Connacht and Ulster face off

Connacht and Ulster face off in the first of the M Donnelly inter-provincial football semi-finals at Castlebar (2.15pm) today.

Ulster team boss Brian McEniff has decided to rely on Tyrone's attack to get past the westerners, who include many of this year's All-Ireland finalists Mayo in their ranks.

Four of the six positions in attack are held by Tyrone players.

Despite being without the likes of Steven McDonnell, Kieran McGeeney, Owen Mulligan, Benny Coulter, Sean Marty Lockhart and Barry Owens, McEniff can still call upon Brian Dooher, Brian McGuigan and Sean Cavanagh, who form an all-Tyrone half-forward line, while Stephen O’Neill is chosen at right corner-forward.

The backline is full of experience, with five of the defence having helped Ulster to provincial success last year.

The Ulster squad trained at Clogher on Wednesday night.

Galway feature strongest in Connacht's squad selection ahead of today's game.

Nine Galway players make the panel, including brothers Declan and Michael Meehan, as well as victorious International Rules captain Padraic Joyce.

Five All-Ireland finalists from Mayo have been selected, including Ronan McGarrity, Gary Ruane and Kieran McDonald.

Roscommon have seven representatives, Leitrim have three and Sligo have two.

ULSTER (v Connacht): M McVeigh (Down), E McNulty (Armagh), N McCusker (Derry), N McCready (Donegal), P McFlynn (Derry), B Monaghan (Donegal), R McMenamin (Tyrone), P McGrane (Armagh), M McGrath (Fermanagh), B Dooher (Tyrone), B McGuigan (Tyrone), S Cavanagh (Tyrone), S O'Neill (Tyrone), P Bradley (Derry), E Muldoon (Derry).

CONNACHT (from v Ulster): J Bergin, M Clancy, J Devane, M Donnellan, D Meehan, M Meehan, P Joyce, B O’Donoghue, K Fitzgerald (Galway); F Grehan, G Cox, S Curran, D Casey, F Dolan, S O’Neill, J White (Roscommon); J Nallen, K McDonald, P Gardiner, R McGarrity, G Ruane (Mayo); J McKeon, M McGuinness, S Quinn (Leitrim); M Brehany, E O’Hara (Sligo).