Rich attraction at Tolka Park

WHILE the visits of teams like Dundee, Norwich, Hearts and any number of the other British soccer sides currently wandering around Ireland will go relatively unnoticed, there are one or two games each summer that qualify as genuine attractions. Tomorrow's meeting between the National League All Stars and Manchester United is one such encounter.

Some of the best teams in Britain, it seems, come here in the build up to their season with nothing more pressing than getting their goalkeeper used to the back pass rule. But sides like Manchester United and Liverpool (who play next week at Dundalk) generally bring with them enough class to justify attention.

Alex Ferguson certainly has an abundance of class at his disposal and even without several of his key players, who have been left to rest a little longer after the exertions of Euro `96, he still brings a squad to Tolka Park that includes more than half a dozen internationals and the core of the team that will attempt to defend the League and Cup double.

Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane are probably the biggest stars due to travel and while there is some doubt about the fitness of Andy Cole, figures such as Denis Irwin, Gary Pallister and David May are also expected to be in action.

Many of the younger players to come through over the past couple of seasons are also due to make the trip and there will be plenty of interest in the form of new arrivals Raymond van der Gouw and Ronny Johnsen.

For the homeside Brian Kerr has been forced into making a couple of changes due to injuries with Colm Tresson of Drogheda replacing Kevin Brady in defence and Jason Colwell and Willie Burke being called in as substitutes. Some tickets for the game, priced £25 and £30, will be available at the ground tomorrow. The kick off is at 2.30.