Inter-county sides set for hockey and football contests

One of the biggest sporting weekends in the Northern Isles is set to resume in all its glory.

Orkney and Shetland will go head-to-head in the senior inter-county football and hockey fixtures, with this year marking the first time since 2019 that the Lady Hamilton Cup prize will be contested.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the hockey rivalry between the two sides will finally resume — although Orkney did get the better of their rivals during this season’s successful Scottish District Cup campaign.

Orkney last tasted defeat against Shetland in 2003 and are bidding to extend their outstanding winning run to a 17th successive time in the 86th Lady Hamilton Cup fixture.

The Orkney squad is: Gemma Montgomery, Claire Irvine, Lauren Gilmour, Hannah Cromarty, Ann Lennie, Aimee Drever, Kazia Watson, Lynn Cursiter, Donna Wilson (captain), Erika Poke, Eilidh Dowell, Paula Bonner, Inga Kemp, Jennie Purnell, Katrina Garson, Amy Tait, Isla Donaldson and Alice Bowen.

From the hockey pitch, focus will turn to the football pitch at Picky.

Twelve months on from that historic victory in Shetland — Orkney’s first for 40 years — Orkney will bid for their first back-to-back Milne Cup victories since 1972 and 1973.

The Orkney squad is: Liam Valentine (Thorfinn), Findley Cooper (Rovers), Steve Hellewell (Hotspurs), Lee Rendall (East United), Connan Rendall (Rovers), Dan Hourston (Hotspurs), Wayne Kirkness (Thorfinn), DJ Moffat (Thorfinn), Erik Bews (Thorfinn), Jon Tait (Rovers), Aiden Drever (Hotspurs), Owen Rendall (Hotspurs), Thorfinn Stout (Thorfinn), Liam Delday (Thorfinn), Jamie Flett (Stromness) and Craig Harrison (Thorfinn).

The hockey match will begin at 12 noon, while the football match kicks off at the earlier-than-normal time of 2.30pm.