Ynys Môn men emulate women by reaching island games final for first time since 2001

Huge thanks to photographer Aled Jones for covering THREE matches for us on Thursday

Ynys Môn men emulated their women’s team by reaching the final of the Huws Gray 2019 Inter-Island Games Football Tournament on Thursday evening.

Campbell Harrison and Iwan Williams’ side defeated Shetland 2-1 at Llangefni to make their first final since 2001.

Anglesey now meet Guernsey in today’s showpiece game at Holyhead Hotspur’s New Stadium, kick-off 6.30pm.

Ynys Môn have won International Island Games gold at football just once previously, back in 1999 when current manager Harrison was part of the team which beat Isle of Man 1-0 in the final in Gotland.

Thursday’s semi triumph over Shetland was hard-earned.

Sam Jones, who recently signed for Caernarfon Town, made it 1-0 in the 10th minute with a calm back-post finish from a Cai Powell-Roberts cross.

And young talent Jones added a second before the break, giving Anglesey a well-deserved 2-0 lead.

However, anyone thinking the hosts had one foot firmly in the final were in for a rude awakening as Shetland upped their game in the second period.

Ronan Grant pulled one back for the visitors, but despite creating several other chances they could not take one and Ynys Môn advanced to the final.

The other semi was a thriller which saw Guernsey emerge victorious 3-2 over the Isle of Man at Gwalchmai.

HUWS GRAY YNYS MÔN INTER-ISLAND GAMES FOOTBALL RESULTS DAY FIVE – THURSDAY, JUNE 20

MEN’S TOURNAMENT

Semi-finals
Ynys Môn 2 (Sam Jones 2) Shetland Islands 1 (Ronan Grant) – at Llangefni
Isle of Man 2 (Rhys Oates, Chris Bass) Guernsey 3 (Will Fazakerley, Matt Loaring 2) – at Gwalchmai

Ninth place play-off
Western Isles 2 (Robert Jones, Robert Shirke) St Helena 1 (Rico Benjamin) – at Aberffraw

Seventh place play-off
Orkney 1 (Owen Rendall) Alderney 2 (Josh McCullough, Joe Blackham) – at Glantraeth

Fifth place play-off
Jersey 3 (Kieran Lester, Jay Giles, Adam Trotter) Hitra 1 (Sindre Kvakland) – at Bodedern Athletic