That’s the whole point of the game

So it wasn’t a pointless afternoon at all. That’s a good thing though it would have been better with both points but there did not seem anyway that the Glen were going to get that. Given that opponents Kyles had lost heavily the week before to Lochaber there was every fear that the Glen would catch as they say “the backlash.”

Whatever that backlash might or might not have been the Glen certainly did not catch any of it though one cannot blame Kyles for not trying. They opened strongly and for the first 15 minutes or so pressed heavily on the Glenurquhart defence- and fired off a string of mainly accurate shots which were dealt with by Glen keeper Stuart Mackintosh. “Smack” was not a long-term Scotland international keeper for no reason- and for the first time this season he was wearing shorts so that might have made a difference. It certainly taught the south shinty world that you can fire as many hard high accurate shots on the Glen goal as you like but Smack will “do his job”

However, on the 15-minute mark Kyles neat forward play resulted in their opening goal when former Sgiathanach front man James Pringle fired a powerful shot past the Glen keeper from relatively close in. Another quarter of an hour passed and Kyles Connor Kennedy doubled their advantage with a very similar strike beating the Smackster from about the penalty spot with another hard low drive. So far -so bad. The goal prompted the Wing Centre to get a move on and urge the Treasurer to uplift the collection because there was a fair chance that if this on-field behaviour carried on there would not be a collection to take because everyone would have gone home.

The collections at Drum are always interesting because what you pick up in the container is literally a mixed bag- regularly some foreign coins, euros from French, German & Dutch tourists, Canadian and US nickels or dimes or whatever, nuts, nails the occasional screw and most memorably recently-a fishing fly. A very pretty fly indeed but that was not what the Treasurer said when he got it slightly impaled on his finger as he counted the cash.

However, before the collection could take place the Glen suddenly turned things around with Ryan Porter netting from close range to make the score 2-1 at half time. The Glen faithful exchanged glances – “Could this really be happening?”

Apparently, it could – and from looking at the pattern of play it actually did. Youngsters Alfie Macleod and Daniel Maclean began to put Kyles defenders under pressure while the OAPs like John Barr and Billy Urquhart not to mention Mr Corrigan (Henry’s dad) began to get a new lease of life and actually believe that something could be done. You could not say that they suddenly started skipping over Billy’s field like they were stots let out of the winter shed to enjoy the spring grass-but you get the picture. In the end youngster Doug Brockie brought the sides level when he ignored all the nonsense and popped the ball over the line after a kerfuffle that was going to end in a penalty. Wisely referee Dessie McNulty ignored the pleas from the Kyles defence to award the penalty for the foul on Dixie Maclennan. He let the goal stand and young Doug was able to command an article in Tuesday’s Inverness Courier as he had actually scored his first senior goal.

The rest of the game was pretty tight- and it has to be said that Des did Kyles a favour though from the way some of them reacted you would never believe that. Big Calum Miller the full back probably should have received a red card for losing his discipline late in the second half.

He stayed on - and Kyles stayed in the match - indeed in the last ten minutes or so they woke up and pushed again for a winning goal. They didn’t make it - though to read the comments of their Skye-born front men in some publication or other you would think they were worth the win. That’s the trouble with Skye men - the further from Kyleakin they originate the less logical they become. One thing is true about shinty is that you sometimes get what you deserve: the Glen deserved a point; Kyles deserved a red card - but there you go - they also got a point and I guess a point is more valuable to them than it is to us.

In other news the under-17s and the girls’ teams continue to overperform. The U-17 Development side defeated Strathglass 5-1 with four goals from Glenn Macdonald and 1 from Rowan Brockie. Later in the week they went on to defeat Glengarry 10-2, this time with goals from Glenn Macdonald (6) Daniel van Loon (2) Tyler Wilson (1) and Kaleb Power (1).

Meanwhile in the top U-17 squad in the London Shield the Glen beat Kilmallie 9-3 with goals from David Hart (4) Daniel Maclean (3) Seonaidh Macleod (1) Alfie Macleod(1)

As for the ladies a 9-0 away to Ardnamurchan - Hazel Hunter (4) Lyndsay  Fleming (3) and Zoe Smith (2) was matched by the second string side who won 3-2 away to Lochaber thanks to a hat-trick from Rowan Brockie. 

Above and beyond that Glen Urquhart High School girls’ side had a triumphant trip down the road to Uddingston where they picked up the Tunnock’s Cup beating Kingussie in the final. You could say that takes the biscuit- but then again perhaps that’s the whole point.

(Action shots from Neil Paterson-Many thanks, Neil. Nice to see you. Team shots from Glen Facebook)