Skye Camanachd under-14 turned in an excellent second half performance as they came from a goal down to beat Glenurquhart under-14 5-1 in their MacMaster Cup semi-final tie at Rèaraig on Friday 26 August 2022.
Skye, opening towards the Kyle end of the ground, created the game’s first chance when, following good play from Lachlann MacLeod, Rylie Anderson shot just wide of target.
Skye buckshee back John Archie Tuncay was forced off early on with an arm injury. Iain Graham went to buckshee back with Harry Speed coming on at wing centre.
Skye’s Iain MacInnes saw a shot deflected wide of the keeper’s left post.
The Glen went on the attack and a good challenge from Serkan Tuncay deflected Alfie MacLeod’s shot for a corner after the ball dropped between them both.
The Glen went on to enjoy a period of pressure as Skye, perhaps missing John Archie Tuncay’s influence at the back, struggled to clear their lines.
Skye went back on the offensive and Oliver Langlands was next to try his luck but his effort was deflected for a corner.
John Archie Tuncay came back on as Skye reverted to their starting line-up.
The Glen put together a nice move up their left side which ended with Daniel van Loon driving the ball just over the junction between post and bar to the keeper’s right.
When Skye failed to deal with a Glenurquhart attack on 18 minutes, Alfie MacLeod sent a great shot into the top corner of the net to the keeper’s left to open the scoring.
The Glen went quickly back on the attack and Archie Buchan saved well with his feet from David Fraser at the expense of a corner.
The tie was now swinging from end-to-end and Oliver Langlands saw his shot deflected for a corner.
Archie Buchan saved from Daniel van Loon after the ball was played back to him by Rory McWhirr and then Glen keeper Finn Cooper did well to get the ball away for a corner following a Skye free-hit taken by Iain MacInnes before MacInnes later pushed forward from the middle of the park but his strike went wide.
Skye equalised on 25 minutes. The Islanders worked the ball up the right side and a superb Calum MacKenzie shot went high into the net, across the keeper from a tight angle on the right to the delight of the Skye support.
Archie Buchan’s goal-hits were regularly landing midway inside the Glen half and Skye won a free-hit from one such hit-out and Calum MacKenzie went close to getting his second goal.
A Rylie Anderson turn and shot went wide of the right post in what was the last effort of the first half.
Skye Youth Coach Allan MacLeod wasn’t pleased with his side’s first half performances and he asked for more from his players at the interval and they certainly responded after the restart.
Iain Graham went close from Lachlann MacLeod’s corner on the left as Skye started the second half on the front foot.
Skye took the lead for the first time in the tie just 4 minutes into the second half following a good move down the middle. John Archie Tuncay sent the ball out of defence and Brody MacQueen quickly switched possession to Rylie Anderson who played in Oliver Langlands and he ran into the D before firing into the net off the keeper’s right leg.
Skye had their tails up and they extended their lead just a minute later when Oliver Langlands’ shot deceived the keeper and the Islanders now led 3-1.
Another good Lachlann MacLeod corner from the left set up a chance for Calum MacKenzie but Finn Cooper saved.
Skye turned the screw and extended their lead to 4-1 with just 9 second half minutes on the clock. Brody MacQueen blasted the ball goalwards and although G1 saved, Rylie Anderson was first to react, knocking the rebound into the net.
Skye introduced Reid Constance for Calum MacKenzie whilst Glenurquhart made some positional changes of their own to try and get back in the tie.
Brody MacQueen saw a shot blocked and a goalmouth scramble ensued. The ball did end up in the net but goal judge Thomas Wilson flagged for offside.
Iain MacInnes spun away with the ball and ran to the left before playing the ball into the middle. The Glen defence couldn’t clear and Oliver Langlands’ shot was really well saved high to his left by Finn Cooper with Skye having to settle for a corner. The ball was knocked into the net from the corner but was again ruled out for offside.
Alfie MacLeod’s surging run at the Skye defence was halted by a solid John Archie Tuncay challenge and Glenn MacDonald later shot wide at the Glen rallied.
Brody MacQueen rounded off the scoring with a fine individual goal just 7 minutes from time. The ball came to MacQueen in a central position and he turned beautifully, midway inside the Skye half, before running forward and hammering the ball by the keeper to make it 5-1.
Ruairidh MacLeod replaced Riley Anderson for the closing stages with the impressive Oliver Langlands firing over the top before referee Ali Nixon, who was in control throughout, brought the match to an end.
Newtonmore under-14 beat Inverness under-14 3-1 after extra-time in the other semi-final so Skye and their Newtonmore counterparts will meet in the 2022 MacMaster Cup Final on Camanachd Cup Final Day at the Dell on Saturday 17 September 2022.
Skye Camanachd under-14 from: Archie Buchan: Nui Nicolson, Serkan Tuncay, Andrew Rose, John Archie Tuncay: Iain Graham: Iain MacInnes, Lachlann MacLeod: Oliver Langlands, Calum MacKenzie, Brody MacQueen, Rylie Anderson: subs Harry Speed, Ruairidh MacLeod, Reid Constance, Oliver Rose
Glenurquhart under-14 from: Finn Cooper: Rory McWhirr, Tyler Wilson, David Hart, Kales Power, Murphy Ross, Daniel van Loon, Glenn MacDonald, Ruaridh McKeown, Christopher Edwards, Alfie MacLeod, Emily van Loon: subs David Fraser, Sophie Power, Liam MacPherson
Match Referee – Ali Nixon
Goal Judges – Thomas Wilson & Billy MacLeod