Skye Camanachd Lift Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup - Skye Camanachd 2 Beauly 0 | |
10 February 2014 Skye Camanachd lifted the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup for the first time since 2009 when they beat Beauly 2-0 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 8 February 2014. The Islanders last victory in this competition came in 2009 when, in the absence of Skye Camanachd manager Aonghas MacDonald, Alba Head Coach Eoghan Stewart led the side to a 7-5 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll. New Skye Camanachd manager John MacLeod was without the services of the unavailable Kenny Campbell, Neil MacVicar who was working and Kenny MacLeod who has a hand injury. However Danny Morrison, who was troubled by a shoulder injury during the pre-season, made the final pool of players for this 1.30pm throw up. Roger Cormack was also taking charge of Beauly for the first time and he was without the services of Scott Macleod, who has recovered from injury but who was unavailable, Sean Stewart and Conor Ross. Kyle MacDonald started in goal in place of MacKay Murray and Martin Davidson was deployed at full back. The Pairc nan Laoch pitch passed a Saturday morning pitch inspection. It was heavy which made for difficult playing conditions which weren’t helped by the heavy rain which started to fall just before throw up time. Beauly were first to threaten and a Ross Forbes shy from the right caused panic in the Skye goal area and it was left to Allan MacKinnon to sweep the ball off the goal line to safety. Skye’s first chance came after 8 minutes when Jordan Murchison got on the end of a Gibbs MacDonald corner from the left but his effort went just wide. Skye came close again when Will Cowie collected the ball at the edge of the D and rounded keeper Kyle MacDonald but the ball seemed to stick on the heavy surface and a Skye forward was penalised by referee John Angus Gillies in the ensuing melee. Ally MacDonald broke clear moments later but he also found it difficult to get a good connection on the ball and the chance was gone. At the other end, Beauly forward David Neilson broke clear but he again found the conditions a barrier to getting a shot on goal. A 20 yard drive from Skye’s Shockie MacLennan, who started the game at full centre, was the final chance of the first half and both teams retreated to the changing rooms to prepare for the second half. Beauly made a bright start to the second period and Jamie Gannon had to look lively to block a David MacLean effort. Marc McLachlan fired just wide after he collected the ball from a free hit but Skye then took the game to Beauly. Young Skye forward Will Cowie did well in his tussle with Scotland defender Conor Cormack but Cowie required treatment from Skye medic Dr Wilson Banks after taking a blow below the knee but he was able to carry on. Good link up play between Danny Morrison and Ally MacDonald saw MacDonald whip in a shot from distance which flashed just past the post. Skye took the lead on 69 minutes. There seemed little danger when Beauly keeper Kyle MacDonald came off his line to clear the ball on the Skye right but Jordan Murchison ran in and charged down the clearance. The ball broke favourably for Murchison and he slotted an angled drive inside the far post to make it 1-0. Both managers made a raft of substitutions but the pattern of play continued in Skye’s favour. The Islanders had the ball in the net again on 78 minutes. This time Jordan Murchison won possession on the Skye right and he headed for goal before cutting the ball back for Allan MacKinnon, who had been relieved of his defensive duties, and MacKinnon swept the ball between keeper and defender into the net. However Skye’s delight was short-lived as referee John Angus Gillies harshly ruled out the goal, judging that Skye forward Ally MacDonald was in an offside position. The match had been played in good spirit but there was a flashpoint on 86 minutes when Shockie MacLennan, who had dropped back to buckshee back, tussled with Marc McLachlan and as the Skye player was about to clear, McLachlan hit him on the foot with a reckless swing. Referee John Angus Gillies had little choice but to send the Beauly player off. Skye rounded off the win a minute from time when Jordan Murchison collected the ball on the left and he turned to make space before sending a 25 yard drive into the roof of the net to make it 2-0. This was a good work-out for both sides. Skye’s strong finish to the match suggested that their pre-season training programme is starting to pay dividends. Shockie MacLennan was deservedly selected by the Beauly camp as Skye’s top performer and he received the Glasgow Mid Argyll Shield. Both teams were presented with medals before Skye captain David Grant lifted the Thomas Ferguson Cup in front of a delighted home support. Next up for Skye is a trip to Drumnadrochit to play Orion Group Premiership side Glenurquhart. Skye Camanachd from: Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Allan MacKinnon, Iain Murray, Shockie MacLennan, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Will Cowie, Danny Morrison, Jordan Murchison, Ally MacDonald, subs Chris Rose, David Grant (captain), David MacInnes, DJ Gilpin Beauly from: Kyle MacDonald, Martin Davidson, Ryan MacKay, Kenny MacKenzie, Conor Cormack (captain), Ross Forbes, David MacLean, Barrie MacDonald, Marc MacLauchlan, David Neilson, Jack MacDonald, Ryan Tillman, subs Josh Grant, Willie Ferguson, Calum Morrison, Colin MacDonald, Rory Campbell Scorers: Skye Camanachd - Jordan Murchison (69, 89) Beauly - None Match Referee – John Angus Gillies The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |