Wexford selector Seoirse Bulfin admits they’ve been handed a very demanding Leinster Championship schedule.
For the second year running, Wexford’s campaign gets underway a week after their four competitors’ and this season they start with successive away trips, to Dublin this Sunday and then Galway seven days later.
Last year Wexford had to play their four round robin games on consecutive weekends though this time they’ll enjoy a two-week break after the Galway game before facing Carlow.
Reflecting on last year, Bulfin said: “The way the draw worked out we had a bye in the first round, and I definitely think it is an advantage to have a game.
“We came in very cold and Dublin had put in a tremendous performance against Kilkenny, they were just pipped at the end.
“To be honest we were very lucky to get out of jail against Dublin at home. We got the last couple of scores. This year we have to travel to Parnell Park seven days after they played Kilkenny which is great preparation to get in the first round.
“If you play Kilkenny, that is a great first round to get. We will be under a lot of pressure to perform when you are coming in cold. It is what it is so we will just have to get on with it and deal with it.”
Wexford are the only county in either Leinster or Munster to start with two away games though Bulfin added: “It is just a quirk of the draw to be away to Dublin and Galway. There will be no easy game in either Munster or Leinster. Having two away games first is definitely a challenge.
“Realistically we can't be looking beyond the Dublin game for now because, so many things can happen with injuries that we are looking at the Dublin game.
“We will reassess after that to look at the Galway game, but two away games is a difficult ask to start with, definitely.”
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