Kilkenny Soccer: Draws made for opening rounds of Maher Shield

The Kilkenny & District League have made the draws for the first two rounds of the 2018/19 Maher Shield.

Defending champions Evergreen A have earned a first round bye and await the winners of the Tullaroan - who are back in the Kilkenny & District League - and Newpark clash in round two.

Highview Athletic, beaten finalists last season, will be hoping to go one better this time. They start their campaign with a home tie against Freshford Town. Local pride will be at stake when Brookville entertain neighbours Deen Celtic, while Freebooters will entertain River Rangers on the Fair Green.

The games will mark the start of the new junior soccer season for all clubs, with the opening two rounds to be played in August. The junior league campaigns will kick-off on the first weekend in September.

Maher Shield, first round draw

Brookville v Deen Celtic

Lions v Evergreen B

Highview Athletic v Freshford Town

Tullaroan v Newpark

Bridge United v St John’s

Freebooters v River Rangers

Thomastown United v Ormonde Villa

Byes: Callan United, Paulstown 06, East End United, Castlewarren Celtic, Fort Rangers, Clover United, Evergreen A, Stoneyford United, Spa United.

First round games will be played on August 19

Second Round

Spa United v Fort Rangers

Paulstown 06 v Castlewarren Celtic

Lions or Evergreen B v Thomastown United or Ormonde Villa

Freebooters or River Rangers v Stoneyford United

Clover United v Brookville or Deen Celtic

Evergreen A v Tullaroan or Newpark

Callan United v Bridge United or St John’s

Highview Athletic or Freshford Town v East End United

Second round games to be played on August 26

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