Kildare hurlers drawn against Kilkenny in Walsh Cup; Footballers face Longford and Louth

The Kildare hurlers will have a big glamour tie in the early stages of 2018 after they were drawn against Brian Cody's Kilkenny in the group stages of the O'Byrne Cup.

The Lilywhites will come up against the Cats in the second game of the group, but they will open their campaign on December 30 when they play host to Laois in the first round. The winners of each group will progress through to the semi-finals of the competition.

Elsewhere, Cian O'Neill's footballers will have a January 3 start when they play either Longford or Louth in their opening game of the O'Byrne Cup. The Lilywhites lost at the semi-final stage in 2017 to an understrength Dublin side that went on to win the O'Byrne Cup, and the reigning All-Ireland champions are in a group alongside Offaly and Wexford.

2018 Walsh Cup draw

Group 1 Wexford Carlow Wicklow

Group 2 Kilkenny Kildare Laois

Group 3 Dublin Antrim Meath

Group 4 Offaly Westmeath

Dates: Dec 30, Jan 3, Jan 7. Semi-finals: Jan 14. Final: Jan 21.

Opening Fixtures: Carlow v Wicklow, Kildare v Laois, Meath v Antrim, Offaly v Westmeath.

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2018 O'Byrne Cup draw:

Group 1 Dublin Offaly Wexford

Group 2 Kildare Louth Longford

Group 3 Meath Carlow Wicklow

Group 4 Westmeath Laois

Dates: Dec 30, Jan 3, Jan 7. Semi-finals Jan 13/14. Final Jan 20/21.

Opening Fixtures: Offaly v Wexford, Louth v Longford, Wicklow v Carlow, Westmeath v Laois.

Format: Round robin with first placed team advancing to semi-finals. Westmeath and Laois play each other home and away with aggregate score deciding who tops Group 4.