North Caledonian League champions Loch Ness to travel to Luncarty for first ever Scottish Cup tie after draw for preliminary round made

Loch Ness have discovered their first ever Scottish Cup opponents.

Qualifying for this season's competition by winning the 2022/23 North Caledonian League, Shane Carling's men will travel to Luncarty for the first preliminary round.

Luncarty are newcomers to the East of Scotland Premier Division after earning promotion from the First Division, and qualified for the Scottish Cup by virtue of winning the Alex Jack Cup and Cup Winners' Shield last season.

Should Loch Ness make it into the second preliminary round, they will have another, even farther, away day.

That is because the winner of the tie between Loch Ness and Luncarty has been drawn away to South of Scotland League side Newton Stewart, based in Dumfries and Galloway.

Newton Stewart finished fifth out of 12 in the South of Scotland League last time around, and also reached the first round proper of the 22/23 Scottish Cup, beating Preston Athletic in the preliminary round before losing out to the Caledonian Braves.

First preliminary round matches will take place on the weekend of August 12, while second preliminary round matches will take place on the weekend of September 2.

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