points and their wastefulness In front of goal was punished when Newtonmore pulled a goal back. There was a scramble inside the D and Skye full back Ewen “Yogi” MacSween, lying on the ground, tried to steer the ball away to safety but inadvertently put the ball in his own net to make it 2-1. This meant for a tense final 15 minutes but Skye held out to record their second league win of the season. |