McGrath in as final ties up Brogan

IRELAND MANAGER Seán Boylan has had to make another late change to his International Rules squad ahead of tomorrow's departure for Australia, with Fermanagh's Marty McGrath called in for Dublin's Bernard Brogan.

Brogan scored three late points to send St Oliver Plunkett's/ Eoghan Ruadh into the Dublin county football final last Monday evening, and, with the other semi-final going to a replay, that final has been rescheduled for next Thursday - the day before the first Test in Perth.

Earlier this week, Kerry forward Tommy Walsh was also denied the chance to represent Ireland because of club commitments, with Monaghan's Paul Finlay called up.

The Connacht Council yesterday confirmed Mayo's John O'Mahony and Galway's Vincent Mullins as football and hurling managers respectively for the interprovincial series. Connacht play Leinster in the semi-finals on Saturday week, October 25th, in Kiltoom. Ulster play Munster in Dungarvan.

The Leinster football squad have already got together in Carlow under Wexford's Jason Ryan and former Louth and Cavan manager Val Andrews, and Dublin forward Colin Moran has expressed his disappointment that the competition appears to be dying a slow death.

"Personally, I was disappointed to hear Nickey Brennan saying he thinks this will be the end of it," said Moran. "When you see the passion the players have for it and the passion the management have as well.

"It's the end of the season, bodies are feeling tired and most players are just finishing the club championship as well. Most players are thinking about having a rest. But there were still guys travelling two hours to get to training in Carlow, midweek.

"It's just a huge anomaly. The public obviously doesn't value it as a competition at all. But you have all these players and managers coming from all over the country, still getting stuck into it, giving it a huge lash."

Meanwhile, Westmeath have announced their intention to request an entry into next year's Ulster hurling championship, to make up for their exclusion from Leinster - even though Galway and Antrim were being brought in.

Hurling board chairman Billy Foley explained the move: "We would dearly love to play in the Leinster senior hurling championship, but we're not allowed to, and that's why we have now decided to apply to compete in the Ulster championship in 2009."

Dublin footballer Diarmuid Connolly has failed in his appeal to the Leinster Council against his one-month suspension.

The St Vincent's forward missed the county semi-final draw with Kilmacud Crokes on Monday evening after being sent off on a straight red card in the quarter-final against Thomas Davis on October 5th.