Premier Sports Cup draw throws up Lanarkshire derby clash
Motherwell, Airdrie, Hamilton, Clyde and East Kilbride learned their group-stage opponents
A Lanarkshire derby is on the cards in the Premier Sports Cup group stages, after Motherwell and Clyde were drawn in group G.
Airdrie will lock horns with Dundee again in Group C, and Hamilton face last season's rivals Dunfermline and Premiership giants Hearts in Group E.
SPFL newcomers East Kilbride face a trek, with St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, Inverness and Elgin City as Group F opponents.
Motherwell and Clyde are up against Morton, Stenhousemuir and Peterhead in Group G.
Joining Airdrie and Dundee in Group C are Alloa, Montrose and Bonnyrigg Rose.
Hamilton Accies will also face Dumbarton and Stirling Albion in Group E.
The full draw was:
Group A: Falkirk, Queen's Park, Cove Rangers, Spartans, Brechin City.
Group B: Ross County, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Edinburgh City and Stranraer.
Group C: Dundee, Airdrie, Alloa, Montrose, Bonnyrigg Rose.
Group D: St Mirren, Ayr United, Arbroath, Annan Athletic, Forfar Athletic.
Group E: Hearts, Dunfermline, Hamilton, Dumbarton, Stirling.
Group F: St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Elgin City, East Kilbride.
Group G: Motherwell, Morton, Stenhousemuir, Peterhead, Clyde.
Group H: Kilmarnock, Livingston, Kelty Hearts, East Fife, Brora Rangers.
The competition kicks off on the weekend of July 12 and 13, with further ties on July 15 or 16, 29 or 20, 22 or 23, and 26 or 27.
Eight group winners and three best runners-up will join the five clubs who qualified for Europe – Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United – in the last 16 on the weekend of August 16/17.
Quarter-finals are on the weekend of September 20 and 21, semi-finals on November 1 or 2, and the final will take place at Hampden on Sunday, December 14.
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