Leitrim bring in four debutants for Sunday's Connacht football semi-final against Galway in Carrick-on-Shannon. Derek Kelleher, Colin Regan, Shane McGettigan and Joe Tiffany line out, providing entirely new flanks to a defence backboned by Adrian Charles who played at full forward in last year's championship and former All Star full back Seamus Quinn. There is no place for team captain Ciaran Murray, who may not be even on the substitutes' bench.

Murray was unhappy when informed of his fate earlier the week and made his feelings clear. "Ciaran's performances recently haven't been his best," according to Leitrim manager, Peter McGinnity, "but there's one position in the substitutes vacant and it's still up for grabs."

Was this a reflection of the disagreement over his failure to make the team? "That's probably true enough," says McGinnity. "And it was a natural reaction from a player."

Whereas the selection shows a fair sprinkling of pace throughout the field, it looks a bit on the small side. McGinnity agrees. "A bit on the small side, a bit on the young side, a bit on the inexperienced side. But that's the team as I see it."

All in all, it's been a satisfactory first year in charge for McGinnity. After an unconvincing start in the National League, Leitrim steadied and finished the campaign with their Division Two status intact. "From humble enough beginnings last autumn, I'm happy with progress," says McGinnity, "but I can only answer all serious questions after Sunday. I don't know the potential of the team yet."

The former Fermanagh player and Ulster player, his county's only All Star, is amazed at the time and effort put in by players compared to his own days as a footballer.

"Since I stopped playing, the difference is noticeable. I can't see the career of an inter-county player lasting any more than four or five years. Before taking over I checked with others what the benchmark was for an intercounty team that wanted to move on rather than one which wanted to tread water and I have implemented those suggestions."

Meanwhile the Bank of Ireland announced last night that Leinster will receive £134,000 as part of the Bank's overall sponsorship of the football championship. The grant will be used for development purposes and is to be allocated as follows: £7,000 for each of the 12 counties in the province and £50,000 to the provincial council.

"A strong indication of our commitment," said Paddy Murphy, general manager of the bank's Area East, "is that during our current term as sponsors we will have invested nearly £7 million for the promotion of Gaelic games over the past five years . . . direct financial support which has benefited every level of the game."

Leitrim (SF v Galway): M McHugh; D Kelleher, A Charles, C Regan; S McGettigan, S Quinn, J Tiffany; P Donohue, B Guckian; G Dugdale, A Rooney, F McBrien; P McLoughlin, A Cullen, G Bohan. Subs: G Phelan, D Brennan, L Conlon, C Duignan, J Phelan, R Greenan, C Carroll, P Farrell, AN Other.

A decision on the manager for the Tipperary senior hurling team will not be made until August. Tipperary chairman, Paul O'Neill says he wants the dust to settle on last Sunday's defeat by Waterford before decisions are taken. The county board this week deferred discussion on the matter to its August meeting. Manager Len Gaynor and selectors Michael Doyle and Murt Duggan have not ruled themselves out of the reckoning for re-appointment. Their two year term ended with last Sunday's exit from the championship.

There is growing concern in Limerick at what has been described as an over-emphasis on physical training at under-age levels for GAA players. Former county hurling team selector Michael Weekes referred to the training as unreal, adding that the energy was being drained out of players.