McEniff believes timing of fixtures is unsuitable

Interprovincial football championship: Despite several makeovers in recent years the interprovincial championship still hasn't found what it's looking for. The semi-finals of the football competition take place this weekend, but according to Brian McEniff, manager of defending champions Ulster, problems remain with both the timing and the promotion.

"It's a players' competition first and foremost," said McEniff. "So a better slot has to be found . . . Taking it out of St Patrick's Day was the start of it, but to be honest I still don't think this is the time of the year to be playing it. The Ulster club championship is coming up and that's always going to take priority with players.

"The response in Ulster is always good, but as usual a lot of players aren't available. I think in the starting line-up I'll have about two of last year's winning side. We had 11 Ulster players in Australia before I even started. And the likes of Paul McGrane and Enda McGinley and Kieran McGeeney were either injured or opted out. And then Monaghan are in America."

Although McEniff has put together a 24-man panel, he won't be finalising his starting line-up until this evening. At this stage, however, it appears unlikely Tyrone's Peter Canavan will temporarily suspend his retirement and line out in Sunday's meeting with Munster at Crossmaglen. "I've spoken with Peter a few times," said the former Donegal manager. "The main problem is he has a hip injury at the moment, but I've been playing Peter Canavan in Ulster teams since he was a boy of 18. If Peter can oblige me I know he will."

Leinster meet Connacht in the other semi-final and, in an effort to heighten spectator interest, this game will be played under floodlights at Parnell Park (7.35pm) on Saturday. Former Louth manager Val Andrews takes charge of Leinster for the first time and he pronounced himself satisfied with the response of the players. "The players have been very enthusiastic, at least those that aren't club-tied or injured or of course are away in Australia . . . I suppose you could regard it as a provincial All Star."

Andrews released his 24-man panel yesterday but won't finalise a starting line-up until later in the week. There are injury concerns over Colin Moran (ankle), Leighton Glynn (knee), Thomas Walsh (jaw), Bryan Sheehan (shin) and John Doyle (calf).

Definitely ruled out is Dublin defender Stephen O'Shaughnessy, who sustained a second injury to his shoulder at last Saturday's trial match. O'Shaughnessy recovered from the first injury, which happened during the Leinster championship, through physiotherapy, but an operation is now likely and could rule him out of the early rounds of Dublin's National League campaign.

The Meath County Board have announced that the Menolly Group will take over the sponsorship of the county's football teams for the next three years. The agreement was reached with Seamus Ross, owner of Menolly Homes and Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa, and the company's name will appear on all senior, under-21, minor and junior football teams' jerseys.

LEINSTER (panel, v Connacht): F Byron, P Clancy, D Rooney, N Garvan, B Sheehan (Laois), B Cahill, P Andrews, C Whelan, J Sherlock, C Moran (Dublin), G Geraghty, N McKeigue, D Regan (Meath), J Doyle (Kildare), P Kelly, K Slattery (Offaly), L Glynn, T Gill (Wicklow), M Ennis, A Mangan, D Healy (Westmeath), T Walsh (Carlow), C Morris (Wexford), S Gerard (Louth).

ULSTER (panel v Munster): J Reilly (Cavan), P McConnell (Tyrone), K McGuckin (Derry), D Diver (Donegal), E McNulty (Armagh), B Owens (Fermanagh), K McCloy (Derry), A Mallon (Armagh), A O'Rourke (Armagh), A Forde (Cavan), B Monaghan (Donegal), C Gormley (Tyrone), D Gordon (Down), M McGrath (Fermanagh), C Holmes (Tyrone), P Finlay (Monaghan), D Clerkin (Monaghan), R Mellon (Tyrone), L Doyle (Down), C Toye (Donegal), T Freeman (Monaghan), M Lyng (Cavan), P Bradley (Derry), S McDonnell (Armagh).