Marine Harvest National Division 1 champions Skye Camanachd got their season off to a great start with a 5-1 win over Glasgow Mid Argyll at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 11 March 2017.
This was a tough league opener for both clubs as it brought together current champions Skye and previous top division winners Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Skye Camanachd Head Coach Robbie Gordon fielded a strong squad although he was with without Caitlin MacLean and Ilana Paterson.
GMA were without regular keeper Stephanie Keenan so Eleanor Fraser deputised between the sticks. The Glasgow side have added Lucy McNulty to their squad and she looks set to play a key role this season.
The Pairc nan Laoch pitch had been ruled unplayable for the same day’s Marine Harvest North Division 1 derby between the Skye Camanachd and Kinlochshiel second teams. That was because of damage to the goalmouth areas following the previous weekend’s clash between Skye and Inverness. However with the ladies playing 10-a-side on a shorter pitch, their game was able to go ahead.
The postponement of the match between Skye and Kinlochshiel second teams meant ‘Shiel boss Willie MacRae was available to referee the game.
There was delayed coverage of this noon throw up on radio and online on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd LIVE show.
A party of around seventy students from Dundalk attended the match, adopting Skye as their favourites and cheering them on from the touchline.
GMA showed no ill-effects from their 6am departure to journey North and they took the lead after 6 minutes when Lyndsay Michie scored after home goalie Sarah Jane Ferguson had made a good double save.
Lorna MacRae equalised on 16 minutes. MacRae burst through the GMA defence and her initial shot deflected off GMA keeper Eleanor Fraser who turned and volleyed the ball away but the goal judged ruled that it had just cross the line.
When GMA pressed the Skye goal they found home goalie Sarah Jane Ferguson to be in confident from and her hitting was particularly good.
A fine last-gasp challenge from Alana Harrison halted a Lorna MacRae run when she looked sure to score but the Islanders did go in front on 26 minutes and it was Lorna MacRae who did the damage again. Jenna Beaton found Abby MacLean who played a neat reverse pass to MacRae and her blistering shot from the left flew into the roof of the net.
GMA finished the half on the attack but were unable to draw level thanks mainly to some tenacious defending from the Skye back line of Anna MacDonald, Christina MacDonald and Nicola MacSween who had come off the bench. .
Skye opened the second period with purpose and set they siege on the GMA goal.
They extended their lead on 46 minutes when Lorna MacRae picked up a Helen Lamond shy on the right and cut the ball back to Abby MacLean and she smashed the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-1.
Eleanor Fraser was in the GMA goal as regular keeper Stephanie Keenan was unavailable and she made several final saves including one above her head with her caman to deny Rhianna Kirk who fired goalwards from wide on the right.
Lorna MacRae shot just inches over the bar moments later.
Skye were in control and their midfield was dominant. Rhianna Kirk urged the team on from full centre, Helen Lamond worked tirelessly on the right and Kirsty Dibble and Emma Gordon took turns to keep GMA occupied down the Skye left.
Abby MacLean was on target again on 49 minutes when she turned a Jenna Beaton cross from the left into the net to make it 4-1.
Skye rounded off the 5-1 win on 63 minutes when Abby MacLean swept a Kirsty Dibble shy to Lorna MacRae and she dispatched the ball low into the net.
Holly MacLean replaced Jenna Beaton for the closing stages as Skye saw out the remainder of the game.
Rachel McCafferty and Lucy McNulty were best for GMA with Lorna MacRae and Abby MacLean shining for Skye.
Skye Camanachd Ladies from: Sarah Jane Ferguson; Anna MacDonald, Christina MacDonald, Emma Gordon; Helen Lamond, Rhianna Kirk, Kirsty Dibble; Abby MacLean, Jenna Beaton, Lorna MacRae (captain); subs Nicola MacSween, Holly MacLean, Katherine Dibble, Leah MacLeod, Fiona Lamond
Glasgow Mid Argyll Ladies: Eleanor Fraser; Alana Harrison (captain), Laura McCafferty, Kirsty McLay; Kirsty Gray, Rachel McCafferty, Lucy McNulty; Catriona Stark, Lyndsay Michie, Katie Drain; sub Iona Jane Cooper
Match Referee – Willie MacRae
Goal Judges – Connor Gilpin & Ross Gordon
The match balls will be sponsored by Nor-Dan
(The picture of two goal Abby MacLean comes courtesy of Moreen Pringle)