Kilkenny 2018 SHL: Dicksboro face The Village in county final repeat

The 2018 Kilkenny senior hurling league/championship will get off to a cracking start when county champions, Dicksboro, face city rivals James Stephens in what is a repeat of this year's county final.
The draws made at annual County Board Convention tonight threw up a real sizzler to kick start proceedings.

Henry Shefflin will take his bow as manager of Ballyhale Shamrocks with a game against champions of 2016, O'Loughlin Gaels.
The full draws are:
Senior hurling league/championship
Group A - Ballyhale Shamrocks v O'Loughlin Gaels; Danesfort v Rower-Inistioge; Bennettsbridge v Erin's Own (Castlecomer).
Group B - St Patrick's (Ballyragget) v Clara; Dicksboro v James Stephens; Mullinavat v Carrickshock.
Intermediate hurling league/championship
Group A - Thomastown v Tullogher Rosbercon; St Lachtain's (Freshford) v Tullaroan; Glenmore v Griague-Ballycallan.
Group B - John Lockes (Callan) v Young Irelands (Gowran); Mooncoin v Lisdowney; Fenians (Johnstown) v St Martin's (Muckalee).
Junior hurling league/championship
Group A - Barrow Rangers (Paulstown) v Emeralds (Urlingford); Piltown v Conahy Shamrocks; Windgap v Dunnamaggin.
Group B - Cloneen v Graignamanagh; Blacks and Whites v Galmoy; Slieverue v Kilmacow.
Section B (senior and intermediate clubs fielding second teams)
One group - Tullaroan v Clara; Dicksboro v O'Loughlin Gaels; Rower-Inistioge v St Patrick's; James Stephens v Ballyhale Shamrocks.