Railway CupLeinster Railway Cup football manager Luke Dempsey has handed Carlow forward Simon Rea a key role for tomorrow's interprovincial semi-final against Ulster. Rea will start in the full-forward line, along with captain Ian Fitzgerald of Laois and Tadhg Fennin of Kildare, as Leinster set out to claim a third successive title.
The selection for the game in Enniskillen is a huge mark of recognition for the Éire Óg youngster, but Dempsey was quick to add he was chosen purely on merit.
"Simon really caught my attention when Westmeath played Carlow in the championship back in May," said Dempsey. "I've been following his form since and I feel he is as good as any forward in Leinster right now, and that's why he's there.
"I'm aware you have very good players in every county who might not get the chance to shine. We are missing a few of the big names from the province, but this is a very committed bunch and I'm very confident they are good enough to win a third straight title."
Laois, the Leinster champions, feature strongly, with Fergal Bryon, Joe Higgins, Tom Kelly and Pauric Clancy joining Fitzgerald in the starting line-up. Dublin have three starters in Paddy Christie, Shane Ryan and Ciaran Whelan.
Only six players also featured in last year's winning team: Christie, Anthony Rainbow, Whelan, Ciaran McManus, Paul Barden and Dessie Dolan.
Dempsey added that the football tournament - with the final set for 2.30 on Sunday - could do with some sort of makeover similar to the hurling edition.
"I think it's a fantastic weekend, and a great opportunity for players of different counties to mix. But I still think it needs to get more recognition. The hurling was taken to Rome and that was an experiment which appeared to work out very well, so I don't know why they shouldn't do something similar with the football."
Several other Laois players were not available because of their involvement in tomorrow's county football final in Portlaoise, where Stradbally take on Arles-Kilcruise. The winners are out in the Leinster championships less than 24 hours later when they meet Carlow champions O'Hanrahans.
Both teams have their share of intercounty players, although Arles-Kilcruise are entering new territory, having made the final for the first time.
The Munster team, to face Connacht in the other semi-final, reflects the changing football scene in the province with six Limerick players - two more than Kerry - the most dominant presence in the starting line-up.
They are Tommy Stack, Conor Mullane, Stephen Lucey, Jason Stokes, Stephen Kelly and Muiris Gavin.
Cork are represented by five players, including International Rules captain Graham Canty.
Elsewhere, one of the last vacant managerial posts in the country has been filled with the appointment of Tom Ryan, the former Limerick hurling manager, as the new manager of the Westmeath senior team.
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