Kilkenny six picked

The Leinster hurling team selected for tomorrow's Railway Cup semi-final against Ulster in Ballinasloe will have no fewer than six Kilkenny players in action - Liam Simpson, Colm Byrne, Andy Comerford, Niall Moloney, Jack Carey and Charlie Carter.

Laois will have four representatives, Ricky Cashin, Bill Maher, Niall Rigney and Declan Rooney, Dublin have two - Sean Power and Jamesie Brennan - while Offaly, Wexford and Carlow have one each - Johnny Dooley, Rory McCarthy and John Nevin respectively.

Munster, meanwhile, will wait until the last minute before naming their team to face Connacht in the other semifinal. Definitely out are Ger O'Loughlin, Anthony Daly, Fergus Tuohy, Alan Neville, Ken Morrissey, Stephen Sheehy, and Ollie Baker, who will be involved in the Clare championship final between Clarecastle and St Joseph's Doora-Barefield on Sunday. The fact that the Railway Cup winners will represent Ireland in this year's senior shinty-hurling match in Scotland tomorrow week has added an extra bit of spice to the competition. The final is on Sunday, at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Limerick hurling manager Eamonn Cregan could well include six sets of brothers in his panel to go into special training for next season's competitions.

Already guaranteed places are Mike and Declan Nash, John and Mark Foley, and Ollie and James Moran. The ever-present Ciaran Carey, Owen O'Neill and P J Ryan should also be in the frame and they could be joined by their brothers Pa, John and Donie. There are two Tobins, Brian and Padraig, in the race for places, but they are unrelated.

Women's football player Edel Byrne has become the youngest winner of the Ulster GAA Writers' monthly Merit Award. The Monaghan 15year-old received the October award after a storming display against Waterford in the AllIreland senior final in which she scored a goal and four points.