Skye Camanachd 1 Lovat 1 (Skye won 3-2 on penalties) | |
09 February 2015 Skye Camanachd lifted the George Michie Memorial Cup for the first time since 2011 when they edged out Lovat on penalties in their meeting at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. on Saturday 7 February 2015. Skye boss John MacLeod was without midfielder Allan MacKinnon who has a hand injury. The damage is not as bad as initially feared but MacKinnon will still face a number of weeks on the sidelines. Shockie MacLennan was also missing as he was working. Chris Rose is unlikely to be available for Skye this year whilst Jamie Gannon was a late call-off with a knee injury so Iain MacLeod continued to deputise in goal. There was a first senior call-up for 2014 National U14 Player of the Year John Gillies whilst Stewart Grant also returned. This was a first match in charge for Lovat boss John MacRitchie although he previously co-managed the team with James Gallacher. MacRitchie was without the injured Graeme MacMillan although he did travel with the squad. Craig Mainland was also out through injury whilst Calum Macaulay is now abroad and Own Ferguson was also missing. Lovat were held up in traffic on their way to Portree and the match started 30 minutes late at 1.30pm. Skye opened shooting towards the Struan Road end of the ground and play swung from end to end during the early stages in what was to prove to be a good, competitive encounter. Skye came closest to breaking the deadlock on 18 minutes when Jordan Murchison made a great run across goal and his rasping shot came back off the crossbar with Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald beaten. Skye’s Kenny MacLeod latched onto the rebound but Lovat defender Michael Mackenzie did well to close him down before putting the ball out for corner. Skye goalie Iain MacLeod had to look alert to sweep a dangerous ball from the right away to safety a couple of minutes later. Lovat went in front on 26 minutes when Skye keeper Iain MacLeod saved an attempt on goal but he was unable to get the ball away and Greg Matheson nipped in to flick the ball into the net. MacLeod then made a terrific save above his head from a Lorne MacKay drive from the left on 31 minutes whilst at the other end; Stuart MacDonald palmed away a high Jordan Murchison ball from wide of the left which was dropping on goal with 34 minutes played. Jordan Murchison was causing the Lovat defence problems and he put the ball over the bar a minute later. With 6 first half minutes remaining, Lovat survived a scramble in their goal area. Skye defender Ally MacDonald made a timely intervention at the expense of a corner as Lovat threatened to extend their lead. There was a final first half chance as Kevin Bartlett played in Greg Matheson but the normally deadly hit-man put the ball wide of target. Lovat made changes at the break with Fraser Gallacher and Iain Nicolson replacing Jamie Matheson and Lorne MacKay. Skye levelled 3 minutes after the restart when Kenny Campbell broke forward on the right and his bouncing shot deceived Stuart MacDonald and ended up in the net to make it 1-1. Jordan Murchison tugged a shot across goal on 53 minutes as Skye looked to go in front for the first time in the match. Both sides made more changes as John MacKenzie came on for Danny Morrison for the home side whilst Martin Bell replaced Daniel Grieve for the visitors. Skye later introduced Stewart Grant and gave a first team debut to John Gillies. Stuart MacDonald had to stretch to tip a terrific Jordan Murchison drive from the left over the bar on 74 minutes. Lovat then pressed forward but the Skye defence stayed strong to protect their goal. Skye made their final substitution as David Grant came on in attack in place of Kenny MacLeod. With 9 minutes remaining, the Lovat forwards linked up well to cut open the Skye defence following a corner on the right and just when Greg Matheson looked sure to score, Ally “Spod” MacLeod darted in to sweep the ball off the goal line. There was no further scoring and referee John Angus Gillies’ final whistle signalled a penalty shoot-out at the Viewfield Road end of the ground. Will Cowie went first and he confidently cracked his penalty past a helpless Stuart MacDonald. Kevin Bartlett stepped up to net for Lovat to square the score. Jordan Murchison saw his penalty turned away by Stuart MacDonald whilst Iain MacLeod got to Greg Matheson’s effort, just under the bar, and it remained 1-1. Steven Morrison put his penalty into the corner of the net to put Skye back in front but Lovat drew level again through Jamie Matheson. Skye’s Neil MacVicar saw his penalty saved but Iain MacLeod kept Skye level when he parried James Matheson’s effort. It was now effectively sudden death and Skye’s David Grant refused to buckle under the pressure as he put his spot-hit high into the net. Lovat’s Calum Cruden had to score but he didn’t catch his penalty as he would have liked and Iain MacLeod stretched to keep the ball out, low by his right post to give Skye a 3-2 win. Skye Chairman Davie MacVicar gathered the crowd around the side of the pitch for the trophy presentation. News had broken during the match of the untimely passing of Skye Camanachd stalwart Kenny “Duchan” MacPherson, who had taken ill during the week and there was a minute’s silence. Ross Cowie then spoke of his good friend and former team mate George Michie before young Caitlin MacDonald, George Michie’s niece, presented the George Michie Memorial Cup to Skye Camanachd captain Gilleasbuig MacDonald. It was a good team performance from Skye with Jordan Murchison’s attacking play a joy to watch. Kenny Campbell was also excellent in midfield. Lovat are a bit behind Skye in their pre-season preparations but boss John MacRitchie will have them ready before the competitive shinty season starts on Saturday 7 Match 2015. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Steven Morrison, Ally MacDonald, Neil MacVicar, Ally “Spod” MacLeod; Kenny Campbell, Iain Murray, Gilleasbuig MacDonald (captain); Will Cowie, Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison, Kenny MacLeod; subs David Grant, Stewart Grant, John Gillies, John MacKenzie Lovat from: Stuart MacDonald (captain); Drew Howie, Michael MacKenzie, Daniel Grieve, Calum Cruden; Lewis Tawse, Ryan Ferguson, Martin Mainland; Jamie Matheson, Kevin Bartlett, Lorne MacKay, Greg Matheson; subs Fraser Gallacher, Iain Nicolson, Martin Bell Match Referee – John Gillies The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan Scorers Skye Camanachd Kenny Campbell (48) Lovat Greg Matheson (26) |