THE diminishing spectator appeal of the Railway Cup series is hardly news anymore, but a growing disregard by players for the football competition this week compounds the competition's problems.
The unavailability of Tony Boyle, Donegal's prolific full forward, combined with the apathy of a majority of Brian McEniff's Ulster squad towards next Sunday's clash with Munster in Clones, underlines its diminishing status.
Boyle will be opting out of Sunday's match to fulfil his role as Donegal's vice-captain against Galway in a festival game in Manchester that is part of the lead-up to the St Patrick's Day celebrations in that city.
For such a low-profile match to command precedence over a Railway Cup semi-final would have been unthinkable during the heady days of the interprovincial championship.
It remains to be seen if Derry manager, Brian Mullins releases Tony Scullion, Brian McGilligan and Joe Brolly from McKenna Cup duty against Antrim on Sunday. The Railway Cup clash has already been postponed on January 28th and again on February 18th because of ground conditions.
Ulster's training ground at Augher in Tyrone last week provided further evidence of the low esteem in which the players now hold the series. McEniff could only muster "single figures" for a training session that he was forced to call off.
When McEniff sets about naming his side today for Sunday's match, he will not only have to plan without Boyle, but also without a host of quality players reported to be injured. The walking wounded are Down's Ross Carr, Tyrone's Seamus McCallan and Donegal's Noel Hegarty.
Kieran McGeeney is likely to be drafted into defence for McCallan at centre back. Either Armagh's Martin McQuillan or Cavan's Aidan Connolly could replace Hegarty, with Joe Brolly - if released by Mullins - the likely replacement for Boyle. Cavan's Ronan Carolan is the obvious replacement for Carr.
Ulster could still field a very formidable full forward line: Down's Mickey Linden, Tyrone's Peter Canavan and Brolly.
Meanwhile, Galway wing forward Liam Burke has been ruled out of Sunday week's final National Hurling League Division One game against Kerry. His injury in last Sunday's dash with Waterford has been diagnosed as a broken bone in his left hand. A win for Galway would place them in the League semifinals on April 28th.
Fergal Hartley, Waterford's player of the year and team captain, is a doubtful starter against Offaly on Sunday week following injury in last Sunday's Dungarvan game. Hartley sustained a damaged ankle and will not train this week.
Dublin are requesting that their refixed National Hurling League Division Two hurling match with Laois on Sunday be postponed due to players commitments on what is a football Sunday. They propose that the match be played on Saturday March 16th instead.
However, Laois will not agree to a postponement, and neither were the Games Administration Committee up to late last night. Dublin have a full senior football championship programme scheduled for Parnell Park, the agreed venue for Sunday's inter-county clash.
