0:00:09 > 0:00:11# Katie Morag
0:00:11 > 0:00:13# Run away across the ocean
0:00:13 > 0:00:15# Katie Morag
0:00:15 > 0:00:17# Over the sea to Struay
0:00:17 > 0:00:19# Katie Morag
0:00:19 > 0:00:22# Run away across the ocean
0:00:22 > 0:00:24# Katie Morag
0:00:24 > 0:00:26# Over the sea to Struay. #
0:00:31 > 0:00:35'My name is Katie Morag McColl and I live on the Island of Struay.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39'I suppose it's quite wee but it's ginormous to me
0:00:39 > 0:00:40'and everyone looks out for me
0:00:40 > 0:00:44'when I'm out and about having my adventures.'
0:00:44 > 0:00:46# Katie Morag. #
0:00:46 > 0:00:49There are three things my dad loves
0:00:49 > 0:00:52more than anything else in the whole wide world.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54His family,
0:00:54 > 0:00:56the Isle of Struay,
0:00:56 > 0:01:02and the most fantasmagarcly brilliant game ever invented.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Katie Morag.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06SHE SHOUTS: Shinty!
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Oh! I wish you wouldn't do that!
0:01:13 > 0:01:17'Shinty's played with a stick, which we call a caman,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20'and a ball which we call...a ball.'
0:01:20 > 0:01:22- Go on, go!- She scores a goal!
0:01:22 > 0:01:25She shoots, she scores! Yeah!
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Unbelievable, from the young talent.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34'There are lots of really important cups and competitions.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37'But the one we care about the most happens once a year
0:01:37 > 0:01:41'when the Island of Struay plays the Island of Coll.'
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Ahh!
0:01:43 > 0:01:45'Though Dad really, really loves shinty,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48'he's a wee bit rubbish when it comes to playing it.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52'But he does know everything about the game
0:01:52 > 0:01:55'so they made him manager of the team instead.'
0:01:55 > 0:02:00'74. What a glorious year that was.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05Coll were favourites but we went over there and we thrashed them 5-0.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Oh-ho!
0:02:12 > 0:02:14The summer of '82.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19Coll were winning, but they hadn't counted on our secret weapon.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Our baby-faced genius and goal-scoring machine
0:02:22 > 0:02:24by the name of Neilly Beag.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Hah!
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Ah, 2009. Three goals in the final ten minutes
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and every one of them a classic.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41And that was it. End of an era.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45We've lost every single game since.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Well, this year is going to be different.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51This year I'm in charge.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54If those big shots over in Coll think they can come to Struay
0:02:54 > 0:02:58and rub salt on our wounds, then they can think again.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00No, sir.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05Not on my island and not on my watch!
0:03:10 > 0:03:15'Neilly Beag was the greatest shinty player Struay had ever seen.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17'But that had been a really long time ago
0:03:17 > 0:03:21'and he wasn't as quick on his feet as he used to be.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27'So, when it was soon to be time for Dad to pick the team
0:03:27 > 0:03:30'we thought he'd better go into training
0:03:30 > 0:03:32'and me and Agnes decided to help him.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44'Of course, me and Agnes couldn't help him when we were in school
0:03:44 > 0:03:46'but Granma Mainland was always around
0:03:46 > 0:03:49'to make sure he kept up with his training.'
0:03:51 > 0:03:52Ah!
0:03:54 > 0:03:59- How did I do?- Two minutes slower than the last time.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03There's something seriously wrong with that watch of yours.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- Are you all right?- Of course I am. - You seem a little out of breath.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12I heard the Coll team were sending spies over here
0:04:12 > 0:04:14to check on my condition
0:04:14 > 0:04:18and I'm feeding them misinformation that I'm past it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:26- When clearly I'm not.- Of course not, you're fit as a fiddle.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Tell him, Peter.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Come on. Tell him he's not past it.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35Look, I'm sorry, you're the greatest player this island ever produced.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39The Messi of the Maca, the Pele of the peat stacks.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41But time waits for no man.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44What you saying?
0:04:44 > 0:04:46I'm sorry.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49You're off the team.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54- Oh, take that back. - Coll are heading for five in a row.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58If they win this year they keep the cup. Understand what I'm saying?
0:04:58 > 0:05:03- They keep it forever. - I don't care what they keep.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- He's right.- What?
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Peter's the manager.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12He's got tough decisions to make
0:05:12 > 0:05:16and I reckon he's probably right on this one.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Come on. Let's go home and we'll put the kettle on.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24Ohh!
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- You have to understand. - I don't want to hear it.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36'We'd arranged to go training up by the Sabre Cliffs after school
0:05:36 > 0:05:39'but Neilly Beag didn't feel like training any more.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42'Not now that he wasn't in the team.'
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- I don't even like shinty. - BOTH:- What?
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Hitting a ball with sticks, I think it's silly.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53It's not silly, it's poetry. It's art.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57Did I ever tell you about the time I almost scored the winning goal...?
0:05:57 > 0:05:58Baa-aa-aa!
0:05:58 > 0:05:59Sh!
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- What is it?- Listen.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Baa-aa-aa!
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Did you hear it?
0:06:05 > 0:06:08It's Alecina. I'd know her bleat anywhere.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13'Neilly Beag may not have been the best shinty player in Struay any more
0:06:13 > 0:06:16'but he was still the best shepherd.'
0:06:16 > 0:06:17You two stay back.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22'In fact, he was probably the best shepherd in the whole of Scotland.'
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Oh, no! She's stuck down the ledge.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29- I'll need to climb down and rescue her.- You can't, it's too dangerous.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31But I've got no choice.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34You wait here and we'll go and get Grannie Island.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39- She can bring her tractor.- All right, then, but hurry up, hurry up!
0:06:39 > 0:06:40Baa-aa-aa!
