Dempsey defends McManus decision

Leinster football manager Luke Dempsey has defended his decision to omit Offaly and Ireland International Rules star Ciaran McManus from his squad for Saturday's inter-provincial football final against Ulster in Paris.

McManus was picked for the semi-final win over Munster, but club commitments ruled him out on the day. He was expected to earn a recall for the Paris match, but Dempsey opted not to pick the Faithful attacker, citing McManus's decision to cry off for the earlier clash.

"The team management and the Leinster Council were disappointed that Ciaran did not make himself available for the semi-final, and we felt that we had to be loyal to the players who were in the panel the last day," Dempsey said.

Dempsey has added Dublin's Bryan Cullen, Meath's Nigel Crawford and Westmeath defender Donal O'Donoghue to his squad for Saturday's game.

LEINSTER squad (SF v Ulster): G Connaughton (Westmeath), K Slattery (Offaly), T Kelly (Laois), N McKeigue (Meath), B Cullen (Dublin), K Fitzpatrick (Laois), N Garvan (Laois), P Keenan (Louth), E Kelly (Meath), P Barden (Longford), J Doyle (Kildare), A Brogan (Dublin), P Kelleghan (Offaly), M Forde (Wexford), F Byron (Laois), P Wallace (Wexford), D Breen (Wexford), T Smullen (Longford), T Walsh (Carlow), S Rea (Carlow), P Davis (Longford), N Crawford (Meath), D O'Donoghue (Westmeath).