Ulster hurling squad named

Dominic McKinley, Ulster's hurling manager for the 2006 M Donnelly Interprovincial Championship, has named a 40-man provisional squad for the October competition.

McKinley, who jointly-managed the Antrim U21 hurlers this season, will gather his players together for the first time at a training session on Saturday morning at Belfast's Woodlands playing fields.

There are 20 players called up from Antrim's minor and Christy Ring Cup-winning senior panels, nine from Ring semi-finalists Down, seven from Nicky Rackard Cup champions Derry and two each from Donegal, the losers in this month's Rackard final, and Armagh.

Predictably, Armagh Harps sharpshooter Declan Coulter is one of the Orchard men included - he finished as the top scorer in the 2006 Rackard Cup with 6-28 in four games.

Ulster face Leinster in the Interpro semi-finals under the Parnell Park floodlights on Saturday, October 14. Connacht and Munster, last year's champions, are due to clash the same day at Pearse Stadium in Salthill.

ULSTER (Interprovincial Hurling Squad):

Armagh - Declan Coulter, Paul McCormack

Donegal - Jamesie Donnelly, Danny Cullen

Antrim - DD Quinn, Barney McAuley, Johnny Campbell, Liam Watson, Martin Scullion, Karl McKeegan, Brian Delargy, Aidan Delargy, Neil McManus, Paddy Richmond, Malachy Molloy, Paul Shields, Kieran Kelly, Johnny McIntosh, Karl Stewart, Gavin Bell, Michael Kettle, Ciaran Herron, Michael Herron, Brian McFall

Down - Graham Clarke, Gabriel Clarke, Stephen Clarke, Andy Savage, Stephen Murray, Paul Braniff, Gary Savage, Simon Wilson, Brendan McGourty

Derry - Sean McBride, Gregory Biggs, Peter O'Kane, Kevin Hinphey, Liam Hinphey, Ruairi Convery, Michael Conway.