ALLSTARS Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte are two of the eye-catching names in Pete McGrath’s star-studded Ulster squad for the Interprovincial Championship clash with Munster on December 11.
Ulster played their first challenge match against a Fermanagh XV at Garvaghy on Thursday night, which manager McGrath said would “get feet on the ground” ahead of the Parnell Park finals weekend.
Should the northern province get past Ger O’Sullivan’s Munster - who will be without representatives from the holidaying Kerry squad - they will face the winners of the Leinster v Connacht semi-final in the decider on December 12.
“We’re almost there,” said McGrath on Thursday.
“I was talking to some of the other managers and they’ve had the same problems as I have had in terms of player unavailability through injury, holidays, weddings…”
Donnelly and Harte will be joined by their Red Hand team-mates Tiarnan McCann, Niall Morgan, Mark Bradley and Connor McAliskey. Also confirmed are Fermanagh’s Eoin Donnelly, Tomás Corrigan, Declan McCusker, Mickey Jones, Chris Snow and Aidan Breen, as well as Darren O’Hagan and Gerard McGovern from Down, Armagh’s Charlie Vernon, Tony Kernan and Stefan Campbell, Antrim duo Kevin Niblock and Niall McKeever, Cavan’s Killian Clarke and Conor Moynagh and Derry’s Enda Lynn.
McGrath may not have any players from Donegal or Monaghan at his disposal but, given the quality he has in the squad, the Down All-Ireland winner predicts fans will enjoy three free-flowing, entertaining games at Parnell Park.
“Railway Cup/Interprovincial football is unlike county football in that the players aren’t going to be going out with systems of play or defensive gameplans,” he said.
“You have talented players with a very strong skill set and the fact that they are coming together for the first time as a team means they will rely heavily on their natural ability so you let them at it.
“I will give them very broad parameters but they will go out and play free-flowing, expansive open football and express themselves. Let's see what happens. I’m not going to restrict or restrain people in any way with set-plays and gameplans, the Railway Cup just isn’t like that.
“The games can be very enjoyable, very open and high-scoring and if that’s the way it turns out on Saturday week then, irrespective of the result, I’ll be happy. Obviously, we want to win and we’ll be seriously competitive but, by the same token, we’ll be playing with expression and freedom.”
Connacht - managed by Galway’s John Tobin - are the reigning Interprovincial champions, while Ulster won the last of their record 31 titles under Joe Kernan in 2013.
“All the players are automatic choices on their county teams,” said McGrath.
“They are all good footballers and you could pick two very strong teams from every province. In representative matches like this you’re never going to get every player because there are some who can’t commit and that’s OK because there are plenty of others to take up the slack who are every bit as good.
“The big thing for me is the players’ enthusiasm. The players we’ve got want to play, they want to be a part of it and when you have those ingredients you can’t ask for anything more.”
Last year’s competition was cancelled due to bad weather which denied McGrath the opportunity to add Ulster to an already impressive CV that includes taking charge of Ireland’s International Rules team as well Down, Fermanagh, Down minors and U21s, St Colman’s College and several club sides.
“We had three get-togethers last year and we were in a very good place and then that dreadful weather meant we couldn’t go ahead,” he said.
“I’m definitely looking forward to next weekend, it’s my first experience of managing at this level.”
Meanwhile, in the Interprovincial Hurling Championship, Terence McNaughton’s Ulster will meet Munster and reigning champions Leinster will face Connacht in a double bill in Nenagh, with the following day’s final fixed for Semple Stadium.
