THE McGrath Cup used be a bit of a joke with Cork and Kerry. But when Kerry decided, after their defeat by Clare in the 1992 Munster football final, to enter the following year's McGrath Cup they were the butt of the jokes. Now it's a reality and both Munster's leading counties are in the shake up for this year's competition which starts tomorrow.

The competition was the brainchild of then Clare selector Noel Walsh IS years ago and the cup was presented by Joe McGrath, the province's nomadic coach. It was originally intended for the weaker counties in Munster but this season has been joined for the first time by Cork and Kerry.

The idea behind the Cup when it started was that it should provide an outlet for counties whose competitive ventures were confined to the lower regions of the League and ritual drubbings by Cork and Kerry in the championship. Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick and Clare would play off for the prize of a trip to London with whom they would contest the Cup.

Noel Walsh is now chairman of the Munster Council and was also the man behind the idea to expand, even though the competition worked particularly well from his perspective with Clare winning it more often than any other county.

"The competition worked well," he said, "and everyone got to win it including London but it began to outlive its usefulness.

"By bringing in Cork and Kerry we hope to create more familiarity with those counties. Maybe Waterford (for instance) would get to play Kerry once in 10 years in the championship and would never be in the same division of the League so they have very little experience of meeting them.

It benefits both the weaker and stronger counties. It will be more difficult for the weaker counties to win but there are benefits. It's like a 16 handicap golfer. He doesn't want to be a handicap golfer forever. People must improve their standards. Every county was favourably disposed except Limerick.

By playing it in January we give the counties two competitive matches before the League starts and it also gives the Railway Cup selectors an opportunity to see players current form. As well, it probably suits London to get the chance of having Cork or Kerry over.

The most compelling reason, however, for change in the character of the completion is the success of another Walsh innovation the open draw in the Munster championship. This has abolished the weaker counties' ghetto, enabled three of the four to reach a provincial final and saw Clare, actually win the title four years ago.

"It (the McGrath Cup) was founded," says Walsh, "to mollify the four teams who were getting pounded but that's no longer happening as often and they're getting the opportunity to play in provincial finals. Now, the more often they get to play in open competition the better. And if it doesn't work after a couple of years, we can always change back."

. The venues for the semifinals of the Railway Cup football, competition, scheduled for January 28th, will be formally announced next week. Leinster are due a home tie against Connacht and Navan is the expected choice. The Meath ground may even host, a double bill as Munster have requested an accommodation for their match with Ulster.

It was provisionally assigned to Clones but with Bantry players receiving their county medals on January 27th, Munster are believed to be seeking a less distant venue, and point out that they forfeited home advantage in last year's hurling final against Ulster and agreed to play the match in Croke Park.

.Meath have named four newcomers in their team for tomorrow's O'Byrne Cup match against Westmeath. Ben Halpin, Paddy Reynolds (son of All Ireland winning player and selector Pat), Paddy Reilly and Donal Curtis all get their first senior call. There is one change from the team in the programme Colm Coyle plays at left corner forward instead of Cathal Sheridan who, in a swap, will line out today with the Meath team to play Leinster in a Railway Cup trial at Celbridge.

. Trips abroad for All Ireland football and hurling champions and the All Stars should be revived with Croke Park getting directly involved, said the out going Donegal County Board secretary, Noreen Doherty, in her convention report.