Only three Munster counties represented

Gaelic Games Interprovincial championships:Only three counties - Kerry, Cork and Waterford - are represented on the Munster football team named for tomorrow's inter-provincial semi-final against Leinster.

In a further blow to the already ailing competition, such limited representation follows the withdrawal of five Limerick players in protest at the Munster Council's decision to revert to the seeded draw for next year's championship.

While Tipperary and Clare have aired similar protests, Limerick were particularly perturbed at the decision to revert to the seeded draw, made by the Munster Council earlier this month, and which keeps Kerry and Cork on opposite sides of the draw - effectively ensuring their passage to the Munster final. Only Waterford supported Cork and Kerry in the decision to revert to a seeded draw.

Last night, in fact, Tipperary made one last effort to have that decision rescinded, submitting a motion to the Munster Council, but this was rejected, with a statement from the Munster Council announcing that the decision at the time was "unanimous" and therefore wouldn't be changed.

It has left Seán Geaney, the Munster football manager for tomorrow's semi-final, in an awkward position. A selector under Pat O'Shea in Kerry's All-Ireland winning management team, Geaney has found his pick of players significantly reduced, and yet he sympathises with the concerns of Limerick, Tipperary and Clare.

"I don't know the exact details of the withdrawal," he said, "only that they aren't making themselves available because of the seeding of the championship. It's a pity, because first of all it is still a great honour to be selected, and secondly it's a great opportunity for all the players involved, but especially from counties such as Limerick.

"Having said that, I do see their side of the story as well, their disappointment, and why they would be upset at the way the championship has gone for next year. I've seen it work both ways over the years.

"The way it was meant was that the likes of Limerick and Clare and Tipperary, if they avoided Cork and Kerry in the semi-final, would have seen it as a great chance to push on and make the Munster final.

"But then with the seeded draw they might also have a game behind them before the played Cork or Kerry, and therefore be better prepared for it. So it is a tricky one. But it looks like it's there for next year anyway, and whether or not they'll change it back again down the road I don't know."

Geaney has still named a relatively impressive line-up, which includes five members of Kerry's All-Ireland winning panel - Tom O'Sullivan, Aidan O'Mahony, Séamus Scanlon, Tommy Walsh and Mike Frank Russell. Cork have seven representatives, with Waterford making up the other three. However, Tipperary's Paul Fitzgerald was selected as substitute goalkeeper.

Yet, Geaney also admits the withdrawal of the Limerick players, coupled with additional defections due to clashing engagements, has taken much of the gloss off his team: "Of course, I'd love to have had more players from Limerick, Tipperary and Clare.

"The whole idea of the interprovincial competition is to get the best players from every county in the province. And while these counties mightn't be among the best teams in the country, they would have some of the best individuals.

"It's a pity because this team could definitely be a lot stronger. We're also missing a number of players involved in the Cork football championship, various other relegation battles in other counties, and a few other players had simply made other plans. It happens every year, of course, which is disappointing."

Limerick football manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan explained it was a big decision for his players to withdraw, but that he totally backed them. This scenario will almost certainly take from tomorrow's semi-final, which is being staged in Fermoy as a double-header with the hurling semi-final - the football throwing in at 1.30pm, the hurling at 3.15pm.

While the GAA continue their efforts to keep the competition alive - bringing both finals back to Croke Park on October 27th, spending 250,000 on the competition annually, and also offering attractive ticket prices (adults 10, children 5) - the clearly weakened Munster football team will hardly help that cause.

At least Michael Ryan of Waterford, the manager of the Munster hurling team, has been able to name a more impressive line-up that includes four members of the Limerick team that lost to Kilkenny in this year's AllIreland final - Brian Murray, Donal O'Grady, Michael Fitzgerald, and Seán O'Connor - for their semi-final, also against Leinster in Fermoy.

Ryan, who was recently reappointed as a Waterford hurling selector under manager Justin McCarthy, has also included four players from his own county; Eoin Murphy, Michael Walsh (captain), Eoin Kelly and John Mullane.

Opponents Leinster, managed by former Wexford manager John Conran, are typically dominated by All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, with James McGarry, Brian Hogan, Tommy Walsh, James Ryall, Derek Lyng, Michael Rice, Richie Power, Willie O'Dwyer, Eddie Brennan and Aidan Fogarty all part of the daunting opposition for Munster.

MUNSTER (SF v Leinster): A Quirke (Cork); T O'Gorman (Waterford), G Canty (Cork), T O'Sullivan (Kerry); K O'Connor (Cork), G Spillane (Cork), A O'Mahony (Kerry); S Scanlon (Kerry), M Aherne (Waterford); F Gould (Cork), P O'Neill (Cork), J Miskella (Cork); L Ó Lionáin (Waterford), T Walsh (Kerry), M F Russell (Kerry).

MUNSTER (SH v Leinster): B Murray (Limerick); E Murphy (Waterford), D Fanning (Tipperary), G Quinn (Clare); J Gardiner (Cork), C O'Mahony (Tipperary), S Óg Ó hAilpín (Cork); M Walsh (Waterford), D O'Grady (Limerick); S O'Connor (Limerick), E Kelly (Waterford); J Mullane (Waterford), N Gilligan (Clare), L Corbett (Tipperary).

LEINSTER (SH v Munster): J McGarry (Kilkenny); B O'Leary (Wexford); B Hogan (Kilkenny), D Franks (Offaly); T Walsh (Kilkenny), K Brady (Offaly), J Ryall (Kilkenny); D Lyng (Kilkenny), M Rice (Kilkenny); R Power (Kilkenny), J Young (Laois), W O'Dwyer (Kilkenny); B Lambert (Wexford), E Brennan (Kilkenny), A Fogarty (Kilkenny).

CLARE

LIMERICK

KERRY

5

CORK

7

WATERFORD

3

TIPPERARY