Four jam-packed weeks followed by a lengthy delay

IF DOMESTIC club action is what really floats your sporting boat, then make the most of this coming weekend’s second round hurling games because it will be a long time before the next phase takes place.

It must be extremely frustrating for dual players to get the matches they truly desire for four weeks on the trot, only for the competitions to then come to an abrupt halt just when they are beginning to get interesting and momentum is starting to build.

That issue won’t be solved any time soon sadly, with the local C.C.C.C. powerless to come up with a more satisfying formula in conjunction with the clubs for as long as the inter-county juggernaut is allowed to dictate throughout the months of May and June.

As I stood in the biting cold and rain in a bleak Bree on Sunday, with the wind piercing my back as if I had insulted its mother, the thought occurred to me that the conditions will more than likely be the exact same when the adult championships are concluded in October and November.

In the meantime, probably the finest weather of the year will arrive at a time when the fields of Wexford lie barren, save for a series of All-County League games that nobody in their right mind really cares about. I long for the day when I can watch our clubs playing meaningful games throughout the summer months, but I’m not confident that it will ever happen.

With that rant over, it’s time for a swift look at the second round games in the Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship.

Enthusiasts will be able to take in all six games, as the action starts with a Taghmon double-header on Saturday (Fethard v. Rapparees at 2 p.m., and St. Martin’s v. Faythe Harriers at 3.30 p.m.).

From there it will be up the road to Bellefield for the 6 p.m. clash of Rathnure and Oulart-The Ballagh, followed by Naomh Eanna against Glynn-Barntown at 7.30 p.m.

And it will be back to the Enniscorthy venue on Sunday, with St. Anne’s meeting Ferns St. Aidan’s at 2 p.m., and Shelmaliers taking on Oylegate-Glenbrien at 3.30 p.m.

I only saw two of the six Senior games last weekend, so I’m not in the best position to judge, but I would expect the Rapps, St. Martin’s, Rathnure, Naomh Eanna, Ferns and Oylegate-Glenbrien to win the games outlined above.

It wouldn’t surprise me if I get it wrong in relation to the first game in Bellefield, as Oulart-The Ballagh are well capable of beating their long-time rivals from under the shadows of the Blackstairs Mountains.

However, I expect St. Martin’s to record another comfortable win, while Rapparees will have to really earn it against Fethard but I was impressed by their overall display in New Ross last Saturday.

Funnily enough, the Friday fare in Bellefield actually provided positive answers to the two questions posed in relation to Oylegate-Glenbrien and Oulart-The Ballagh.

Yes, the boys in blue are most definitely the real deal, but their near neighbours haven’t gone away either and they may well upset another contender or two before the year is out.

Fair enough, by all accounts Oulart-The Ballagh played second fiddle for a long period, but by game’s end they were just one point adrift and that’s the only time when the scoreboard really matters.

It’s a new experience for Naomh Eanna to be perched high on the pedestal with everybody eager to claim their scalp, and they can expect more of the same throughout this campaign after taking all of their time to pip Rathnure in their first defence.

At the other end of the spectrum, it was sad to see St. Anne’s producing such a limp display in their thrashing by St. Martin’s.

The last thing that proud club will look for is sympathy, though, and while they have given themselves the tag of early favourites for relegation, their team will be transformed when Dee and Liam Og return.

There’s a long time from now until late August/early September when the final places in the groups will be decided, and that’s the other, more helpful, side of the lengthy gap between fixtures.

At least it offers those with long-term injuries sufficient time to recover before the main issues are decided, and many will be grateful to have that opportunity.