Skye Camanachd 1 Kyles Athletic 4 | |
25 September 2023 Skye Camanachd lost 4-1 to Kyles Athletic in their Mowi Premiership clash at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 23 September 2023. Skye Camanachd defenders John Gillies and Sam Macphee returned from suspension, but Ruaraidh MacLeod and Martin Pringle were unavailable. Kyles Athletic’s Will Cowie recovered from a hamstring injury to start against his former club whilst Roddy Macdonald returned after missing the defeat at Kingussie in their last outing. John Kennedy, Conor Kennedy and Finan Kennedy were all unavailable. There was a minute’s silence ahead of throw up at Kyles Athletic’s request following the passing of Chris Havand. Kyles made the better start, and they deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes. Roddy Macdonald’s long ball into the D was knocked away by Murphy Henderson but Robbie MacLeod gained possession as Kyles worked the ball to the right of the D where Scott Macdonald got away from his marker to score. Just a couple of minutes later, some nice one-touch passing saw Robbie MacLeod find Will Cowie on the left and, at the second attempt, Cowie dropped an inviting ball into a crowded D where Scott Macdonald lifted it over the keeper to make it 2-0. Kyles kept the pressure on the Skye defence and when the hosts couldn’t clear another attack, Will Cowie slotted the ball through a packed goalmouth from left of centre. Cowie aggravated a hamstring injury in the process of scoring and was replaced by youngster Roan MacVicar. Skye pulled William MacKinnon back from full forward to full centre and they were much better in the second half and they pulled a goal back on 62 minutes when Jordan Murchison flicked a Neil MacVicar pass from the left in the air and, on the half turn, he sent a glorious first-time volley across a helpless keeper John Whyte to score the goal of the game. Skye had chances, with Murchison twice going close, to set up a grandstand finish whilst Kyles, who had to put the injured Will Cowie and Callum Millar back on after an injury to Cammy Jack, and now had full centre Roddy Macdonald playing full back, were holding on. Kyles sealed victory on 81 minutes from a free-hit. Will Cowie found with a low ball from the right Roan MacVicar and he scored his first senior goal from close range to make it 4-1. The sides also contested the Alasdair Morrison Memorial Cup which was presented to Kyles Athletic skipper Ross Macrae after the final whistle by John Angus Morrison. The man of the match quaich went to the excellent Roddy Macdonald. Skye Camanachd from: Murphy Henderson: James Morrison, Sam Macphee, Seonaidh-Alex Macleod, John Gillies (captain): Ross Nicolson, Neil MacVicar, Jamie Gillies: Ross MacKinnon, Ross Gordon, Jordan Murchison, William MacKinnon: subs James Pringle, Kenny Cushnie, Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod, Archie Millar, Iain MacLellan Kyles Athletic from: John Whyte: Callum Millar, Sorley Thomson, Martin MacRae, Andrew King: Innes Macdonald, Roddy Macdonald. Cammy Jack: Scott Macdonald, Ross Macrae (captain), Robbie MacLeod, Will Cowie: sub Roan MacVicar Match Referee – Graham Cameron Goal Judges – John Angus Gillies & James Pringle
Click on the following link to watch Fiona MacDonald’s coverage of the game. |