Kerry provide backbone

All-Ireland and National League champions Kerry provide the backbone of the Munster team for the Railway Cup Interprovincial football semi-final match with holders Leinster at Killarney on Sunday.

Kerry have nine representatives, not including 1997 Player of the Year Maurice Fitzgerald, who is recovering from injury but will "only play when he's right," according to Paidi O Se and, interestingly, Clare's Barry Keating is the only non-Kerryman in defence.

Keating, in fact, is one of three newcomers to the team along with full-back Billy O'Shea and last year's GAA Writers' young player of the year Mike Francis Russell, who lines out at right-corner forward as Munster attempt to halt Leinster's bid for a hat-trick of titles.

Offaly have been forced to find replacements for six of their regular side for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup tie against Westmeath in Tullamore. With Cathal Daly, John Kenny, Finbar Cullen, Sean Grennan, Peter Brady and Vinnie Claffey named on the Leinster panel for the Railway Cup semi-final against Munster in Killarney, the selectors have given an opportunity to those on the fringe of the team to stake a claim for regular inclusion.