The frustrations of club players at an unsatisfactory programme of games is being encapsulated perfectly in the fact that this weekend’s opening series of Wexford hurling championship matches are going to be the only morsels to sustain everyone on through to most probably August at the earliest.

In the worst case scenario for Wexford’s inter-county teams, things will be back on track by late-July.

But, needless to say, here’s enthusiastically hoping that won’t be the situation.

And thus the majority of the GAA’s population – club personnel – will be left venting their spleen rather understandably at perceived ‘progress’ with the condensing of the inter-county calendar having a negative impact upon the servings dished out to them.

It must be stressed that the administrators in Wexford have been doing their best to cater as best they can for the needs of their constituents.

Regardless though, as things stand, there is just this one weekend of hurling to sustain us for another few months – and don’t even try to suggest that the All-County Leagues serve a purpose in satisfying the appetite.

So let’s just savour this oasis in the club championship’s desert, and maybe hope we have desert-like weather too to enjoy it all.

Senior competition opens with a double-header at Bellefield on Friday (Glynn-Barntown v Oulart-The Ballagh 7; St. Anne’s v St. Martin’s 8.30), and further double features on Saturday at both Innovate Wexford Park (Shelmaliers v Faythe Harriers 2; Rapparees v Buffers Alley 3.30) and Hollymount (Naomh Éanna v Rathnure 5.30; Oylegate-Glenbrien v Ferns St. Aidan’s 7).

GROUP A

ST. ANNE’S v ST. MARTIN’S: Maybe they couldn’t have imagined a tougher re-entry to senior hurling championship fare than facing the reigning champions first day out, and St. Anne’s will certainly have their work cut out in this one. Neither of the O’Connor brothers, Jack nor Rory saw action with St. Martin’s footballers in recent weeks, but that was as a consequence of respective old injuries. So the title-holders are expected to have a full-hand to deal from. St. Anne’s should be enormously honest in their endeavour, but they will be cautioned by the 7-24 to 1-14 gap which separated these sides in their last clash at this level – a round-two tie in May 2016 when the Anne’s suffered demotion.

SHELMALIERS v FAYTHE HARRIERS: Army commitments on foreign shores rob Faythe Harriers of the considerable influence of Richie Kehoe and Wayne Mallon until late-May, while Colm Heffernan is also set to be out of contention for the 2012 finalists against the champions of 2014, Shelmaliers, who dominated the last derby of its kind by 1-17 to 0-9 in round-four back in 2015. Neither side has particularly caught the eye in recent campaigns. But the ‘Harriers personnel losses look like being capitalised upon by Kenny Hearne’s Over-the-Water men.

RAPPAREES v BUFFERS ALLEY: Rapparees emerged from last year’s championship with plenty of solid interest from neutrals after their best challenge since last making the final in 2001. Their hopes were ultimately dashed last Autumn by Oulart-The Ballagh in a game which the Rapps could have won. Buffers Alley have consistently remained in the knockout stages since Aidan O’Connor brought them back out of intermediate in 2013 following a year’s absence. The side who greeted the ‘Alley on their return to senior were none other than the Rapps, with the Enniscorthy men twice goaling during that 2014 meeting in a 2-6 to 0-12 draw. Unless the weather turns horrid, there’ll be a bucket-load more scores in this renewal, in which the Rapps are given the nod.

GROUP B

GLYNN-BARNTOWN v OULART-THE BALLAGH: So we finally have it: the first senior championship meeting between these two since Glynn-Barntown’s last-gasp goal in the 2014 quarter-finals derailed Oulart’s quest for the six-in-a-row in a 1-17 to 0-19 shocker.

Michael Doyle applied the telling blow on that occasion, but it remains to be seen whether or not his influence can be a factor in this rematch after he missed both of Glynn’s opening football games in recent weeks through injury. Oulart-The Ballagh are now led by a new boss in Tipperary’s Andy Moloney following their successful stint under Frank Flannery which culminated with contesting last year’s final. Glynn have never feared Oulart and this should be another riveting affair. But Oulart are tipped to gain revenge.

NAOMH ÉANNA v RATHNURE: Gorey’s strong progress since re-emerging from intermediate ranks in 2015 saw them give eventual champions St. Martin’s a firm rattle in last year’s semi-final (2-18 to 1-14). Their prospects certainly won’t be harmed having bolstered their attack with Cathal Dunbar’s transfer to the Gorey town outfit. Rathnure are still finding their feet since the retirements of a number of those who carried them through to the final in 2011 and they returned to the business-end of affairs by making the quarter-finals last year after two years away from main affairs, although that ended with a heavy loss to the Rapps. The black-and-amber will never lack style or fight. But Gorey appear better set for this one.

OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN v FERNS ST. AIDAN’S: Ferns were conclusive 1-21 to 2-11 winners over Oylegate when last the sides met in a 2013 campaign which had very different endings for both sides; Ferns eventually making the county final for the first time since 1969, while Oylegate suffered demotion before rising again in 2016 to catch the eye last year as MJ Reck’s men won four of their five group-games en route to an exit at the quarter-final stage. Ferns, meanwhile, survived the relegation-final last year against Cloughbawn having been semi-finalists twice since their county final appearance six years ago. Both sides contain lots of quality and, in arguably the tightest call of the weekend, Oylegate gain a hesitant verdict.