Skye Camanachd beat Michael Breathnach by just three points in a thrilling final to win Iomain Cholmcille a Còig at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 7 April 2012.
Skye started the final without Stewart Grant who broke a finger in the semi-final win over Alba.
Michael Breathnach were without the injured Finton O’Tuathail.
Skye captain Iain Nicolson won the toss and played with the wind in the first half.
Skye’s Darryl Macintosh had the first attempt on target in the opening minute but Michael Breathnach countered and struck the opening point through Carthach Ban Breathnach just 60 seconds later.
Iain Nicolson tested Michael Breathnach keeper Diarmid O’Ceallaigh on 5 minutes but the keeper cleared the danger.
Skye had a lot of the early pressure and they were finding the Pairc nan Laoch breeze difficult to judge and several balls forward drifted out of play.
A Kerr Gibb snap-shot went past the post on 7 minutes.
Referee John Angus Gillies awarded the home side a free hit for a kick by Jack Mac Giolla Bhride on 18 minutes. This gave Skye the chance to open their account and Iain Nicolson made no mistake as he put the dead ball between the posts from 25 yards for two points.
Iain Nicolson put another ball over the bar for another point a couple of minutes later so Skye led (0-3) 3-1 (0-1).
A brave diving save from Skye keeper Aonghas MacDonald denied Padraic Mac Giolla Bhride on 22 minutes.
Antaine O’Finneadha put the ball between the posts to reduce Skye’s advantage to a single point on 24 minutes.
David Grant cleared a Padraic Mac Giolla Bhride effort off the goal line a minute later and the Skye defender cleared the ball out of play.
Jack Latton was penalised for a challenge on 27 minutes and Antaine O’Finneadha flicked the free from 55 yards into the air and put it over the bar to square the game at (0-3) 3-3 (0-3).
The Irish took the lead when they caught the Skye defence napping with a quick free on the right which allowed Adrian O’Tuathail to put the ball over the bar.
However with seconds remaining Iain Morrison put a ball from the right over the bar to square the game (0-4) 4-4 (0-4)at the break.
Ally MacDonald forced a save from Diarmid O’Ceallaigh in the opening minute of the half when he was played in by John Angus MacInnes.
However just seconds later, Ally MacDonald fired low into the net when he got on the end of an Iain Morrison cross from the right. This was the first goal of the game and it gave Skye a (1-4) 7-4 (0-4) lead.
Good defending from David Grant forced Padraic Mac Giolla Bhride to put an effort past the post but Oisen O’Ceallaigh fired over from the right moments later for another Irish point.
A Darryl Macintosh free hit caused the Irish defenders problems and keeper Diarmid O’Ceallaigh did well to save from Ally MacDonald before clearing
Just 4 minutes into the second half, Padraic Mac Giolla Bhride burst through the Skye defence and with David Grant and Ally “Spod” MacLeod in hot pursuit, he shot low past Aonghas MacDonald into the net to put the Irish a point in front (1-4) 7-8 (1-5).
However Skye found the back of the net with their next attack and Iain Morrison was at the centre of the move as he won possession in midfield. Morrison exchanged passes with John Angus MacInnes before releasing Iain Nicolson one-on–one with keeper O’Ceallaigh. To the delight of the home support, Nicolson slotted the ball home to put Skye (2-4) 10-8 (1-5) in front.
Iain Morrison did a bit of keepy-uppy before shooting past the post as the home side continued to press.
Skye were again caught out by another quick dead ball from the side of the park and Oisen O’Ceallaigh fired over to reduce Skye’s advantage to a single point
The game continued to swing from end to end and 12 minutes into the second half, another Darryl Macintosh free-hit found Iain Nicolson with two hurlers marking him. Nicolson had two attempts before shooting home on his back-hand to extend Skye’s lead to (3-4) 13-9 (1-6)
Iain Nicolson got on the end of a ball from Kerr Gibb but keeper O’Ceallaigh stopped him completing his hat-trick of goals.
Gearoid O’Finneadha knocked another point over the bar for Michael Breathnach who were clearly determined not to let this game run away from them.
Ally MacDonald set up Iain Nicolson but keeper O’Ceallaigh stopped the ball on the goal line before clearing.
