Hebridean Celtic Festival Launched in Swinging Style
Uist Camanachd 2 – Camanachd Leòdhais 4
Sgoil Phaibil Playing fields in North Uist played host to the first leg of this years Hebridean Celtic Festival Shinty Challenge between Uist Camanachd and Camanachd Leòdhais. The game not only allowed for the resumption of hostilities between the Hebrides two shinty clubs but also continued the build up to this years Hebridean Celtic Festival from the 16th to the 19th of July in Stornoway.
A small crowd braved the changeable weather to see a closely fought game where the strength of the wind was to have a major effect on the run of play. Lewis were fortunate to call on the services of Aberdeen University captain Donald Lamont who was at home for the weekend and the Point mans experience came into play early on as he rifled a shot from 40 yards past Ross Sutherland in the Uist goal after only 5 minutes, which were played out in driving hail and sleet.
Lewis had the best of the early play and their national cup experiences gave them the edge as they kept the pressure on a Uist side full of running but short of match practice and tactical awareness. The experienced Uist defender Cailean Macdonald was called into play several times as the last gasp to clear the ball from danger. After twenty minutes however, na h-Uibhistich started to break forward and a lack of composure up front from Ruaraidh "Blot" Macdonald and Calum "Trumisgarry" Macdonald meant that the ball often flew several feet away from the goal of Leòdhasach keeper, Conor Macdonald.
However, just as Uist started to gain a foothold in the game, they were undone by two moments of calamity by the otherwise excellent Sutherland in goals. Lewis second goal resulted from a goal mouth stramash where Sutherland fell on the ball giving away a penalty which he then saved magnificently from Kenny Mould, however the ball flew up in the air and although he brought down the ball, in trying to clear the ball out for a corner, Sutherland lost his footing in the muddy goalmouth and fired the ball into his own net.
Sutherlands afternoon took on an even gloomier hue a few minutes later when a free hit from Scott Murray, which if left to go into the net would not have counted due to free hits being indirect, bounced off the ground and deflected in off the keeper, making the score 3-0.
Lewis maintained the pressure up until halftime although Uist occasionally broke out to keep full back Daniel Gallagher on his toes, his clashes with Ruaraidh Macdonald bringing the two big number 17s on the park into direct confrontation.
The second half saw the wind with Uist, and although the sun had started to shine brightly it still shone on the men from the Lews as Kenny Mould bundled in the ball after a well worked transition of the ball from end to end. At 4-0 the result looked secure for Lewis but Uist, now more used to each others play started to swing the pendulum back in their direction.
Cailean Macdonald moved up into the forward line and his added experience and the great supply of ball by Eòghann MacIsaac and Steven Morrison eventually resulted in Ruaraidh Macdonald getting the better of Gallagher and slotting the ball calmly home to celebrations from the home support.
Uist were not content with this being a mere consolation goal and strove to get a second goal, with Calum "Trumisgarry" Macdonald giving Sean MacLeod a torrid time on the right wing. Conor Macdonalds goalkeeping was to play an important role in stemming the Uist tide as he dealt calmly with several on target deliveries as well as a crucial penalty save from Christopher MacLeod. MacLeod did however bring the deficit to only two goals a few moments later to set up a nervy final quarter of an hour for the Leòdhasaich.
Both sides pushed forward looking to ensure as favourable a result as possible heading into Julys showdown at Smith Avenue, Stornoway on Saturday 19th on the afternoon of the Festival but the game remained 4-2 and the game finished in beautiful sunshine.
After the game, Uist captain Christopher Macleod was in bullish mood regarding his sides chances in Stornoway "well have a few players back who were missing today and I think we have a good chance of winning by two goals in Lewis as long as we dont enjoy ourselves too much the night before at the Saw Doctors!"
Happy to have put the 14-0 shinty lesson by Kingussie the previous week behind them, Paul Duke, the Lewis captain said "if Uist had got a third goal the result could have changed rapidly in their favour, but were happy with the win but we still have lessons to learn from this performance."
Eoghan Stewart, who helped organise the game for the Hebridean Celtic Festival and refereed the match, "It was a great game, both teams gave their all, (as well as giving me a little bit of a hard time over a few decisions!) but the fixture is set-up nicely for the big clash in Stornoway in 3 months time. I hope the people of Lewis as well as festival goers will take the opportunity to take in the match and make sure there is a big crowd as both sides deserve one for their efforts."
Speaking of the sporting battle, Caroline MacLennan, Festival Director, said: "The partnership of shinty and the Hebridean Celtic Festival is a unique and exciting one, reinvigorating old traditions in a new and vital way.
"Shinty provides festival-goers with an intense sporting spectacle as part of the Festival Fringe and the Festival provides a magnificent opportunity for the exposure of this excellent sport in the Outer Hebrides."
She added: "We're sure our visitors will enjoy the chance to sample a spectacle which is unique to the Highlands and Islands."
Second Leg of the trophy; Saturday 19th July, Stornoway, Throw Up 2PM
