Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield final: Huntly manager Allan Hale says Banks o' Dee will be big favourites to win at Inverurie Locos' Harlaw Park ground in showpiece game tonight
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HUNTLY will go all-out to end their 14-year trophy drought in tonight's Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield final.
Manager Allan Hale said his side will be "massive underdogs" when they face a Banks o' Dee side who already have the Aberdeenshire Cup sitting in their trophy cabinet.
Hale would dearly love to break his own managerial trophy duck and steer the Christie Park club to their first success since 2008.
Huntly last won the North Challenge Cup - the old Qualifying Cup - in 2007-08, and haven't appeared in a cup final since September 2008 when they were beaten 5-2 by Keith in the Aberdeenshire Cup final.
“We are massive underdogs. We know all about Banks o’ Dee and the quality they possess," said Hale.
“It’s a one-off game and I always back my players in a game like that and of course we will be going there to win the game.”
North junior Superleague leaders Banks o' Dee have already defeated Fraserburgh, Buckie Thistle, Inverurie Locos and Formartine United this season on their cup runs.
They are runaway leaders in their own division and will have the chance to play-off for an opportunity to gain promotion to the Highland League at the end of the current campaign.
One good omen for Huntly boss Hale is that he did win the Aberdeenshire Shield as a player in a Fraserburgh side which defeated Banks o' Dee 5-0 in the final at Peterhead ten years ago.
But as a manager with Maud juniors and Keith in the Highland League he missed out on trophy success.
"I’ve been in a few finals as a manager and unfortunately I’ve always come out on the losing side so it would be great to win a trophy as a manager," he said.
"Every manager and player wants to experience that and we are no different.
"I’m delighted that we can give the board, the players and the supporters a night that they will remember getting into their first final in 14 years."
Huntly defeated Turriff United 1-0, Deveronvale 2-0 and Inverurie Locos 2-1 in a thrilling semi-final to battle through to tonight's match.
Banks o' Dee beat Hermes 4-2, Keith 6-0 and Buckie Thistle on penalties after a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.