The Irish were clearly finding Nicolson a handful and full back Colm “Cabla” O’Cuiv caught the Skye forward with one late challenge.
There didn’t seem to be much of a shooting opportunity when Iain Nicolson collected the ball 20 yards from goal mid-way through the second half but he lifted a great back-hand shot into the roof of the net for his third goal of the game. This gave Skye what proved to be a crucial (4-4) 16-10(1-7) lead.
Skye keeper Aonghas MacDonald flattened Gearoid O’Finneadha as the Irishman was about to shoot goalwards 19 minutes into the second period. Antaine O’Finneadha took the free but a very brave challenge from Skye’s Ally “Spod” MacLeod prevented any Irish points. However the challenge came at a cost as MacLeod required treatment from Skye medic Dr Wilson Banks and was later admitted to hospital with concussion and what was later confirmed to be three fractures to his hand.
Antaine O’Finneadha pulled another point back for Michael Breathnach to reduce the deficit to 5 points.
Aonghas MacDonald made a fantastic save from a great Sean Denvir drive 8 minutes from time as the ball was creeping in under the bar. A massive goalmouth scramble ensued but the Skye defence withstood the physical onslaught to clear the danger.
Cain O’Griallais won the ball in midfield and his shot from distance deceived Aonghas MacDonald and crept into the net at the keeper’s right post to cut Skye’s lead to (4-4) 16-14 (2-8).
The game was now on a knife-edge with 4 minutes plus injury time remaining.
Skye pressed for the next couple of minutes but the Irish defence stayed firm until Iain Nicolson took his personal tally to twelve points with a shot over the bar which sealed a (4-5) 17-14 (2-8) victory.
There was a late scare for the Islanders when a Padraic Mac Giolla Bhride effort came off the frame of the goal.
The final whistle sparked celebrations for the home support following a thoroughly entertaining match. Skye captain Iain Nicolson was presented with the Quaich by event organiser Eoghan Stewart.
Skye’s Iain Nicolson put in a man of the match performance with David Grant, John Moir and keeper Aonghas MacDonald also excellent for the Islanders.
Michael Breathnach were well served by Adrian O’Tuathail and Antaine O’Finneadha and Padraic Mac Giolla Bhride.
Scorers;
Skye Camanachd
Iain Nicolson (3-3)
Ally MacDonald (1-0)
Iain Morrison (0-2)
Michael Breathnach
Carthach Ban Breathnach (0-1)
Antaine O’Finneadha (0-3)
Adrian O’Tuathail (0-1)
Oisen O’Ceallaigh (0-2)
Padraic Mac Giolla Bhride (1-0)
Gearoid O’Finneadha (0-1)
Cain O’Griallais (1-0
Skye Camanachd from; Aonghas MacDonald, David Grant, Jack Latton, Ally “Cloudy” MacLeod, Ally “Spod” MacLeod, John Moir, Iain Morrison, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Kerr Gibb, Darryl Macintosh, Iain Nicolson (captain), John MacKenzie, John Angus MacInnes, Ally MacDonald, subs Stevie MacKinnon, David MacInnes, Calum Gibb, Iain MacPherson, Calum MacInnes, Stewart Grant
Managers; Aonghas MacDonald, David Grant, AB Connor
Michael Breathnach from; Diarmaid O’Ceallaigh (captain), Colm “Cabla” O’Cuiv, Seamus Jimmy O’Fatharta, Jack Mac Giolla Bhride, Antaine O’Finneadha, Adrian O’Tuathail, Cain O’Griofa, Padraic Mac Giolla Bhride, Oisen O’Ceallaigh Sean Denvir, Gearoid O’Finneadha, Carthach Ban Breathnach, Breandan Mhaidhe O’Conghaile, Enna O’Griallais, Kevin Mhaidhe O’Conghaile, Mairtin O’Tuathail, Daithi O’Gaora, Tadhg O’Domhnallain, Cain J O’Griallais
Managers; Michael O’Suilleabhain, Conall O’Ceidigh
Match Referee – John Angus Gillies
Goal Judges – John MacLeod, Donnie Martin