0:06:40 > 0:06:47Don't you worry, Alecina, we'll soon have you safe and sound in no time.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Huh, I'm a silly old fool, right enough.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53There's me worrying about the shinty,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57thinking it's the most important thing on Earth.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Well, there's things that are far more important.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05'Struay people and Coll people are usually the best of friends.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09'Except when it comes to the annual shinty match.'
0:07:09 > 0:07:11They don't look like much.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15MOTHER: Really? Look not too bad to me.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18I think they look really fit.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Welcome to Struay, lads.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Oh! Thanks for bringing the trophy with you.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Be sure to take a nice long look
0:07:26 > 0:07:29cos you won't be seeing it again for a while.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31LAUGHTER
0:07:31 > 0:07:34If you'd like to make your way up to the Post Office
0:07:34 > 0:07:37we've put on a nice wee spread for you.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Welcome.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42So that's why you made all those rock cakes.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46There's nothing in the Camanachd Association rule book
0:07:46 > 0:07:49- against stuffing the opposition up with stodge.- Oh!
0:07:49 > 0:07:53KATIE: 'We got to Grannie Island's super-quick
0:07:53 > 0:07:57'but by the time we got back Neilly Beag had disappeared.'
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Neilly Beag! Neilly Beag!
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Oh, I think it was a two-man job after all.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15I'll go and get a rope.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24'Thank goodness Grannie Island was there.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28'She tied a rope to her tractor and then threw it down to Neilly Beag.'
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Get this round you.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51Right, Neilly?
0:08:51 > 0:08:55'Me and Agnes were really worried, but before we knew it Neilly Beag
0:08:55 > 0:09:00- 'and Alecina had been pulled back up to safety.'- Here we go, Neilly!
0:09:03 > 0:09:05That's it.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Come on Alecina, come on.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12Oh, there you go, Neilly boy, well done you.
0:09:12 > 0:09:13That's it.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18You can run away home, Alecina.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Oh, sure feels good to be on solid ground...!
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- Oh!- Are you OK?
0:09:24 > 0:09:26I'm absolutely fine.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Oh!
0:09:29 > 0:09:31I think I've twisted my ankle.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34- Ach, you silly old bodach. - Give me your hand, ey?
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Aye, well there'll be no more dancing for you. Come on.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- I can't put weight on it. - Oh, come on, man.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42CHEERING AND SHOUTING
0:09:43 > 0:09:47And there's Aster Marsh in the Struay penalty box.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49And it's... Oh, no!
0:09:49 > 0:09:51CHEERING
0:09:51 > 0:09:56Coll have equalised. It's Struay two, Coll two.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58And if it stays that way,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02Coll will be taking the trophy home with them and keeping it for good.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04This is an absolute d...
0:10:04 > 0:10:07It's a disaster. Where's Neilly Beag when you need him?
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- Thought he was "past it." - He can't be any worse than this lot!
0:10:11 > 0:10:13I can't believe he's not here yet.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16It's probably my fault, I hurt his feelings.
0:10:16 > 0:10:22- Oh, I've looked everywhere. There's no sign of them.- I'll try my mother.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26- It's looking good for Struay. - SHE MOUTHS
0:10:26 > 0:10:29In the old days they might have hoped for a moment of magic
0:10:29 > 0:10:32from legendary forward Neilly Beag.
0:10:32 > 0:10:33PHONE RINGS
0:10:39 > 0:10:40Hello?
0:10:40 > 0:10:41Yes.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43I'll hand him right over.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45It's for you.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Hello?
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Oh, no!
0:10:50 > 0:10:52What?
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Me? But...
0:10:55 > 0:10:56All right.
0:10:58 > 0:11:04Struay are going to lose the cup. They're asking me to play now.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06But I can't, it's impossible.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Oh, no!
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Struay desperately need a goal now
0:11:14 > 0:11:18but Coll's defence have built a seemingly impregnable wall.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Every passing second takes us closer to humiliation
0:11:22 > 0:11:25of this once mighty island team.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30SHOUTING
0:11:40 > 0:11:44- Peter, I'm here! Get me onto the pitch.- You've got to be kidding me.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Oh, my goodness. What happened?
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Ach, it was nothing, I just fell off a cliff.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- I can't put you on in a buggy. - Why not?
0:11:55 > 0:11:59- There's nothing in the rule book against it.- Exactly.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Mr Ferryman, off the pitch.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03Caman, caman, caman.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06You're substituted, Mr Ferryman,
0:12:06 > 0:12:10It's a last-minute substitution by the Struay manager.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Mr Ferryman is off and Neilly Beag...
0:12:12 > 0:12:15'We rolled Neilly Beag into the Coll penalty area
0:12:15 > 0:12:18'and turned him to face oncoming players.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22'And, then, everything seemed to happen in slow motion.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27'It was as if Neilly Beag knew where the ball
0:12:27 > 0:12:30'was going to go before the player had even hit it.'
0:12:40 > 0:12:43NO SOUND
0:12:49 > 0:12:52NO SOUND
0:12:54 > 0:12:57NO SOUND
0:13:03 > 0:13:05WHISTLE
0:13:05 > 0:13:07CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:13:18 > 0:13:21'So, Struay won the match and Dad said
0:13:21 > 0:13:23'it would go down in the history books
0:13:23 > 0:13:27'as one of the greatest games of shinty ever.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31'Everyone said Neilly Beag was a hero
0:13:31 > 0:13:33'and they rushed up to ask for his autograph.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37'But the more I thought about it, the odder it seemed.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40'Neilly Beag wasn't a hero cos he scored a goal,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43'not even a goal as important as that,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45'he was a hero cos he saved Alecina.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48'But I guess that's not the kind of thing
0:13:48 > 0:13:50'they would put in history books.'