Interprovincial hurling semi-finals: A weakened Connacht interprovincial hurling panel will gather for training just three days before Sunday's semi-final against Leinster.
Connacht and Galway manager Conor Hayes has ruled out the Portumna contingent of Ollie Canning, Andrew Smith, Damien and Kevin Hayes as they are in the Galway county final, while several more will be missing because of Sunday's Galway senior hurling semi-final between Athenry and Loughrea.
Remarkably, the Loughrea club are hosting the Connacht-Leinster fixture on the same day their supporters travel to Athenry for the club championship game.
Hayes retains the bulk of the panel he guided to this year's All-Ireland final but the absentees confirm the club championship takes priority at this time of year.
The football interpros have already been affected by a timetable clash with the International Rules second Test. The GAA hierarchy are with the 26-man squad in Australia.
"We'll pick a team on Thursday night," said Hayes. "Most of our lads are tied up with clubs so we have been unable to hold training. A lot of players returned to their clubs after being unavailable right up to the All-Ireland final; then you have players unavailable due to the under-21 All-Ireland final. Fifteen of the 28-man squad involved in the final are currently back with their clubs.
"The club scene has to get priority at some stage of the year but Connacht is not so bad. However, in Munster the likes of Ballygunner (Waterford), Garryspillane (Limerick) and Newtownshandrum (Cork) are still involved. These are serious club hurling teams so it is a little unfair that players from these clubs can't play."
The task force, which includes GAA President Seán Kelly, set up to breathe life into the former Railway Cup, was at pains to stress this was the most convenient "niche" in the playing calendar at last week's launch of the competition at Croke Park.
"It's difficult to know when to play it," continued Hayes. "It has always had something to offer. The fixture arrangements are difficult as the winter also brings third level competitions, which involve a lot of players. I suppose you have to ask what makes money for the GAA and the answer is the championship.
"Our lads are genuinely interested in this competition but it would have been unfair to pull them back from the clubs. It is still a good idea but it's not high enough on the priority list. We were playing in front of 80,000 people for the All-Ireland final; it will be around 1,000 now."
Considering Loughrea are in action elsewhere, a few hundred may be a more accurate prediction. Mayo's Keith Higgins is expected to feature at some stage but Hayes sees this as the start of preparation for Galway's assault on next year's championship.
"It has generated interest from the Galway players and is a good way to shape up the panel for next year by getting them back into action without the pressure of competing in the national league or championship.
"I don't think it will ever get back to the level that it once was. It's a good competition in its own right but when you compare it to the championship it is a level below. We will rely on the players to maintain the fitness they have built up this year. They have been training with their clubs recently."
ULSTER: (Interprovincial hurling semi-final v Munster, Saturday, Casement Park, 2.45pm): D Quinn (Antrim), M Kettle (Antrim), L Himphey (Derry), M Conway (Derry), S Wilson (Down), G Bell (Antrim capt), G Clarke (Down), G Biggs (Derry), A Savage (Down), B McFall (Antrim), P Braniff (Down), B McGourty (Down), K Stewart (Antrim), G Johnson (Down), J Tosh (Antrim), G Clarke (Down), G Savage (Down), R Convery (Derry), L Richmond (Antrim), S Clarke (Down), S McBride (Derry), M Coulter (Down), K McKeegan (Antrim).
