Skye Camanachd 1 Glenurquhart 2 | |
16 April 2023 The Glenurquhart seconds beat the Skye Camanachd seconds 2-1 in their Mowi North Division 1 clash at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 15 April 2023. Skye manager Willie MacDonald included Shockie MacLennan into his squad for this 3pm throw up but he started on the bench as he had been working through the night in his job as a paramedic. There were just minutes to go until throw up when Skye keeper Calum Nicolson broke his finger saving a shot in the warm-up. The Scotland under-17 and North under-21 keeper was unable to grip his club with a strapped finger so, to the relief of his manager, opted to play as he was. Glenurquhart had played midweek when they beat their Inverness counterparts 4-0 in the opening round of the Strathdearn Cup. Manager Iain MacLeod fielded a strong core to his side with Eddie Tembo at full back, Bradley Sneddon at buckshee back, Michael Fraser at full centre and Neale Reid at full forward. Skye opened towards the Braes end of the ground and they made a bright start, taking the lead after just 4 minutes. Youngster Iain MacInnes hammered the ball from the right, low into the net past a helpless keeper. The Glen had the wind advantage and they levelled on 12 minutes when Neale Reid turned the ball home from the far side following Andrew van Loon’s huge hit-in from the left, midway inside the Skye half. The visitors enjoyed a period of pressure, and it took superb Cameron MacKay challenge, on the left indie the D, to halt a dangerous Glen attack following a hit-in on the right. The first half was into stoppage time when Neale Reid put the Glen in front, intercepting a clearance out of defence to score. Skye dominated the second half, but Tommy Ellis produced heroics in the visiting goal, with full back Eddie Tembo expertly marshalling their defence, to keep their lead intact. Skye had introduced Shockie MacLennan midway through the first half and his shot from range, soon after the restart, was stopped and turned away for a corner by the Glen keeper. Ellis then spread himself to save, at the expense of another corner after Shockie MacLennan had played in Iain MacInnes. Ellis saved again from MacLennan, this time getting the ball away for a corner under pressure from Skye substitute Alasdair Stewart. Iain MacInnes went close with a shot from the penalty spot, but the ball went wide of the keeper’s right post. Skye kept bombarding the Glenurquhart goal and Tommy Ellis saved and then slapped away James Robertson’s effort as Skye’s corner count increased and the Glen custodian denied Robertson again soon after. In a rare Glen attack, Skye keeper Calum Nicolson fell on the ball in a goalmouth scramble and referee Ewen Maclean pointed to the spot, giving Neale Reid a late chance to complete his hat-trick. However, keeper Nicolson stood tall and saved his effort. Glenurquhart saw out the rest of the game but Skye will rue not turning their second half pressure into goals. The match was very well refereed by Ewen Maclean. Skye Camanachd from: Calum Nicolson: David MacInnes (captain), William James Sutherland, Cameron MacKay, Raghnall Robertson: Charlie Latton, Seonaidh-Alex Macleod, Nui Nicolson: Iain MacInnes, Archie MacDonald, James Robertson, Ryan Nicolson: subs Alasdair Stewart, Shockie MacLennan, Ian MacPherson Glenurquhart from: Tommy Ellis: Eddie Tembo, John Cameron, Cameron MacKintosh, Bradley Sneddon: Andrew van Loon, Michael Fraser, Jamie MacLennan: Alfie MacLeod, Jed Stoddart, Charlie Macleod, Neale Reid: subs TJ van Loon, Callum Miller, Thomas Stebbings, Iain MacLeod Match Referee – Ewen Maclean |