Ulster and Leinster ready for Paris battle

Ulster and Leinster will face off in unfamiliar surroundings in today's M Donnelly Inter-provincial football final.

The sides meet is Paris' Stade Colombe, the venue for the 1924 Olympics, following on from the successful staging of the hurling equivalent in Rome last year.

Despite the dwindling interest in the competition, both sides feel there's all to play for, including the title of undisputed kings of the Railway Cup.

Ulster and Leinster top the table with 26 wins apiece, with Munster back on 14 and Connacht with a nine.

Ulster flew into Paris yesterday, following an overnight stay in Belfast, and manager Brian McEniff is looking to put another one over on Leinster, who the northerners defeated in last year's semi-final.

With that in mind, the Donegal native has stuck with a winning formula and named an unchanged side from this year's semi-final win over Connacht.

Skipper Paul McGrane rejoins the squad after missing that game, but is selected on the bench, while Down’s Dan Gordon is retained at midfield, partnering Fermanagh's Martin McGrath.

The northerners' flying full-forward line consists of Stephen O'Neill, Paddy Bradley and Enda Muldoon.

Meanwhile, Leinster boss Luke Dempsey has spent the week defending his decision not to include Offaly and International Rules star Ciaran McManus in his squad.

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 today's game, but Dempsey opted not to pick him.

Westmeath's Damien Healy also misses out as his club are involved in the county intermediate final, while his county colleague John Keane is recovering from surgery.

Their places in defence are taken by Dublin's Bryan Cullen and Westmeath's Donal O'Donoghue.

Meath's Nigel Crawford replaces Louth's Paddy Keenan in midfield in the only other change from their semi-final. Laois man Tom Kelly skippers the side.

LEINSTER: G Connaughton; N McKeigue, D O'Donoghue, K Slattery; B Cullen, T Kelly, K Fitzpatrick; N Garvan, N Crawford; E Kelly, P Barden, J Doyle; A Brogan, P Kellaghan, M Forde.

ULSTER: M McVeigh; E McNulty, R Sweeney, N McCready; P McFlynn, B Monaghan, R McMenamin; D Gordon, M McGrath; B Dooher, B McGuigan, S Cavanagh; S O’Neill, P Bradley, E Muldoon.