Interprovincial football: The interprovincial football semi-finals' profile has been further eroded by the unavailability for Munster of 13 Kerry players who started last September's All-Ireland final. Because of the International Rules series and club commitments only defenders Mike McCarthy and Aidan O'Mahony are available for Sunday's match against Ulster.
"There are a lot of back matches in various Kerry championships due to everything being put on hold while the senior intercounty team was in the championship," said Munster manager and Kerry selector Ger O'Keeffe.
"A lot of players in Kerry in particular have club commitments with junior or divisional sides. Having been part of the Kerry management that delayed the club activities I am hardly going to take players, as Munster manager, away from their clubs."
GAA president Seán Kelly and main sponsor Martin Donnelly insisted this was the most suitable time of year to hold the football and hurling competitions despite the clash with several other GAA events.
For example, the Tipperary footballers and Westmeath hurlers, as winners of the Tommy Murphy and Christy Ring Cups respectively, have just returned from trips to New York.
Munster training will start this Saturday, 24 hours before the match against a slightly less disjointed Ulster team in Crossmaglen. The local attraction is hindered as players from hosts Crossmaglen Rangers are unavailable due to club commitments.
The Kerryman has Cork's John Corcoran, Clare's Noel Walsh and Billy Lee of Limerick as his selectors. The panel includes nine players from Cork, five from Limerick and four from Tipperary, including All Star forward Declan Browne.
Ulster manager Brian McEniff has managed to name a strong line-up, captained by Armagh's Steven McDonnell, despite the availability of just four players from last year's winning team. They are Enda McNulty, Marty McGrath, Dan Gordon and Derry's Paddy Bradley.
"At last we are ready for the game after weeks of searching for available players," said McEniff. "This had been the most difficult year since I first took over as manager in 1983. So many players are unavailable because of other commitments it was unbelievable."
Derry full back Kevin McCloy is preferred to Fermanagh's 2004 All Star Barry Owens, who is named as a replacement.
Meanwhile, the Oireachtas Cup returns to the GAA calendar for the first time in six years with Cork meeting Galway in Páirc Uí Rinn this Bank Holiday Monday at 3.30pm.
The repeat of the hurling All-Ireland final is organised by the Oireachtas committee as part of Cork's 'capital of culture' celebrations. However, most of the All-Ireland champions will be absent.
"I don't think any of our first 15 will be available as lots of fellas are away," said Cork manager John Allen.
"Ronan Curran and John Gardiner are just two who have been invited over to America by the Chicago GAA Board and I will not be looking for the Newtownshandrum lads to play either."
The players involved in the Munster hurling side that travels to Boston to play Leinster in the interprovincial final on November 6th are not expected to feature.
"We will meet tonight (Wednesday) to pick a team but I expect no official training before mid-January. I want to give the players time and don't want to start back too early," added Allen who will perform the official opening of the Oireachtas festival in Cork city hall (7.pm Monday).
The Oireachtas Cup previously ran from 1939 to 1999, with the last final postponed until December 3rd 2000 when Kilkenny beat Galway 4-6 to 0-12. However, a permanent revival of the competition appears unlikely.
MUNSTER (panel v Ulster): J Considine, K Dilleen, R Donnelly (all Clare), C McCarthy, D Duggan, F Gould, J Masters, K McMahon, K O'Sullivan, K O'Connor, N Geary, N Murphy (all Cork), A O'Mahony, K Donaghy, M McCarthy, P Kelly (All Kerry), C Fitzgerald, J Galvin, J McCarthy, T Stack, S Kiely (all Limerick), B Lacey, D Browne, N Curran, P Fitzgerald (all Tipperary), G Hurney, L Ó'Lionain (both Waterford).
ULSTER (v Munster): J Reilly (Cavan); K McGuckin (Derry), K McCloy (Derry), E McNulty (Armagh); A Forde (Cavan), C Gormley (Tyrone), A Mallon (Armagh); D Gordon (Down), M McGrath (Fermanagh); C Toye (Donegal), M Lyng (Cavan), P Finlay (Monaghan); T Freeman (Monaghan), P Bradley (Derry), S McDonnell (capt, Armagh). Subs: P McConnell (Tyrone), B Owens (Fermanagh), D Diver (Donegal), A O'Rourke (Armagh), B Monaghan (Donegal), C Holmes (Tyrone), D Clerkin (Monaghan), R Mellon (Tyrone), L Doyle (Down).
