HENRY SHEFFLIN’S FIRST game in charge of Galway will see him go up against his Ballyhale Shamrocks club-mate Michael Fennelly, who will be at the helm of Offaly, for the Walsh Cup opener in January.
Shefflin’s Galway have been drawn in Group A of the pre-season Leinster hurling competition with Dublin, Antrim and Offaly. The first match sees them entertain Offaly in Ballinasloe on Sunday 9 January, where Shefflin will be pitted against Fennelly, who he enjoyed huge success with in the Ballyhale and Kilkenny ranks.
The same day sees Tipperary All-Ireland winner Darragh Egan take charge of Wexford for his first game, when they travel to play Laois. Kilkenny have a bye in that group on the opening weekend.
In the O’Byrne Cup, which begins in Leinster on the previous day on Saturday 8 January, Dessie Farrell’s Dublin are away to Offaly in their opening clash, the Faithful now having Tomás Ó Sé amongst their management ranks. That is in Group A, where Longford also play Louth.
In the Group B action Wicklow, now under the guidance of Colin Kelly, will take on Meath, while Billy Sheehan will start out as Laois manager with a trip to face Wexford.
In Group C, the schedule commences with Glenn Ryan beginning life as Kildare boss with a tie against Westmeath.
Here’s the full set of fixtures:
2022 O’Byrne Cup
*First named teams at home
Saturday 8 January – (All games 2pm)
Group A
- Longford v Louth
- Offaly v Dublin
Group B
- Wicklow v Meath
- Wexford v Laois
Group C
- Kildare v Westmeath
Wednesday 12 January – (All games 7.30pm)
Group A
- Dublin v Louth
- Offaly v Longford
Group B
- Wicklow v Wexford
- Laois v Meath
Group C
- Carlow v Kildare
Saturday 15 January – (Time TBC)
Group A
- Longford v Dublin
- Louth v Offaly
Group B
- Laois v Wicklow
- Meath v Wexford
Group C
- Westmeath v Carlow
Semi-final: Wednesday 19 January, 7.30pm – Winner Group B v Winner Group C.
Final: Saturday 22 January – Winner semi-final v Winner Group A
2022 Walsh Cup
*First named teams at home unless stated
Sunday 9 January – (All games 2pm)
Group A
- Dublin v Antrim
- Galway v Offaly
Group B
- Laois v Wexford
- Kilkenny a bye
Sunday 16 January – (All games 2pm)
Group A
- Dublin v Galway
- Offaly v Antrim
Group B
- Kilkenny v Laois
- Wexford a bye
Saturday 23 January – (All games 2pm)
Group A
- Antrim v Galway, Abbottstown
- Offaly v Dublin
Group B
- Wexford v Kilkenny
- Laois a bye
Final: Sunday 30 January – Winner Group B v Winner Group A
2022 Kehoe Cup
Round 1 – Sunday 16 January (All games 2pm)
- Carlow v Kildare
- Meath v Westmeath
Round 1 – Sunday 23 January (All games 2pm)
- Meath v Carlow
- Westmeath v Kildare
Round 1 – Sunday 30 January (All games 2pm)
- Carlow v Westmeath
- Kildare v Meath
*Winners – Team top of the table.
2022 Kehoe Shield
- Sunday 16 January - Longford v Wicklow.
- Sunday 23 January - Louth v Longford.
- Sunday 30 January – Wicklow v Louth.
