Orkney prepares for huge inter-county weekend

July 27, 2018 at 1:09 pm

The Pickaquoy Centre pitch on Friday morning ahead of this weekend’s Milne Cup clash.

Final preparations surrounding the Milne Cup 100 match are underway, as the final countdown begins to one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.

Shetland’s hockey and football sides travel south for the annual senior inter-county weekend, with the 100th football clash for the Milne Cup the star attraction.

Both sides are desperate for a historic victory in front of what is sure to attract a bumper crowd at a revamped Pickaquoy Centre pitch.

Advertising boards will line the pitch, while there will be also be tents to view the spectacle from.

A dinner dance event, with Aberdeen great Joe Harper the guest speaker, will be held on Saturday night, as well as a Milne Cup veterans match on Sunday at 1pm.

Orkney manager Karl Adamson has named his side for the match, with no fewer than six players in line to gain their first caps against Shetland.

The Kirkwall Thorfinn trio of Kyle Drever, Liam Delday and Jack Stout, plus Stromness duo Graeme Bain and Jamie Flett, and Hotspurs’ Owen Rendall are all named in the squad for the first time.

The match is set to kick-off at 2pm.

Prior to that, Orkney’s hockey side are eyeing up a 15th consecutive Lady Hamilton Cup when they take on Shetland at 12 noon at the Pickaquoy all-weather pitch.

The experienced squad has not tasted defeat against Shetland since 2002, and following last year’s 2-1 victory, the Scottish District Cup holders will be confident they can get the better of the Shetlanders once more.

Orkney football side: Cameron McConnachie, Ryan McFerran, Steven Hellewell, DJ Moffat, Thorfinn Stout, Connan Rendall, Craig Gillon, Jack Stout, Graeme Bain, Owen Rendall, Kyle Drever, David Delday, Liam Delday, Jamie Flett, Sam Hunter and Gary Skea.

Orkney hockey side: Lynn Cursiter, Raeann Hutchison, Ilona Foubister, Hannah Cromarty, Lauren Gilmour, Kayla Smith, Donna Wilson, Amy Berry, Jennie Pickles, Aimee Drever, Paula Bonner, Joanne Pottinger, Lisa Groundwater, Inga Kemp, Bethin Macdonald, Claire Rendall, Elsa Bain and Charlotte Bruce.