Newtonmore lose for a third consecutive time to Skye in season opener
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Newtonmore went down 3-2 to Skye Camanachd in a thrilling Mowi Premiership clash at Pairc nan Laoch in Portree.
Newtonmore co-managers Norman MacArthur and Evan Cheyne travelled without Craig Ritchie, who has a foot injury, and Struan Ross, who was on holiday.
Conor Jones made the journey but was ruled out with a calf problem. Duncan MacPherson passed a fitness test to play, and he started at wing centre.
Ryan Morrison returned in goal for Skye after two years based in Australia. Skye attackers Ruaraidh MacLeod and Shockie MacLennan were working.
The conditions and atmosphere were a throwback to the days of winter shinty and although the pitch was soft, it was playable but did cut up as the afternoon went on.
After losing twice to the Islanders last season, Newtonmore knew they were in for a trying afternoon, but they started well as full centre Steven Macdonald, flanked by Arron MacBean and Duncan MacPherson, provided plenty ball for the forwards and Ryan Morrison had to twice look lively to deny Iain Robinson.
Morrison made an even better save soon after, parrying with his stick to keep out a fierce Arron MacBean drive from the right after Charlie Ferguson had played the ball across goal.
Skye took the lead on 17 minutes with the goal coming against the run of play. John Gillies threaded a straight ball forward from a free-hit midway through the ‘More half.
Jamie Gillies ran onto the ball, and it initially looked as if keeper Kenny Ross had kept out his shot, but the ball spun into the net.
Newtonmore ended the first half well and they found a leveller on 41 minutes.
Arron MacBean and Charlie Ferguson combined from a hit-in and Skye failed to deal with Ferguson’s ball across goal.
Drew MacDonald, at the left of the D, forced the ball by Ryan Morrison, who came diving from his goal, and Iain Robinson was on hand to bundle the ball over the line under pressure from James Morrison.
It got better for the visitors a couple of minutes later. Martin Hall was pushed in the back and Arron MacBean found Iain Robinson on the left and his turn and shot went low into the net to give Newtonmore the lead.
With John Gillies becoming increasingly dominant in midfield, Skye made a strong start to the second half, but the Newtonmore defence dealt with everything that came their way.
There was a break in play when referee Steven MacLachlan was accidently struck in the mouth with the ball, but he was able to continue following treatment.
The match boiled over as it moved into the final 15 minutes. Martin Hall was caught by Sam Macphee’s swing and swung back after the whistle had gone.
This sparked a melee in which Skye’s Ross Nicolson got involved. When it all calmed down, referee MacLachlan sent off both Hall and Nicolson.
‘More played on with three forwards and Skye pushed William MacKinnon into midfield and it was the Islanders who continued to have the momentum and they equalised on 84 minutes.
Sam Macphee won possession and William MacKinnon played a ball down the middle where Dan MacDonald, in a central position, spun away from Rory Kennedy and ran towards goal before tucking the ball low to the onrushing keeper’s left to make it 2-2.
Urged on by a large, noisy home support, Skye had their tails up and they regained the lead four minutes into time added on.
There seemed little danger when Kenny Cushnie gathered a loose ball on the left. Cushnie moved the ball to his left and his low strike into the D deceived keeper Kenny Ross, going across him and creeping into the far corner of the net.
‘More pushed Steven Macdonald up front and Rory Kennedy to full centre and they pressured the Skye goal for the remaining 5 minutes of stoppage time, forcing several free-hits and corners.
The visitors looked sure to level when substitute Daniel Craven’s ball from the left fell for Rory Kennedy in front of goal. Kennedy struck the ball well, but keeper Ryan Morrison stretched to keep the ball out of his net with his left foot before getting it away for a corner and Skye held out.
Straight after the final whistle, Newtonmore co-manager Norman MacArthur said: “The game had everything. We dominated the first half and I thought we were in control.
"If you don’t kill games off early when you have the chances, then you aren’t going to win games and Skye had the second half when we lost the middle of the field where John Gillies was excellent.
"The Skye players were in twos and threes every time the ball dropped in the middle of the park, and we weren’t winning these balls.
“Skye are a bid physical team and they wanted it more than us. Their first and third goals came out of nothing, but a lot of teams will come here and drop points.”
Skye skipper John Gillies added: “We came out in the second half fired up and I thought we were brilliant.
"Newtonmore are one of shinty’s top teams so to beat them is fantastic and there’s more to come from us.”
This coming Saturday, Newtonmore take to the Eilan for the first time this year where great rivals Kyles Athletic are the visitors in the Mowi Premiership.
Norman MacArthur is doubtful whether Craig Ritchie and Conor Jones would return from injury in time to play.
