Skye Camanachd 5 Glenurquhart 3 | |
23 September 2019 Skye Camanachd remain in the Mowi National Division promotion race after beating Glenurquhart 5-3 in their 3pm throw up at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 21 September 2019. Skye Camanachd first team co-managers Allan MacLeod and Kenny MacLeod were without Jordan Murchison who remained out through injury. Stewart Grant was unavailable whilst Iain Nicolson was a late call-off through work commitments. With Glenurquhart co-manager Eddie Tembo on television duties at the rescheduled Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final between Newtonmore and Oban Camanachd, Stuart MacKintosh took sole chart of the side. Suspension ruled out Glen duo Connor Golabeck and Andrew Corrigan whilst Ewan Brady was unavailable and Neale Reid was a late call-off. The sides also contested the 2018 Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup and this 3pm throw up was broadcast LIVE online and on radio on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show. Michael Fraser punished hesitancy in the Skye defence when he thumped home a James MacPherson pass to give the Glen a 9 minute lead. Skye drew level on 16 minutes when James Pringle found Iain MacLellan on the right. MacLellan’s effort was going wide but Ross Gordon, running forward towards the front of the D, stretched forward to turn the ball home with his club. The Islanders took the lead a minute later when John Barr tried to usher a ball into the D out of play but Iain MacLellan nipped in behind him to run the ball home from a tight angle on the right. James MacPherson made it 2-2 on 19 minutes with a trademark 25 yard drive which flew into the top corner of the net to the keeper’s left. Chris Mack put the Glen back in front on 27 minutes. Michael Fraser played a free-hit into the goal area and Skye defender William MacKinnon went to push it out for a corner but the ball went into the net off Chris Mack’s club. The goals continued to flow and a clever move down the Skye left culminated with James Pringle scrambling the ball over the line on 29 minutes to make it 3-3. James Pringle was a constant threat and he again weaved in for the left late in the half with Fergus Robertson just managing to get the ball out for a corner. Pringle suffered a blow to the hand and, after 4 minutes treatment from Skye medics Dr Wilson Banks and Helen Gilpin; he left the field with a heavily bandaged hand which required an operation the following morning. The Glen made a strong start to the second half but it was Skye who went back in front with their first attack of the second period. It was another terrific passing move started by the impressive Will Cowie at full centre and with Iain MacLellan and Ross Gordon also involved; Ross MacKinnon fired a great shot into the net from right of centre to make it 4-3 with 49 minutes played. Ross Gordon scored the goal of the game on 64 minutes as he took a touch before volleying an unstoppable shot past Stuart MacKintosh in the Glen goal from a central position and this was the first time in the match either side had led by more than one goal. It was such a warm day so it was little surprise that the pace of the match dropped during the final half hour. Glenurquhart pressed hard at the end and the closest they came was a James MacPherson shot which produced a flying Ryan Morrison save to his right and another effort from MacPherson which was palmed away by the Skye keeper. The result effectively ends Glenurquhart’s promotion chances whilst Skye will likely need to beat GMA in Portree and hope the Glasgow side slip up elsewhere. Afterwards, the Thomas Ferguson Memorial Cup was presented to Skye Camanachd captain Will Cowie by Thomas Ferguson’s sister Margaret. Skye Camanachd from: Ryan Morrison: Jamie Gillies, Ally MacDonald, James Morrison, William MacKinnon: Ally MacLeod, Will Cowie (captain), Martin Pringle: Ross MacKinnon, James Pringle, Ross Gordon, Iain MacLellan: subs Daniel Morrison, Marcus Scott Glenurquhart from: Stuart MacKintosh: Lachie Smith (captain), John Barr, Finlay Robertson, Cameron MacIntosh: Cameron Bremner, Ali MacKintosh, Liam Robertson: Michael Fraser, Oliver Black, Chris Mack, James MacPherson: subs Charlie MacLeod, Ross MacAulay Match Referee – Calum Girvan Scorers Skye Camanachd Ross Gordon (16, 64) Iain MacLellan (17) James Pringle (29 Ross MacKinnon (49) Glenurquhart Michael Fraser (9) James MacPherson (19) Chris Mack (27)
(The match balls were sponsored by Nor-Dan) |