Skye Win Balliemore Cup! | |
04 October 2021 Skye Camanachd lifted the Alvance British Aluminium Balliemore Cup for the third time following their 3-1 victory over Beauly at a wet An Aird, Fort William on Saturday 2 October 2021. John Gillies returned for Skye after missing recent games with concussion. Boss Kenny MacLeod gave Iain MacLellan a vote of confidence at wing centre with Sam Macphee dropping onto the bench. Beauly co-managers Gregor McCormick and Niall MacLennan had a full squad to choose from and the return of former players David MacLean from Newtonmore and Ross Forbes and Ryan MacKay from Caberfeidh have boosted their options this season. A good-sized crowd gathered for what was widely tipped to be a close encounter and, ahead of throw up, the players were introduced to Jane MacDonald from sponsors Alvance, Camanachd Association Chieftain John MacKenzie along with President Steven MacKenzie and Director John Finlayson. This 2.30pm throw up was broadcast LIVE on Radio Skye’s “Camanachd LIVE” show. The rain eased ahead of throw up and the An Aird pitch was in great condition although the surface was on the greasy side. Skye started towards the town end of the ground and he final was played at a good pace from the outset. Beauly were first to threaten when David MacLean released Ross Forbes down the left. Forbes sent a high, dangerous ball into the D and although Robbie Brindle got a touch, Skye keeper Ryan Morrison got his stick to the ball and Martin Pringle cleared. Beauly forced a couple of early corners but Skye defended stoutly whilst at the other end, MacKay Murray saved well to foil Ross Gordon. Beauly took the lead on 9 minutes. The goal came from David MacLean’s set-piece on the left after John Gillies was penalised for sliding into a challenge. MacLean sent the ball across the face of the goal where Ross Forbes ran to the right, losing his marker, and his sweet strike went by Skye keeper Ryan Morrison’s left knee at his post to make it 1-0. As a heavy shower of rain fell, Skye switched John Gillies to buckshee back, picking up Euan McCormick, with William MacKinnon going to full back to mark David MacLean. Ross Gordon’s shot from nothing in a central position forced a good MacKay Murray saved at the expense of a corner as Skye responded to going behind. Skye suffered a blow after 13 minutes when veteran Somhairle MacDonald had to limp off with a hamstring problem and he was replaced by the Islander’s U17 skipper Taylor Matheson. James Pringle’s drive from the left was saved with his feet by MacKay Murray with Ryan MacKay doing well to get the rebound away for a corner. Ross Gordon pulled the ball out of the air from the resultant corner but sent his strike just wide of the keeper’s left post whilst after good play from Robbie Brindle; Euan McCormick’s low, hard strike was well-saved with his feet at his near post by Ryan Morrison. Skye drew level on 16 minutes with a great display of counter-attacking shinty. John Gillies sent the ball forward to Ross Gordon who took a touch before launching the ball down the Skye left. Angus Renwick looked to clear but James Pringle nipped in to win possession and he cut in on goal before tucking the ball low by the keeper from point-blank range to make it 1-1. It was Beauly’s turn to make an enforced change just after with David MacLean replaced by Jack MacDonald. This was an action-packed phase in the final with Skye taking the lead on 19 minutes. John Gillies cleared the ball down the Skye right. Colin MacDonald’s attempted clearance was charged down by Jordan Murchison and the ball broke to Ross Gordon who quickly found James Pringle and he sent a glorious 25 yard drive into the roof of the net. It was a terrific finish which turned the final Skye’s way. Beauly fought back and Conor Ross hit the side-netting before Ross Forbes saw his shot saved with his feet by Ryan Morrison and as the ball bounced up, the Skye keeper palmed it away for a corner. Beauly reintroduced David MacLean for Jack MacDonald with 7 first half minutes remaining whilst Sam Macphee took over from Iain MacLellan in the Islanders’ midfield just 3 minutes later. Skye’s James Morrison was booked by referee Alex MacVicar for pulling back Ross Forbes on 43 minutes as Beauly finished the half strongly. Robbie Brindle went close to a leveller with his backhand strike going wide of Ryan Morrison’s left post and with the final moving into first half stoppage time, Beauly forced a corner which was taken by Conor Ross but, not for the first time in the final, Skye defended well to take a 2-1 lead into the break. There was a bizarre moment seconds after the restart as referee Alex MacVicar took an accidental blow to the leg from Skye’s Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod with Skye medic Helen Gilpin administering treatment to a cut below the knee. Ryan Morrison saved with his hand by his right post as Euan McCormick had the first effort on goal of the second half. David MacLean knocked down Ryan MacKay’s free-hit to McCormick on the Beauly left and he tested the keeper with a strike on his backhand. Skye brought Iain MacLellan back on for Sam Macphee on 64 minutes with Taylor Matheson sending a crisp strike just over the bar following a flowing Skye move moments after. Taylor Matheson’s shot from the left flashed across the face of the good following a fine James Pringle run. Martin MacDonald put in a good challenge to thwart Jordan Murchison after William MacKinnon, Iain MacLellan and Taylor Matheson turned defence into attack in three passes. Robbie Brindle sent a shot from the left high and wide as the rain came down once more with Conor Ross doing likewise from the right soon after following a run from Jack MacDonald who was back on for Beauly. Sam Macphee reappeared, this time for Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, as both sides continued to make use of the rolling substitutes. Ryan MacKay and Sam Macphee were spoken too by the referee after a flair-up as the final reached a crucial stage. David MacLean needed treatment after colliding with teammate Euan McCormick but was able to continue. With the rain now teeming down again, Taylor Matheson came away from goal to make space before turning and firing wide of the keeper’s left post as the final moved into the closing stages. Skye were enjoying a good spell and they clinched victory with a couple of minutes remaining. Jordan Murchison’s run and shot forced a corner from the right which James Pringle sent out to the far side where Taylor Matheson touched a clever ball inside, picking out Sam Macphee’s run. Macphee’s superb shot on the run went low into the corner of the goal, beating the keeper on his right side, to make it 3-1. Beauly’s Sean Stewart and Skye’s Jamie Gillies made late appearances from the bench. Ross Gordon hit the side-netting following a stoppage time corner with what was the last chance of the game but it didn’t matter as Skye took the Balliemore Cup across the bridge for the third time. Skye captain Jordan Murchison stepped forward to be presented with the Alvance British Aluminium Balliemore Cup by Jane MacDonald from the sponsors in front of a delighted but soaked Skye support. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison: John Gillies, Martin Pringle, James Morrison, William MacKinnon: Iain MacLennan, Ross MacKinnon, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod: Ross Gordon, Jordon Murchison (captain), Somhairle MacDonald, James Pringle: subs Taylor Matheson, Sam Macphee, Jamie Gillies, Archie MacDonald, Gilleasbuig MacDonald Beauly from: MacKay Murray: Angus Renwick, Colin MacDonald, Martin MacDonald, Ryan MacKay: Sandy Elrick, Calum Morrison, Conor Ross (captain): Euan McCormick, Robbie Brindle, Ross Forbes, David MacLean: subs Jack MacDonald, Andrew Morrison, Sean Stewart, Finlay MacLennan, Thomas MacKinnon Match Referee – Alex MacVicar Goal Judges – Iain Kennedy & George MacKay
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