Skye Camanachd 5 Kinlochshiel 1 | |
16 October 2023 The Skye Camanachd seconds will finish runners up Mowi North Division 1 after beating the Kinlochshiel seconds 5-1 in their derby at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 14 October 2023. The constant rain through the week left the match in some doubt but a breezy, dry Saturday meant the pitch was perfectly playable, although both goalmouths were on the soft side. Referee Jamie MacPherson led the players in a minute’s silence ahead of throw up following the sad passing of Camanachd Association Grade 1 referee Martin MacLean. Kinlochshiel started with the wind in their favour but it was Skye who took the lead on 16 minutes when full forward Dan MacDonald won possession and blasted the ball high over the keeper Calum MacMillan’s left shoulder from 15 yards on the left. ‘Shiel came close to a leveller on 39 minutes when Duncan MacRae’s hit-in from the left came to Paul MacRae who played in Duncan MacMillan. His strike was well-saved with his right foot by his right post by Skye keeper Michael Nicolson and Martin MacRae was quickly onto the rebound which he sent low by the far post to the goalie’s left. Calum MacMillan did well to save Dan MacDonald’s shot by his left post before juggling the ball away on 51 minutes but Dan MacDonald wasn’t to be denied as he got his second to double Skye’s lead on 55 minutes with a clean strike from the left. There was a touch of fortune to Skye’s third goal on the hour-mark as the impressive Seonaidh-Alex launched a free-hit from the left which dropped just outside the front of the D. ‘Shiel full back Campbell Lamont stretched to reach the ball but, with Dan MacDonald ready to pounce, he inadvertently deflected in down past his own keeper. ‘Shiel had their moments in the game, but Raghnall Robertson was a stand-out at buckshee back for Skye. There was a late flurry of goals as Lewis MacVicar countered for ‘Shiel on 81 minutes with a good shot from right of centre which went just inside keeper Michael Nicolson’s left post. Skye lost full centre Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod from the restart when he suffered an accidental blow to the hip when challenging for the ball with opposing full centre Paul MacRae. Skye manager Willie MacDonald moved David MacInnes to centre with Ryan Nicolson coming off the bench to go to full back with his son Nui Nicolson to his side at wing back and his brother Michael Nicolson behind him in goal. Then, with 5 minutes remaining, Dan MacDonald completed his hat-trick with a precise finish as he juggled the ball before expertly lifting it home after good play from substitute John MacInnes after the ‘Shiel defence failed to deal with a David MacInnes free-hit from the middle of the park. Archie Millar rounded off the scoring a minute from time, taking the ball out of the air from Calum MacMillan’s goal-hit and surging forward before hammering the ball inside the keeper’s left post to make it 5-1. The win means Skye, who were also HIS Sutherland Cup runners-up, will finish second in the table. Skye Camanachd from: Michael Nicolson: David MacInnes (captain), William Sutherland, Nui Nicolson, Raghnall Robertson: John Archie Tuncay, Seonaidh-Alex MacLeod, Ian MacPherson: Archie Millar, Ali Stewart, Iain MacInnes, Dan MacDonald: subs Jamie Gillies, John MacInnes, Ryan Nicolson Kinlochshiel from: Calum MacMillan, Campbell Lamont, Fraser MacRae, Rory Barclay, Andrew MacKenzie: Colin MacDiarmid, Paul MacRae, Duncan “Ach” MacRae: Rory Slaughter, Martin MacRae, Lewis MacVicar, Duncan MacMillan: subs Calum Lamont, Calum Thayer Match Referee – Jamie MacPherson |