Kelty Hearts will begin their 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup campaign away to Queen of the South at Palmerston Park.

The first fixture in Group A of the Premier Sports Cup sees the Maroon Machine take on a familiar foe who we shared a division with last season. Meanwhile in the group, Queen’s Park host Brora Rangers while Premiership Aberdeen have a free week.

Thomas O’Ware’s Kelty Hearts squad will begin competitive action after getting some much needed minutes in the leagues during pre-season. Seven signings have been made over the summer who are all in contention for their first competitive appearance in Maroon.

Thomas O’Ware previewed the cup campaign by telling Kelty Hearts TV: “The Premier Sports Cup games are the competitive action you need as a squad to move up to the next level of fitness. It will show us where we are as squad, we know right now we have three or four still to come in, but hopefully by the end of the groups we’ll be more ready for the season to begin.

“It’s three full time teams we’ve been drawn against, we know that the games will be tough but that’s what we want. We wan games which will stretch us, challenge us and will show our weaknesses in terms of how we can work on them before the season starts.”

For the opponents, the Doonhamers have had a busy summer themselves. Peter Murphy left the club at the end of last season after losing out to eventual promotion play-off winners Stenhousemuir. Former Rangers, Dundee United and St Johnstone striker Nicky Clark has made the switch from player to manager this season and will be in the dugout for the upcoming campaign.

The Dumfries side have only made two signings so far this summer, signing experienced goalkeeper Trevor Carson who spent last season at Ross County and bringing former loanee Zander MacKenzie to the club on a full-time basis. They will be without their former captain and former Kelty midfielder Reece Lyon who made the step up in the summer to join Gary Naysmith’s new-look Ayr United.

The two sides met four times last season, with both teams scoring in each meeting. Kelty Hearts were held to a 1-1 draw in both meetings at New Central Park, with loanees Ricco Diack and Sam Fisher on the scoresheet. Queen of the South came out on top in the meetings at Palmerston, winning 2-1 and 3-1.

Written by: Jamie Szmitz

Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)