Skye Camanachd 1 Kilmallie 5 - UPDATED! | |
20 June 2013 Skye Camanachd went down to a 5-1 defeat to Kilmallie in their Balliemore Cup quarter final tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 15 June 2013. Skye manager Willie MacRae welcomed Allan MacKinnon back into the team after he missed the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup defeat to Kinlochshiel a fortnight ago because of suspension. Gilleasbuig MacDonald was also back for this 2pm throw up following a trip abroad and he started at wing centre. Chris Rose returned to play full centre with Iain Murray in defence and Neil MacVicar in attack. However Kenny Campbell was unavailable and Ally “Spod” Macleod was out injured. Kilmallie manager Duncan Kelly had seen his side make a fine start to the season and they went into the tie as Marine Harvest North Division 1 leaders. Kelly was without the services of Martin Munro, Mark Graham and Martin Graham. However the Canal Parks side were boosted by the inclusion of Michael Rodger after he passed up the opportunity attend a Stone Roses concert to play in the tie. There was an early yellow card for Kilmallie’s Martin Stewart for a wild swing at Will Cowie and Danny Morrison shot wide from the resultant set piece. A 30 yard shot from Grant MacKenzie was saved with his chest and deflected for a corner by Skye keeper Michael Nicolson. Nicolson was back in action moments later when he saved from Ryan Stewart and Grant MacKenzie put the rebound the wrong side of the post. Skye responded and Danny Morrison released Jordan Murchison but his shot flew low across the face of the goal. Will Cowie got on the end of a raking pass from Chris Rose but his effort rose over the bar. A spectacular Grant MacKenzie flick and volley from a John Stewart corner ended up in the Skye side-netting. Kilmallie took a deserved lead on 25 minutes. John Stewart got on the end of a Liam MacDonald ball at the back post and he was afforded too much space and he cut inside before giving Michael Nicolson no chance as he produced a great finish on his backhand. However Skye’s response was instant as Chris Rose won the ball from the throw up. Danny Morrison came deep to collect and he played the ball to Will Cowie on the left. Cowie’s shot was low and hard and it went under Kevin Toye’s feet to make it 1-1. A nice exchange of passes between Liam MacDonald and Grant MacKenzie saw Skye keeper Michael Nicolson have to dart from his line to foil MacDonald. Visiting keeper Kevin Toye made a good save with his foot from a Neil MacVicar snap-shot from the edge of the D. Kilmallie finished the half on the attack and both Allan MacKinnon and Iain Murray made important blocks to keep the game level. Ryan Stewart had a goal out ruled for offside just before the interval with Grant MacKenzie inside the D before the ball. Skye pushed Iain Murray into attack from the start of the second half with Neil MacVicar dropping into defence. Visiting keeper Kevin Toye had to be alert to foil Iain Murray when the Skye forward burst through on goal after getting on the end of a Neil MacVicar free hit. Kilmallie forced a series of corners in quick succession and from one such corner, Grant MacKenzie was given too much space and he fired a great 15 yard shot over Michael Nicolson’s shoulder into the net to put Kilmallie back in front with 55 minutes played. Skye manager Willie MacRae immediately replaced Iain Murray with Angie MacDonald in attack. Kilmallie were winning the midfield battle which gave their forwards plenty possession. Kilmallie extended their lead on 65 minutes when Skye failed to pick up Peter Carmichael from a Ryan Stewart corner and John Stewart flicked the ball to Grant MacKenzie who drilled a low shot into the net to make it 3-1. Slack defending from Skye allowed John Stewart to nip in and roll the ball over the line to make it 4-1 on 70 minutes and the goal effectively ended the match as a contest. Worse was to come from for Skye as Grant MacKenzie collected a ball from John Stewart wide on the left and he unleashed a blistering drive to score the goal of the game and indeed a contender for goal of the season. The goal made it 5-1 and completed MacKenzie’s hat-trick and meant the Kilmallie full forward had scored ten times in his last three games. Skye forward Danny Morrison collided with keeper Kevin Toye and Morrison had to leave the field with what was later confirmed as a dislocated shoulder. Kenny MacLeod came on in his place. Kilmallie manager Duncan Kelly took Seb MacMillan on in place of Ryan Stewart. Kilmallie defender Iain Robertson sustained a knee injury late in the game and although he continued for a period, he was eventually replaced by Andrew McAlister. Kilmallie remained in the hunt for more goals for the remainder of the game. Kevin Toye made a good save above his head from a Jordan Murchison shot following a Darryl Macintosh free hit. Kilmallie will now play Beauly in the Balliemore Cup semi finals on 29 June 2013. It was another disappointing afternoon for Skye who failed to compete during the final half hour. Kilmallie manager Duncan Kelly commented after the game that it was his side’s best performance of the season although he must have been surprised at the ease at which his side won the game. Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, Steven Morrison (captain), Shockie MacLennan, Iain Murray, Allan MacKinnon, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Chris Rose, Darryl Macintosh, Neil MacVicar, Jordan Murchison, Will Cowie, Danny Morrison, subs Angie MacDonald, Kenny MacLeod, Thomas Wilson Kilmallie from; Kevin Toye, Alan MacDonald, Martin Stewart, Iain Robertson, Michael Rodger, Liam Cameron, Peter Carmichael, Mark MacPherson, Liam MacDonald, John Stewart (captain), Ryan Stewart, Grant MacKenzie, subs Seb MacMillan, Andrew McAlister, Stephen McAlister Match Referee - Ronnie Campbell The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan
|