Munster v Leinster (Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney, 2.0).
Despite Matt Kerrigan's misgivings about how few of his Cup winning side remain from last February, champions Leinster look the better bet in this fixture. Munster will be trying to ride Kerry's success and nine of the All-Ireland winners are included.
Leinster's turnover of players will hardly be an insuperable disadvantage given that they mutated between 1996 and last year without sacrificing effectiveness. Of those not selected, only the injured Glen Ryan might be regarded as indispensable. The most striking aspect of Leinster's performances in recent years has been the slickness of the attack.
Tomorrow's line-up is also impressive. Kevin O'Brien was in dazzling form last week for Wicklow and looks set to exercise his usual influence on proceedings for Leinster. The allDublin half forward line (two thirds of it, anyway) looks more physically imposing than penetrative - which will suit messrs Flaherty and Breen - but Brian Stynes worked well at centre forward last year and provides a convenient option for the centrefield if needed and the same goes for Ciaran Whelan.
On the left wing, Declan Darcy will need no introduction to Munster as he ran amok last year for Connacht in Ennis and helped the westerners to their first final in 11 years. His tussle with Seamus Moynihan will be one of the afternoon's more interesting sideshows.
Another problem for the home side is that they will be missing their own scorer-in-chief from last year, Ciaran O'Sullivan, and the side looks short a recognised place-kicker. O Se, have the opportunity to prove a point.
Connacht v Ulster (Hyde Park, Roscommon, 2.0).
THIS pairing has more to offer than in the past. Connacht made some progress last year when beating Munster, although the dismal final performance against Leinster took some of the good out of the whole exercise. Ulster themselves also took a large beating off Leinster but were a little defamed by the scoreboard.
Tomorrow's selections bear no resemblance to last year's line-outs. Nine changes to the Connacht side plus a new manager and 11 to the Ulster team mean that fewer conclusions than usual - even in the non-continuum of Railway Cup competition - can be drawn about the match.
Ulster field a weaker selection than normally issues from the north. Dermot McCabe and Peter Reilly deserve the recognition, although how their current form is affected by Cavan's slump in fortune will be significant.
Connacht have lost last year's main strike forward Declan Darcy and despite the all-Sligo left flank of the attack, Eamonn O'Hara, a beacon for the province in last year's final, and All Star nominee Paul Taylor, the attack looks a less-than-terrifying unit.
Ulster should cope and go on to meet Leinster in the final, tomorrow fortnight.
Munster: D O'Keeffe (Kerry); B Keating (Clare), B O'Shea, S Stack; S Moynihan, L Flaherty, E Breen; D O Se (all Kerry), F Collins (Cork); P Laide (Kerry), F McInerney (Clare), D Foley (Tipperary); MF Russell (Kerry), J Kavanagh (Cork), M Daly (Clare).
Leinster: C Byrne (Kildare); C Daly (Offaly), D Fay, M O'Reilly (both Meath); D Lalor (Laois), G O'Neill (Louth), F Cullen (Offaly); J McDermott (Meath), N Buckley (Kildare); C Whelan, B Stynes, D Darcy (all Dublin); V Claffey (Offaly), T Dowd (Meath), K O'Brien (Wicklow).
Ulster: F McConnell; P Devlin (both Tyrone), JJ Doherty (Donegal), G Coleman (Derry); N Hegarty (Donegal), H Downey (Derry), K McGeeney; J Burns (both Armagh), D McCabe; P Reilly (Cavan), P Canavan (Tyrone), P McGrane (Armagh); R Gallagher (Fermanagh), T Boyle (Donegal), M Linden (Down).
Connacht: P Burke; K Mortimer (both Mayo), G Fahy (Galway), F Costello; D Heaney, J Nallen (all Mayo), S Og de Paor (Galway); P Fallon, D Brady (both Mayo); L Dowd (Roscommon), E O'Hara (Sligo), C McManamon; K Mc- Donald, (both Mayo), A Cullen (Leitrim), P Taylor (Sligo).
