Skye Camanachd 2 Kingussie 4 | |
30 April 2023 Holders Kingussie had to come from two goals down to beat Skye Camanachd 4-2 in their Artemis Macaulay Cup first round tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 29 April 2023. Ruaraidh MacLeod returned for Skye for this 3pm throw up, and he started in attack. Neil MacVicar was also back and he took a place on the bench but Jordan Murchison missed out with a hamstring injury. Rory McGregor, Kieran Macpherson and Liam Borthwick lined up for the Kings after missing the previous week’s league win over Oban Camanachd but James Falconer was sidelined with 8 stiches in his finger from the Oban game whilst Roddy Young was at a wedding and James Hutchison was out with a hamstring injury. However, Thomas Borthwick was included for the first time in nearly two years – he suffered a serious knee injury in a 3-1 win over Newtonmore on 10 July 2021, also in the Artemis Macaulay Cup - and he took a place on the bench with Savio Genini and Owen Reid. It was sunny but cool as a deceivingly strong wind blew down the pitch and Skye opened with the elements in their favour, shooting towards the Skeabost end of the ground. The Islanders, still smarting from the previous week’s home defeat to Beauly, started well and Rory McGregor had to come smartly off his line to clear a dangerous ball into the D after just 10 minutes. However, just 3 minutes later, Skye took the lead. Ross Gordon dummied the ball to James Pringle who quickly played in Ruaraidh MacLeod in a central position, and he thumped the ball high into the net. Skye doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Sam MacPhee’s low corner from the right came into the D and defender Calum Grant ran towards the ball to clear but kicked it. Referee Calum Girvan had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Ross Gordon smashed an unstoppable penalty over the keeper’s shoulder and Skye now led 2-0. Kingussie responded and Skye goalie Murphy Henderson used his feet to keep out Ruaridh Anderson’s snapshot. The tie flowed from end to end with Ruaraidh MacLeod firing across goal from James Pringle’s free-hit and then Iain Fraser sent the ball just by the keeper’s right post following Cameron Bremner’s hit-in. Lee Bain, perhaps crucially, pulled a goal back on 40 minutes. Alexander Michie, who captained the side in James Falconer’s absence, sent Bain down the left and he broke away from his marker before arcing his run towards the D and he tucked the ball home from close range. Ruaridh Anderson fired over with the final chance of the first half and Skye were dealt another blow when they lost influential full back John Gillies with a tight hamstring at the break. A reshuffle followed which included James Morrison going to full back with Jamie Gillies coming on. Kingussie introduced Thomas Borthwick after 54 minutes, replacing Iain Fraser, and he immediately forced Murphy Henderson into a save with his feet. Kingussie now had Liam Borthwick at full centre with Alexander Michie joining Lee Bain at the top of a two-two forward line. Kingussie were using the wind advantage to good effect and they pinned Skye back and when Thomas Borthwick played in a high corner from the right on 65 minutes, Lee Bain ran into the centre of the D, stretching high to knock the ball down and, agonisingly for the Islanders, it trundled by the keeper, just inside his left post to make it 2-2. Another Thomas Borthwick corner from the right saw Kingussie take the lead for the first time in the tie on 72 minutes. Ruaridh Anderson smacked a low shot goalwards and although Murphy Henderson saved well with his feet, Lee Bain was quickly in to turn the rebound over the line to complete his hat-trick. Kingussie went for the kill, and they sealed victory on 77 minutes. Ruaridh Anderson played a free-hit from the left across goal to recently introduced substitute Savio Genini who, with his back to goal, held off his marker as he allowed the ball to run across his body before turning and crashing a shot across the keeper, high into the net to the keeper’s right side to make it 4-2. It was a terrific finish in what was Genini’s first touch of the game. Skye Camanachd from: Murphy Henderson: John Gillies (captain), Martin Pringle, James Morrison, William MacKinnon: Sam Macphee, Kenny Cushnie, Ally ‘Cleodi’ Macleod: Ross MacKinnon James Pringle, Ross Gordon, Ruaraidh MacLeod: subs Jamie Gillies, Archie MacDonald, Neil MacVicar, Kingussie from: Rory McGregor: Robert Mabon, Calum Grant, Rory MacKeachan, Kieran Macpherson: Cameron Bremner, Alexander Michie (captain), Fraser Munro: Ruaridh Anderson, Iain Fraser, Liam Borthwick, Lee Bain: subs Savio Genini, Thomas Borthwick, Owen Reid Match Referee – Calum Girvan |