Ulster football manager Brian McEniff has joined the chorus of frustrated voices over the scheduling overlap between next month's M Donnelly Interprovincial championship and the International Rules series.

McEniff, who served as International Rules manager in 2000 and 2001, was keen to avoid any conflict with current manager Seán Boylan and advised other provinces to avoid disrupting the series.

"I spoke to Seán Boylan and advised my Leinster counterpart (Val Andrews) to do likewise so we can get our heads around the situation. Seán is an easy man to work with and I understand the job he is doing. We hope we can get certain players for our semi-final against Leinster."

The Ulster and Leinster semi-final takes place in Breffni Park on Saturday, October 7th at 7pm. The previous day Munster play Connacht under lights in Ballyforan, Roscommon.

The first International Rules Test is not until October 28th but the interprovincial final takes place in Canton, outside Boston, just six days before Ireland face Australia in Pearse Stadium.

The decision to move the interprovincial championship abroad was introduced to entice players to take part in the competition and, in general, heighten the competition's profile.

"I was talking to a player recently," continued McEniff, "and when I mentioned the incentive of a trip to Boston he replied: sure I can go to Boston any weekend I want. With the advent of cheap flights he's right, people can travel anywhere in the world for relatively small amounts nowadays.

"Now don't get me wrong, I know the people in Boston GAA from previous trips. Also, the trip that Martin Donnelly organised to Paris two years back was run superbly. The players wanted for nothing."

Only 15 players turned out for Ulster training this week and McEniff is not expecting too many quality additions due to the host of county finals clashing with the Leinster fixture on Saturday week.

"It is getting more difficult with the current scheduling. On top of that, the Tyrone county final replay, the Down final, the Derry final and, depending on how this weekend's semi-finals go, probably the Donegal final will all take place the same weekend we play Leinster.

"It's very frustrating, to say the least, and I know the Leinster manager is in a similar predicament."

So what is the solution? McEniff is keen to move the interprovincial finals back to their original date on the calendar, when it was known as the Railway Cup, so they coincide with the All-Ireland club finals on St Patrick's Day.

"Play the football on St Patrick's Day before the club final and put the hurling on down in Thurles or package it around the lead up to St Patrick's Day.

"The GAA marketing department have already proven their worth in recent years - just look at the exposure the upcoming International Rules series is receiving on television.

"If they repeated this marketing drive an extra 15,000 could be enticed to Croke Park on St Patrick's Day."