Skye Camanachd 2 Kinlochshiel 7 | |
06 June 2013 Skye Camanachd are out of this year’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup after losing 7-2 to Kinlochshiel in their second round tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 1 June 2013. The sides had not met since August 2011 when ‘Shiel clinched the Marine Harvest North Division 1 title with a 5-1 win in Portree. Skye manager Willie MacRae welcomed Danny Morrison back into the side on his return from holiday. There was also a starting place for Jordan Murchison who missed the 3-0 defeat at Beauly a fortnight ago because of his red card against Inverness a week earlier. However Allan MacKinnon served a one match ban for a points accumulation so Neil MacVicar started in defence with Iain Murray replacing MacVicar in attack. Gilleasbuig MacDonald missed out as he was abroad. Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill has been able to name the same starting line-up for the last two consecutive Saturdays when he was rewarded with wins over the Orion Group Premiership’s bottom two sides, Lochaber and Oban Camanachd. However Gill did make one change to his starting line-up with Finlay MacRae dropping to the bench as he held up in a queue of traffic following a road accident on the mainland. Indeed throw up was delayed by half an hour until 4pm to allow MacRae, and Davie Glass who was travelling with him, additional time to reach Portree. Glass started in attack with John MacRae taking over his brother’s full centre berth. Fraser MacVicar missed out through work commitments as did captain Graham Morrison. Defender Calum MacLean should return to the ‘Shiel squad later this month after finishing his studies in Glasgow. ‘Shiel enjoyed most of the early pressure and twice threatened the home goal but Skye gradually came onto the game and Scott Kennedy needed to hold his nerve on 8 minutes to turn away a looping Danny Morrison effort which was dropping just under the crossbar. However the Skye support amongst the largest support seen at Pairc nan Laoch this season, didn’t have to wait long for the opening goal as their team took the lead on 10 minutes. Darryl Macintosh won the ball in midfield and fed Jordan Murchison who fired past Kennedy to make it 1-0. A brilliant double save from Scott Kennedy in the visiting goal foiled Will Cowie and Jordan Murchison on 16 minutes as Skye threatened to add to their lead. ‘Shiel introduced Finlay MacRae into their attack and his long ball from the right touchline found Gordie MacDonald who fired the ball past Michael Nicolson in the Skye goal to make it 1-1 with 18 minutes played. The goal lifted ‘Shiel and Michael Nicolson did well to palm away a Keith MacRae drive shortly after. Kinlochshiel went in front on 23 minutes when an Oliver MacRae corner from the left went right across the Skye D and Gordie MacDonald nipped in at the back post to beat the offside trap to make it 2-1. Michael Nicolson made a fantastic save when he tipped a Finlay MacRae shot away for a corner on 36 minutes and ‘Shiel led 2-1 at the break. Finlay MacRae returned to full centre at the start of the second half with John MacRae going back to his more familiar full forward role. A last-gasp Shockie MacLennan challenge denied the Kirkton side on 52 minutes but they extended their advantage a minute later when they were awarded a soft free-hit with Ally “Spod” MacLeod penalised by referee Deek Cameron around 15 yards from the Skye goal. The Skye defence looked hesitant from the set-piece and Duncan “Ach” MacRae took advantage to slam the ball into the net to make it 3-1. Skye’s Kenny Campbell received an accidental blow to the face but he was able to continue after a spell of treatment on the touchline from Skye medic Dr Wilson Banks. A bullet shot from John MacRae made it 4-1 after the ball broke in his favour on 80 minutes. Skye pulled a goal back on 82 minutes when Jordan Murchison collected a Darryl Macintosh shy from the right and he juggled the ball before conjuring up enough space to volley the ball into the net to make it 4-2. However any hopes the Islanders had of a grand-stand finish were extinguished within a minute when Keith MacRae turned inside on the right and shot home to make it 5-2. John MacRae made it 6-2 on 91 minutes after being set up by Finlay MacRae who had collected a Davie Glass shy. Gordie MacDonald completed his hat-trick 8 minutes into a full 10 minutes of stoppage time. Michael Nicolson initially made a good save but the ball took a horrible bounce and MacDonald darted in to flick it into the net to make it 7-2. ‘Shiel deserved their victory but the final winning margin was harsh on Skye. However the Kirkton side’s superior fitness told more and more as the game went on and in Gordie MacDonald, who has now scored nine times in four consecutive games, they have the shinty’s most prolific forward at the moment Best for Skye was two-goal Jordan Murchison who took his goals well. Skye Camanachd from; Michael Nicolson, Steven Morrison (captain), Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Shockie MacLennan, Neil MacVicar, Darryl Macintosh, Kenny Campbell, Kenny MacLeod, Jordan Murchison, Danny Morrison, Will Cowie, Aonghas MacDonald subs Iain Murray, Ally MacDonald, Paul MacKinnon Kinlochshiel from: Scott Kennedy; Paul MacRae, David Falconer, John Don MacKenzie, Mark MacDonald, Donald Nixon, John MacRae, Oliver MacRae, Keith MacRae, Duncan “Ach” MacRae, Gordie MacDonald Davie Glass, subs Finlay MacRae, Jordan Fraser Match Referee - Deek Cameron The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |