Oban Camanachd U14 Win 2015 South U14 League Play-Off | |
15 January 2016 Oban Camanachd U14 were crowned 2015 U14 South League Champions after they beat Bute U14 3-2 in their play-off encounter at the at the Lochgilphead Joint Campus all-weather pitch on Saturday 10 January 2016. The two teams finished their 9-a-side league programme level on points at the top of the table. Bute had the better goal difference but that didn’t come into play and a winner-takes-all match was arranged, with extra-time and penalties if required. Bute didn’t have their problems to seek ahead of the game as they had to make a travel detour on the way to the game because of a road closure on the A83. Despite this, the Islanders made a good start and Arran McKirdy put them ahead with a shot from distance after just 2 minutes. However Oban Camanachd settled and their reply was almost instant with Ross Campbell on the end of a fine flowing move to make it 1-1. The conditions were described as “horrendous” but this didn’t stop both teams battling for every ball and turning on an impressive show for the supporters. Oban Camanachd went in front for the first time in the game when Ross Campbell finished off another move and this gave his side a 2-1 lead at the break. Both teams continued to give their all from the start of the second half and the contest between Bute’s young player of the year, Ryan Craig, who had been switched to full centre, and his Oban counter-part Daniel Sloss was a feature of the game. Bute’s William Boag, who was named the club’s 2015 second team player of the year is also a promising prospect. The next goal was always going to be crucial and it was Oban Camanachd youngster Kenni Gray who got ahead of his marker and he scrambled the ball home to make it 3-1. Bute pushed harder and, with tensions rising, Oban Camanachd had a player sent off for retaliation after his shirt was pulled by a Bute forward. Bute continued to press and Craig MacKay, who played for the 2015 Marine Harvest South Division 1 winning Bute first team, scored after a good solo run to make it 3-2. However Bute were unable to get a leveler to force extra-time so the championship went to Oban Camanachd. The U14 South of Scotland League Shield and medals were presented to the Oban Camanachd players with Camanachd Association Regional Development Officer (West), Euan McMurdo in attendance. |