With somewhere in the region of 50 players currently part of Derek Lyng’s pre-season training plan at UPMC Nowlan Park, it won’t be too long before the new Kilkenny senior hurling manager takes to the field for his first competitive game in charge.
Thanks to an early start for the Walsh Cup, beginning in the days after the Keogh and O’Byrne cups opening fixtures, we’ll be seeing what should largely be an experimental Kilkenny side take to the field on Sunday 8 January.
Having been drawn in the second group, Kilkenny will be rubbing shoulders with Laois, Offaly and Wexford while Antrim, Dublin, Westmeath and Galway will contest the first group. The top two sides will contest this year’s Walsh Cup final ahead of the start of the national hurling league in February.
It is expected that Kilkenny’s home games will be held at John Locke Park in Callan.
Kilkenny’s 2023 Walsh Cup Fixtures
- Round 1: Kilkenny v Offaly, Sunday 8 January
- Round 2: Laois v Kilkenny, Sunday 15 January
- Round 3: Wexford v Kilkenny, Saturday 21 January (late throw-in)
This year’s final will be heading to Croke Park on Saturday 28 January.
