Skye Camanachd 1 Kinlochshiel 0 | |
20 July 2016 The Skye Camanachd second team reached the Strathdearn Cup semi-finals after they edged out the Kinlochshiel second team 1-0 in their quarter-final tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 16 July 2016. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle made four changes to the squad which beat the Beauly second team in the league a week earlier. DJ Gilpin, Calum Gibb, Martin Pringle and Sam MacPhee weren’t included. Captain David Grant returned at full back whilst there were also starting places for Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, James Pringle and Neil John Campbell. Kinlochshiel second team manager Willie MacRae fielded a strong side and he continued with veteran Graham Kennedy in goal whilst Scotland U17 player Jonnie MacAskill started in midfield alongside Fraser MacVicar and Ronan Taylor. There was delayed coverage of the whole of the second half of this noon throw up on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. The match was started in difficult conditions. The pitch itself was more than playable but the swirling wind and rain, which started in earnest around 20 minutes from throw up, made it very difficult for both sets of players. Ruairidh MacLeod went close for the home side when his low shot across goal from the Skye left went past Graham Kennedy’s right post. Ruairidh MacLeod then cut in from the Skye right as ‘Shiel struggled to get the ball away. MacLeod appeared to be chopped down inside the D but referee John Wood waved play on. The ball fell for Iain MacLellan at the back post but his effort went just the wrong side of the keeper’s left post and the chance was gone. Ruairidh MacLeod required treatment from Skye medics Dr Wilson Banks and Helen Gilpin and he had to come off; replaced by another youngster, Ross Gordon. Scott MacLean shot wide following a ‘Shiel free-hit on 26 minutes and the same player sent the ball over the bar a couple of minutes later. Nice play from Iain MacLellan set up a chance for John Angus MacInnes on the half-hour mark but visiting goalie Graham Kennedy saved with his feet. Skye custodian Ryan Morrison had to come off his line to deny Neil Fraser as the tie moved into first half injury time and then Jonnie MacAskill cut in and sent the ball over the top in the fifth minute of stoppage time and the half ended goalless. Kinlochshiel introduced Duncan Matheson in attack from the start of the second half. Sandy MacDiarmid dropped back into defence and WD MacRae came off. Skye also made an interval change with John MacKenzie on for James Pringle. Iain MacLellan came back to wing centre with MacKenzie joining the task. An early Ross Gordon shot on his backhand went past the keeper’s right post. At the other end, Scott MacLean set up Duncan Matheson but he also sent a backhand effort past by the upright with 48 minutes played. Skye’s John Angus MacInnes and ‘Shiel’s Douglas Campbell were both booked by referee John Wood following a flare-up 10 minutes after the restart. Some confident goalkeeping from Graham Kennedy saw him take down a John MacKenzie shot before pushing the ball to Seamus Lane who cleared his lines. Skye defender Andrew Banks was fortunate to escape a booking for a sliding tackle which halted a Scott MacLean run just outside the D on the ‘Shiel left. Skye goalie Ryan Morrison pushed away Duncan Matheson’s shot following the free-hit with the effort lacking power. There would be extra-time and penalties if necessary to settle this tie and the first goal looked as if it would be more and more crucial. And it was Skye who made the vital breakthrough on 73 minutes. Iain MacLellan was fouled deep in the Skye half on the right. Allan MacLeod took the free-hit and sent the ball up the right side and Ruairidh MacLeod, who returned to the field of play midway through the second half, gathered the ball and cut in from the Skye right and smashed a great strike over the shoulder of ‘Shiel keeper Graham Kennedy to make it 1-0. Skye had a let-off a couple of minutes later when Neil Fraser found Duncan Matheson and his high cross from the right fell for Scott MacLean at the edge of the D and his shot came back off Ryan Morrison’s right post and Skye got the ball away for a corner. ‘Shiel pressed for a leveller but the Skye defence were strong, with Allan MacLeod superb at buckshee back. Skye took Ross Nicolson on for David Grant with 11 minutes and Andrew Banks went to full back. Skye were under pressure and Ryan Morrison had to spread himself to deflect a Neil Fraser effort for a corner. The corner fell nicely for Ross Fraser on the right of the Skye D but his strike went past the keeper’s left post. Jonnie MacAskill required treatment for a cut above his eyebrow and the players took the chance to dry their wet camans with towels passed on from the sidelines as the tie moved into the final 6 minutes. A Scott MacLean shot from the edge of the D rose just over the top on 86 minutes. A great run from Ruaraidh MacLeod saw him beat a couple of players before Kinlochshiel defender Douglas Campbell bundled him to the ground. Campbell received a second yellow card from referee John Wood and was sent off with a couple of minutes remaining. Skye finished the match on the attack and they can now look forward to a semi-final tie against the winners of this coming weekend’s quarter-final meeting between the Kilmallie second team and Lochcarron. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison; David Grant (captain), Andrew Banks, Neil John Campbell, Allan MacLeod; Iain MacLellan, Thomas Wilson, Connor Gilpin; James Pringle, Ross Gordon, Ruaraidh MacLeod, John Angus MacInnes; subs Ross Nicolson, John MacKenzie, Aonghas MacDonald Kinlochshiel from: Graham Kennedy; Seamus Lane, WD MacRae, Douglas Campbell, Colin MacDiarmid; Ronan Taylor, Fraser MacVicar, Jonnie MacAskill; Scott MacLean, Sandy MacDiarmid, Ross Fraser, Neil Fraser (captain); subs Duncan Matheson, Lewis MacVicar Match Referee – John Wood Goal Judges – Robbie Gordon, Raymond Gillies Scorers Skye Camanachd Ruaraidh MacLeod (73) Kinlochshiel (None) The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |