Fixture pile-up a concern for McEniff

According to Ulster manager Brian McEniff the Interprovincial Championship is becoming harder to organise since the advent of the All-Ireland qualifiers. With club fixtures pushed farther and farther back into the autumn, the preparation of teams has suffered through the unavailability of players still involved in county championships.

This year's interprovincial competition is due to start in two weeks with Ulster facing holders Leinster in a semi-final at Breffni Park, Cavan. The final is to be played in Boston. Former Derry All-Ireland winner Tony Scullion has joined McEniff's management team along with the long-serving Art McRory.

"I can remember playing a county final in August," said McEniff, "but now you just have to look at the situation across the counties to see how difficult it's become to get players together. The Tyrone final might be played this weekend if there's no objection and the Armagh final is on but other counties are holding their finals later and some haven't even got as far as semi-finals.

"I've been involved in administration for a number of years between the county board, Ulster Council and Central Council and know how hard it's become to organise fixtures. The qualifiers are the main influence on that. You've up to 16 counties still involved up until near the end of July and the Tommy Murphy Cup has also impacted."

McEniff hopes the proposals for reform of the intercounty championships due for debate at next month's special congress can make a difference.

"Maybe these ideas can achieve what they intend in giving more time to the clubs. Then you also have the International Rules on the calendar."

The Tests against Australia used to be played before the interprovincials but with the international series having been pushed back to the end of October the Ireland preparations will clash with the provincial competition.

Meanwhile, Waterford are expected to appoint Justin McCarthy for a sixth year in charge of the senior hurlers at next month's meeting of the county board. A number of other names have been suggested for consideration but it's not known who exactly has been put forward for the list of nominations that closed earlier this week.

"The names are with the committee," according to county PRO John Jackson, "and it will be up to them to come up with a name."

The committee dealing with the matter consists of the county chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer and will report to next month's meeting of the county board, having first made their recommendation to the county executive. McCarthy is clear favourite to stay on having indicated his desire to continue and having received the support of a number of players.

Outgoing selector Nicky Cashin has been seen at club matches but it is believed he is doing so in his capacity as a member of McCarthy's management team rather than a candidate in his own right, even though his is one of the names that have been speculated on.

Another potential candidate is former Kilkenny captain Eddie O'Connor, who has had some success in Waterford with De La Salle. Last season he led the club to their first senior county final, beating Mount Sion along the way. This weekend the clubs are again in opposition in the county quarter-finals and should O'Connor repeat the feat, his candidacy will be strengthened.

This year's GAA annual coaching congress will take place in Croke Park over three days. Entitled the National Coaching and Medical Conference, it will run from November 24th-26th.

TG4 will broadcast Sunday's Tyrone senior football final from Omagh between defending champions Carrickmore, chasing a three-in-a-row, and Peter Canavan's club Errigal Ciarán.

Former Armagh minor footballer Frank Rooney yesterday received his Ulster minor championship medal, 57 years after winning the final.

The presentation of the 1949 winner's medal was made at a class reunion of St Patrick's College, Armagh. Armagh went on to win the minor All-Ireland later that year, by which time Rooney had left school and returned to his native Louth so missed the original presentation of the Ulster medals.