Skye Camanachd 4 Kinlochshiel 2 | |
22 August 2016 The Skye Camanachd seconds beat the Kinlochshiel seconds 4-2 in their derby meeting at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 20 August 2016. Skye Camanachd second team manager Davie Pringle made three changes to the sixteen man squad which lost to Lochcarron, after extra-time, in their Strathdearn Cup semi-final a week earlier. Ross Nicolson, Iain MacLellan and Jamie Gillies missed out but there were starting places for David MacInnes and James Pringle. Kinlochshiel second team manager Willie MacRae was without defender Douglas Campbell who started a two match suspension after passing through the disciplinary points threshold. Forward Neil Fraser was back after missing the win over the Fort William second team a fortnight earlier. WD MacRae was with the ‘Shiel first team. This was the teams’ first league meeting although Skye were 1-0 winners when they met in the Strathdearn Cup quarter-finals in Portree. The match was played in hot and humid conditions and this 2pm throw up was broadcast LIVE on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up to mark the passing earlier in the week of Morag Grant. Skye played towards the Skeabost end of the ground in the first half. There was an even if somewhat scrappy opening to the match and there were 11 minutes played before we had the first shot at goal when Neil Fraser flicked the ball to Scott MacLean but his shot went past the post. A one-touch passing move from Skye on 15 minutes ended when Ross Gordon was just unable to get on the end of a Ruaraidh MacLeod ball. A minute later, a James Pringle shot through a ruck of players, following a David MacInnes shy, was turned away for a corner at his left post by Raymond Gillies. Ryan Morrison saved well from Sandy MacDiarmid after 26 minutes, just before referee Martin MacLean, taking into account the very warm day, stopped play for a minute or so for a water break. Play switched to the other end and Raymond Gillies saved a David Grant shot with his feet and cleared the ball for a corner. ‘Shiel were unable to properly clear the resultant corner and the three Skye youngsters in attack combined as a clever ball from Ruaraidh MacLeod released Ross Gordon down the Skye right. James Pringle allowed Gordon’s cross to run across his body before thumping the ball into the net on his back-hand to make it 1-0 on the half hour mark. Skye immediately took Calum Gibb on at wing centre, replacing John Angus MacInnes who had taken a heavy knock just a few minutes earlier. Referee Martin MacLean penalised ‘Shiel defender Corran Campbell for a kick just inside the D as James Pringle had played the ball into the danger-area and David Grant sent the spot-hit low into the net to put Skye 2-0 ahead with 35 minutes played. There was an uncompromisingly tough encounter in the middle of the park between the two full centres – David MacInnes for Skye and ‘Shiel’s Colin MacDiarmid – and although the visitors tried hard to get back in the game before the break, the Skye defence looked very solid. Skye introduced Kenny MacLeod and Connor Gilpin at half-time; taking over from David Grant and Ross Gordon. Kinlochshiel also made a change with Michael Morrison replacing Steven Isles. Skye made a terrific start to the second half when substitute Connor Gilpin ran onto a great Calum Gibb pass to score with his first touch of the game a minute into the second half. ‘Shiel’s Neil Fraser pulled a goal back on 50 minutes when Skye lost possession in midfield and Jonnie MacAskill played the ball down the left channel and Fraser’s superb finish on the run gave Skye keeper Ryan Morrison no chance and made it 3-1. A late swing at Calum Gibb earned Corran Campbell a yellow card on 55 minutes and he was immediately substituted by manager Willie MacRae with Steven Isles coming back on. Kinlochshiel pressed the Skye defence but home defenders Neil John Campbell and Allan Macleod were on form and he protected the Skye back-line well. John Angus MacInnes came back on for Skye in a straight swap at wing centre for Thomas Wilson. There was a flare-up in midfield on 61 minutes and Kinlochshiel midfielder Jonnie MacAskill was sent off by referee Martin MacLean following a wild challenge on John Angus MacInnes. Sandy MacDiarmid dropped back into midfield. With Skye leading 3-1, they played Neil John Campbell as the free-player, giving additional protection between defence and midfield. Kinlochshiel took Duncan Matheson on for Sandy MacDiarmid on 67 minutes with Steven Isles dropping back into midfield. There was a second break for the players to take on water just a minute later. ‘Shiel made some positional changes on 73 minutes with Duncan Matheson going into defence, Ronan Taylor moving into midfield and Steven Isles going back up front. Ruaraidh MacLeod fought to win possession for Skye and he played to the ball to James Pringle but his shot went wide. Skye effectively sealed the win on 78 minutes when Kenny MacLeod made it 4-1. MacLeod took a touch to control a lovely ball forward from John Angus MacInnes, who had gathered a loose ball in midfield, before giving keeper Gillies no chance with a good finish. Sandy MacDiarmid came back on for Kinlochshiel for Michael Morrison who had taken a knock as the match moved into the final 10 minutes. Thomas Wilson came back on for Skye with Ruaraidh MacLeod withdrawn. Kinlochshiel never lost hope and Steven Isles collected a Scott MacLean pass just right of centre before sending a 25 yard shot high into the net 4 minutes from time to make the final score 4-2. Neil Fraser became the third ‘Shiel player to find his way into referee Martin MacLean’s notebook; booked for a challenge on Calum Gibb with just a minute remaining. The win gives Skye another important two points and their final two league fixtures are at home to Fort William and away to Kinlochshiel. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison; Andrew Banks, DJ Gilpin, Neil John Campbell, Allan MacLeod; John Angus MacInnes, David MacInnes, Thomas Wilson; James Pringle, Ross Gordon, Ruaraidh MacLeod, David Grant (captain); subs Calum Gibb, Connor Gilpin, Kenny MacLeod Kinlochshiel from: Raymond Gillies; Seamus Lane, Corran Campbell, Ronan Taylor, Nathan Whear; Jonnie MacAskill, Colin MacDiarmid (captain), Conall Fraser; Scott MacLean, Sandy MacDiarmid, Steven Isles, Neil Fraser; subs Michael Morrison, Duncan Matheson Match Referee – Martin MacLean Scorers Skye Camanachd James Pringle (30) David Grant (35 pen) Connor Gilpin (46) Kenny MacLeod (78) Kinlochshiel Neil Fraser (50) Steven Isles (86) The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan |