The return of intercounty pre-season competitions sees Kilkenny play for the first time next year in the Walsh Cup in January.
The draw for the Leinster pre-season competition was made on Thursday with seven counties involved in the competition across two groups.
Brian Cody’s side have been drawn in Group B alongside neighbours’ Laois and Wexford.
First up for the 2021 Leinster champions is a home clash with Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s Laois team at 2pm on January 16th.
One week later, Kilkenny will travel to Wexford as the Yellowbellies begin the post-Davy Fitzgerald era. That game throws-in at 2pm.
The final of the competition will take place on Sunday, January 30th at 2pm with the winners of both respective groups set to do battle.
Group A consists of Henry Shefflin’s Galway, an Offaly side under the stewardship of Michael Fennelly as well as Dublin and Antrim.
10-time All-Ireland winner Shefflin’s first game in charge of Galway will be against Antrim while Fennelly’s second season in charge of Offaly begins with his team hosting Mattie Kenny’s Dublin.
Walsh Cup 2022 groups:
Group A
Galway
Offaly
Antrim
Dublin
Group B
Kilkenny
Laois
Wexford
Round 1 fixtures (January 9):
Group A:
Dublin vs Antrim – 2pm in Dublin
Antrim vs Galway – 2pm in Abbotstown
Group B:
Laois vs Wexford – 2pm in Laois
Round 2 fixtures (January 16):
Dublin vs Galway – 2pm in Dublin
Offaly vs Antrim – 2pm in Offaly
Group B:
Kilkenny vs Laois – 2pm in Kilkenny
Round 3 fixtures (23 January):
Group A:
Antrim vs Galway – 2pm in Abbottstown
Offaly vs Dublin – 2pm in Offaly
Group B:
Wexford vs Kilkenny – 2pm in Kilkenny
Final (30 January):
Winner Group B v Winner Group A
