Skye Camanachd 2 Caberfeidh 0 | |
11 September 2017 Skye Camanachd secured the Marine Harvest National Division title and promotion back to shinty’s top flight after they beat Caberfeidh 2-0 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 9 September 2017. Skye boss Willie Cowie made just one change from the seventeen-man squad which lost out to Newtonmore in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup semi-finals a fortnight earlier as Jordan Murchison was ruled out through injury. Keeper Iain MacLeod played his final match of the season as work commitments will keep him out of the meetings Inveraray and Fort William. Caberfeidh manager Jodi Gorski’s selection was hampered by three suspensions. Martin MacDonald is working his way through a four-match ban whilst Liam Symonds and Kevin Bartlett both collected bookings in Caberfeidh’s 3-2 defeat to Fort William in the league a fortnight before so both missed this encounter, collecting one-match bans for passing through the disciplinary points threshold. Ryan Symonds was also missing as were the injured Ally MacLennan and Jamie Matheson who was unable to travel. Skye needed at least a point from the game to secure the Marine Harvest National Division title and a speedy return to shinty’s top flight as both Caberfeidh and Fort William could either beat or match their points total ahead of the match. This was Caberfeidh’s penultimate game of the season. They are currently in second place in the league with a home meeting with Beauly to come. The pitch was in good condition considering the rain through the week. Throw up is at 2.30pm and the whole match will be broadcast LIVE on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. Skye played towards the Skeabost end of the ground in the first half. Cabers started well and Graham MacGregor found Colin MacLennan with a lay-off but Skye keeper Iain MacLeod saved MacLennan’s low shot with his legs. Skye defender Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod needed treatment for a hand injury but he was able to continue after receiving attention from Skye medic Helen Gilpin. Cabers continued to press and Graham MacGregor sent a shot wide of target. But Skye began to settle into the game and they went in front when Iain MacLellan crashed a 13 minute shot into the roof of the net after he took down a long ball forward from John Gillies. Keeper Pilcher got a touch to the ball with his hand but he couldn’t keep it out of the net. A Blair Morrison effort from distance dipped over the top as the match reached the 18 minute mark. Ewan Pilcher made a brilliant save to deny Danny Morrison, stretching high to his right to turn Morrison’s piledriver away for a corner with his caman after John Gillies had burst forward, juggling the ball, to create the chance. A reflex save with his feet from Caberfeidh keeper Ewan Pilcher kept out an early Will Cowie turn and shot following a Skye set-piece. Some nice Skye passing created another chance and Picher had to come off his line to close down James Pringle as the Skye forward ran in on goal. On 31 minutes, Caberfeidh full back Scott MacLachlan some-how, managed to deflect a Will Cowie effort off the post and away to safety after the Scotland U21 forwarded had rounded the keeper after being played in by Stewart Grant. Caberfeidh’s Ben MacDonald was book by referee Innes Wood for an infringement in the lead up to the chance. Play quickly switched to the other end and Iain MacLeod saved with his feet from Craig Morrison before knocking the ball out for a corner. Skye went back on the attack and Ewan Pilcher made another good stop; this time from Iain MacLellan. Ryan MacKay sent a good ball forward and Craig Morrison’s shot swerved just past the junction between post and bar. Skye broke forward and the ball just wouldn’t sit for James Pringle as he attacked the visiting defence. The Caberfeidh custodian was keeping his side in it and when James Pringle passed to Will Cowie; Pilcher saved Cowie’s shot and then got the ball away for a corner with Iain MacLellan looking to profit from any slip. Skye continued to have the better of the first period but, after a couple of minute’s first half stoppage time, the Islanders had to settle for a one goal advantage at the break. Will Cowie broke up the left side of the field early in the second half but he pushed the ball just the wrong side of the post. Play switched to the other end and some slack defending from Skye allowed Gavin McLachlan a shot at goal from a free-hit but his effort went just past the post. The goalmouth action continued and, with Iain MacLellan doing the lead-up work, Ewan Pilcher stopped a Danny Morrison shot with his feet and batted the ball away with his caman in spectacular fashion. Skye defender Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod was booked following a tussle with Colin MacLennan. The was some activity on the Skye bench as Conner Gilpin came on up front in place of Iain MacLellan who was holding his side as he left the field. Ewan Pilcher showed good agility to keep out a Will Cowie cross from the right and Connor Gilpin was just unable to get to the rebound. James Pringle’s effort whistled by the keeper’s left post moments later as Skye went all out to double their lead. Caberfeidh made their first switch with Ryan MacKay going to half back, Blair Morrison pushed forward into midfield and Connor MacGregor joined the attack to line up alongside his father Graham MacGregor. There was drama as Caberfeidh wing centre Kenneth MacKenzie took unwell with 20 minutes remaining and he had to leave the field to receive medical attention. As play continued, James Pringle found Will Cowie but Ewan Pilcher saved with his feet and Cabers again survived. Moments later, to add to the drama, referee Innes Wood needed attention to a calf injury. It looked for a time as if he might not be able to continue but he was unable to carry on after a significant break in play which allowed Kenneth MacKenzie to receive further treatment in the changing room area from Skye medic Helen Gilpin and an ambulance was called. Play restarted after what was a 7 minute stoppage. With just under 10 minutes remaining, Cabers took on young Calum MacKinnon with Jamie MacIntosh coming off. There remained an urgency to Caberfeidh’s play as knew they there was still only one goal in it and Craig Morrison was pushed on to full forward position. Skye clinched the win 5 minutes from time when Will Cowie showed great persistence to burst through the visiting defence before forcing the ball low over the line to make it 2-0. Skye made a change with Allan MacLeod coming on in defence and Danny Morrison withdrawn. Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod moved from defence to attack. Gilleasbuig MacDonald took over from Stewart Grant for the closing stages. With the match going into injury time, The Skye defence to force Blair Morrison wide as the Scotland U21 forward broke forward. A good 30 yard drive from Connor Gilpin wasn’t far away as Skye looked to all to their tally. Gilpin went close again following a free-hit seconds later. Craig Morrison’s fierce strike hit the side-netting 4 minutes into stoppage time as the visitors looked for a goal to show or their efforts. Jamie MacIntosh came back on for Cabers with Graham MacGregor hobbling off after putting in a great shift. After almost 11 minutes’ stoppage time, referee Innes Wood blew for time and Skye were both promoted to the Marine Harvest Premiership and confirmed Marine Harvest National Division champions. Neil MacVicar had a fine game at the back for Skye whilst the midfield of Kenny Campbell, Iain Nicolson and Stewart Grant provided plenty ball for the forward line. Blair Morrison and keeper Ewan Picher played very well for Cabers. The welcome news came through later in the evening that Kenneth MacKenzie was recovering well in hospital after treatment. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Ally MacDonald, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Neil MacVicar, John Gillies; Iain Nicolson, Kenny Campbell (captain), Stewart Grant; Danny Morrison, James Pringle, Iain MacLellan, Will Cowie; subs Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Allan MacLeod, Connor Gilpin, Ryan Morrison Caberfeidh from: Ewan Pilcher; Scott MacLachlan, Ryan MacKay, Ben MacDonald, Blair Morrison; Neil MacKenzie, Jamie MacIntosh, Kenneth MacKenzie; Colin MacLennan, Craig Morrison (captain), Colin MacLachlan, Graham MacGregor; subs Connor MacGregor, Calum MacKinnon Match Referee – Innes Wood Scorers Skye Camanachd Iain MacLellan (13) Will Cowie (85) Caberfeidh (None) The match balls will be sponsored by Nor-Dan |