Skye Camanachd 2 Newtonmore 1 | |
09 July 2023 Skye Camanachd beat Newtonmore for the second time this year, winning 2-1 in their Mowi Premiership fixture at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 8 July 2023. Skye were without Ruaraidh MacLeod, who has a new job offshore, whilst Ross Nicolson was unavailable and Jamie Gillies injured but Kenny Cushnie returned to take a place on the bench. Seonaid-Alex MacLeod was added to the bench. The Newtonmore absentee list included: Steven Macdonald, Michael Russell, Iain Richardson, Duncan MacPherson, Craig MacIsaac, Struan Ross and the suspended Martin Hall. Second team captain Ritchie Irvine was drafted into the defence, Euan Dingwall in at wing centre and both Brodie MacBean and Declan Brannan in attack. Veteran Michael Ritchie was their only substitute, and he was registered just in time to play. There were early chances at either end, and Skye’s William MacKinnon evaded three defenders before sending a low shot at the second attempt into the side-netting. Then Declan Brannan sent a great strike from distance which dipped just over the bar after some good play on the left from Drew MacDonald. Seconds later, Jordan Murchison almost got on the end of a low ball into the D from William MacKinnon on the Skye left. Newtonmore were playing against the wind in the first half but that didn’t stop Drew MacDonald from giving them the lead on 39 minutes. Craig McLeod played the ball out to the right before continuing his run to the left of the D to get onto MacDonald’s returned pass. The Skye defenders battled to clear but the ball came to Iain Robinson whose shot was blocked but it fell nicely for Drew MacDonald in a central position at the front of the D and his shot took a bouncy by keeper Murphy Henderson to make it 1-0. Newtonmore had the ball in the net early in the second half but Craig McLeod tripped James Pringle before knocking Iain Robinson’s ball from the right over the line. Then Brodie MacBean and Drew MacDonald exchanged passes, but Murphy Henderson got a hand to MacDonald’s shot, palming it away for a corner. Skye drew level on 56 minutes when Ross Gordon gathered a ball from Jordan Murchison and there seemed little danger as he made space before turning and sending a shin-high shot from range swerving by keeper Kenny Ross to make it 1-1. ‘More responded and Craig McLeod then saw a turn and shot cleared for a corner. The match looked to be heading for a draw, but Skye produced a spectacular winner with just 4 minutes remaining. Seonaid-Alex MacLeod, on for his first team debut moments earlier, was involved in the initial build up along with John Gillies before ‘More cleared their lines. However, Sam Macphee won possession on the left and Ally Macleod played the ball forward to James Pringle who threaded a pass through the ’More defence to Archie Millar on the far right and the Skye under-17 skipper held off Arron MacBean before hitting the ball into the roof of the net on his left side. Declan Brannan had a couple of late attempts, including one that was saved with his feet on the goal line and cleared for a corner by Murphy Henderson, as ‘More pressed Skye back through the 5 minutes of stoppage time. Skye held on though, to run out 2-1 winners against Newtonmore for the second time this season. Ritchie Irvine was composed and showed clean hitting throughout for ‘More whilst Craig Ritchie was excellent at full centre and Conor Jones did all that could be expected as a makeshift defender. Skye manager Kenny MacLeod added: “The boys realised at the interval that the first half performance was nowhere near good enough and they deserve great credit for the character they showed in the second half to put that right and that is what won us the game.” Skye Camanachd from: Murphy Henderson: James Morrison, Martin Pringle, Sam Macphee, Ross MacKinnon: Neil MacVicar, John Gillies (captain), Ally “Cleodi” MacLeod: William MacKinnon, James Pringle, Ross Gordon, Jordan Murchison: subs Kenny Cushnie, Archie Millar, Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod, Iain MacLellan Newtonmore from: Kenny Ross: Rory Kennedy, Ritchie Irvine, Conor Jones (captain), Arron MacBean: Craig McLeod, Craig Ritchie, Euan Dingwall: Drew MacDonald, Brodie MacBean, Declan Brannan, Iain Robinson: sub Michael Ritchie Match Referee – Calum Girvan
Click on the following link to watch Fiona MacDonald’s coverage of the game. |