Camanachd Leòdhais travelled to Bught Park on Saturday 2 October to finish their shortened season against Inverness. Their opponents had no first team game which allowed them to draft in several first-team regulars. A depleted Lewis side gave it their all but against such strong opposition, succumbed to an 8-0 defeat.
Lewis were in a tough situation ahead of the game with Steven Morrison, Paul Duke, Sean MacLeod, Daniel Gallagher, Lewis MacKay, Innes Lamont and his brother Ally all unavailable. Their problems were further exacerbated when another two key players in Scott MacLeod and Ronan Sinclair had to call off on the morning of the game. This left Lewis with just thirteen players for the game. Duncan MacPhail made his senior debut at wingback as did young Ruaraidh MacLennan at wing forward. Davey Wilde made a first appearance for the club in over twelve years whilst reserve goalie Willie MacLeod was the sole man on the bench.
Inverness boasted both a strong spine and centre-line that had some familiar faces who the club encountered in its early years. Steven Bellshaw, Ruairaidh Hughes, both formerly Lochbroom, Ewan Campbell, who starred for Uist Camanachd, as well as Rory Campbell and Ian Hunter were among first team regulars that took to the field for the home side.
The early stages of the game were relatively even with both sides creating chances. Inverness thought they had the opening goal but were denied by the post. At the other end, a good pass from MacLennan gave Wilde a shot at goal but his effort was saved and Donny Murray, who played the majority of the game at wing centre in just his second senior start, couldn’t quite get on the end of the rebound.
Skye MacIntosh thought he had given Inverness the lead after twenty minutes but he was adjudged to have been offside. Lewis’ resistance was broken four minutes later when Bellshaw rattled home. Lewis fullback Michael MacLeod defended well against Hughes throughout the game but the Inverness forward did manage to get a goal on the day, doubling the lead ten minutes later.
Lewis were hoping to get into halftime without conceding a third but Bellshaw had other ideas as he turned his man and fired a low shot into the net.
Any hope Lewis will have had to get back into the game were quickly extinguished by Bellshaw who scored his third and fourth goals within five minutes of the restart.
Lewis were subjected to heavy pressure for a lot of the second period and MacIntosh did eventually get his goal on the hour mark, having been denied by the offside flag in the first half.
It was full centre Ewan Campbell that finished the scoring with a brace, his second a shot from distance with five minutes to go.
With travel restrictions preventing Lewis from having a full season, the three games against Beauly, Strathspey and Inverness were being viewed as a chance to get back up to speed with a view to next season as well as giving match experience to young players. The club will be hoping to have a full slate of games in 2022.