GAA: McENIFF ON THE MARCH

ULSTER manager Brian McEniff has called on GAA chiefs to return the ailing Inter-Provincial finals to their traditional St Patrick's Day slot.

When McEniff was a player the then 'Railway Cup' finals attracted upwards of 30,000 fans at Croke Park in mid-March.

Now, they're given little billing in the off season with radical steps such as hosting next weekend's football final in Paris needed to revive it.

A crowd of around 1,000 is expected in the French capital, similar to last year's turnout for the hurling final in Rome. The GAA pitch will be laid out across two soccer fields in the famous old Stade de Colombes.

But McEniff said: "I'd pre er to see the final returned to St Patrick's Day in conjunction with the club finals. The calendar is so full with league, McKenna Cup, International Rules and all sorts of fixtures and I appreciate it's difficult to find a slot. But it's a competion with a great tradition and deserves more of a profile."

McEniff added he'd love to see semi-finals played under lights in February or March.

He said: "That would be a great option and a way to avoid fixture pile- ups."

In the meantime, Ulster supremo McEniff, who doubles as Donegal boss, will look for a repeat of last year's semis defeat of Leinster on Saturday.

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