New boss Shefflin faces another former Kilkenny hero in his first Galway outing

IT won’t be taking long for new Galway hurling team manager Henry Shefflin to be reunited with his Kilkenny past

For on Sunday, January 9, the Noreside legend faces a sideline collision with former Kilkenny teammate Michael Fennelly.

Not alone that, Shefflin and Fennelly both hail from Ballyhale, a club they helped inspire to a multitude of county and All-Ireland triumphs.

But they will be in opposition camps when Galway host Offaly in the opening round of the revived Walsh Cup in Ballinasloe on the second Sunday of January.

Adding further intrigue to that fixture is that former Galway U21 manager Johnny Kelly and Portumna player Johnny Kelly is continuing to assist team boss Fennelly in his coaching role.

Following that outing, Galway face further Walsh Cup group ties against Antrim in Abbotstown on Sunday, January 16, and Dublin at Parnell Park on Sunday, January 23. The final is scheduled for the final Sunday of the month.

Galway have also drawn Offaly in the opening round of the National League, but that game will be staged at Pearse Stadium on Sunday, February 6.

The Tribesmen’s other league fixtures are: away to All-Ireland champions Limerick on Saturday, February 12; home to Wexford on Sunday, February 27; away to Cork on Saturday, March 5; home to Clare on Sunday, March 20.

Though Galway’s path won’t be crossing with Kilkenny in the league unless they meet in the knock-out stages, a potential Pearse Stadium sell-out is on the cards when the counties collide in their Leinster Championship round-robin fixture on the weekend of April 30/May 1.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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