Skye Camanachd 4 Inverness 1 | |
07 March 2017 Skye Camanachd got their Marine Harvest National Division campaign off to a winning start with a 4-1 win over Inverness at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 4 March 2017. Skye Camanachd co-managers Willie Cowie and Peter Gordon had Shockie MacLennan sidelined through injury so Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod was called up in his place and, in a late change, Ruaraidh MacLeod also joined the seniors with Stewart Grant moving in the opposite direction. Steven Morrison was passed fir to play. Davie Glass missed out for Inverness through suspension as a booking in the final match of last season against Bute took him through the disciplinary points threshold. Boss Drew McNeil was also without keeper Ian Munro who was working so former Fort William player, Andy Reid, who currently plays full centre for the Inverness seconds, started in goal. Former Taynuilt player Ewan Neilson started in defence. The pitch in Portree was perfectly playable at the 8.30am Saturday morning pitch inspection but a period of constant rain their after meant some areas of the pitch would cut up as the match went on. In a change of referee, Iain Kennedy took charge of the match. This 2.30pm throw up was broadcast LIVE online and on radio on Cuillin FM. Skye played towards the Viewfield end of the ground in the first half. It’s fair to say that Skye probably made as good a start to the match as they have done for many a year and they took the lead within 20 seconds of the throw-up. Gilleasbuig MacDonald won the ball and played to Kenny Campbell to his right. Campbell sent a pass down the right wing where Danny Morrison gathered possession before setting up Will Cowie at the back post and he crashed the ball over the keeper’s left shoulder into the net to make it 1-0. Skye continued to press with James Pringle going close from a quick Will Cowie free-hit Worse was to follow for the visitors as a neat passing move saw Kenny Campbell win possession and he played the ball to James Pringle who found Jordan Murchison. Murchison could have shot but spotted Danny Morrison in a better position and he finished confidently from the right of the D to make it 2-0 with barely 4 minutes gone. Inverness regrouped and made an early change with Daniel Palombo replacing David Campbell at wing back after 8 minutes. Will Cowie needed treatment from Skye medic Dr Wilson Banks after the buckshee forward took a blow to the leg. Skye passed up several chances to increase their lead ad it remained 2-0 with Inverness asking questions of the Skye defence as the match moved into first half stoppage time. Inverness had a set piece chance as Padraig McNeil, who has joined the club from Fort William, played in a corner from the right and James Cameron took the ball down and swivelled before striking the ball low into the corner of the net, past an unsighted Iain MacLeod, beating the keeper to his right, to make it 2-1 at the break. Skye attacked from the restart but the heavy pitch at the Skeabost end of the ground meant they were frequently moving the ball into wide positions to try and shoot goalwards off the better areas of the surface. Inverness made a double switch on 66 minutes as Drew McNeil and David Campbell came on. McNeil went to full centre with Dougie Rankin going on to the wing and Craig Nicolson coming off. Campbell replaced William MacKinnon in attack. The youngster had suffered a blow to the hand in the first half and came off with what was later confirmed to be a broken finger. The Islanders didn’t restore their two goal advantage until 68 minutes Gilleasbuig MacDonald was first to a clearance out of the Inverness defence and he sent a reverse pass to Iain Nicolson who shot goalwards from around 30 yards out. Will Cowie leapt to try and flick the ball past the keeper. He didn’t make contact but his leap in front of goal may have distracted goalie Reid and the ball sailed high into the net to make it 3-1. Skye took Ruaraidh MacLeod on for James Pringle. Iain Nicolson also had a hand in Skye’s fourth goal which was scored by Jordan Murchison with almost the final hit of the game. A superb shy from Nicolson from almost the halfway line dropped into the danger area and Danny Morrison quickly worked the ball to Murchison who slammed the ball home.. Skye’s Iain Nicolson put in a man of the match performance and seems to be enjoying his new midfield role. Inverness continue to show progress and Ewan Neilson looks to be a valuable addition. Skye Camanachd from: Iain MacLeod; Steven Morrison, Neil MacVicar, Ally MacDonald, John Gillies; Kenny Campbell (captain), Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Iain Nicolson; Will Cowie, James Pringle, Jordan Murchison, Danny Morrison; subs Ruaraidh MacLeod, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod Inverness from: Andy Reid; Adam MacMaster, Ewan Neilson, David Campbell, Arran MacMaster (captain); Craig Nicholson, Dougie Rankin, Somhairle MacDonald; Charlie MacDonald, Padraig McNeil, William MacKinnon, James Cameron; subs Daniel Palombo, Drew McNeil Match Referee – Iain Kennedy Scorers Skye Camanachd Will Cowie (1) Danny Morrison (4) Iain Nicolson (68) Jordan Murchison (90) Inverness James Cameron (45)
The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |