FORMER Connacht inter-provincial star Kieran Fitzgerald and Derry’s Chrissy McKaigue have both voiced their disappointment after the deathknell for the Inter-provincial series, formerly known as The Railway Cup, rang out yesterday.
The Connacht Council confirmed that the western province would not enter a team in the once popular competition this year, placing the survival of the 90-year old series in serious doubt.
While crowds have dwindled in recent years, Slaughtneil and Derry defender McKaigue insisted that players still enjoyed being involved in the competition that Ulster won last year on a low-key finals weekend in Carrick-on-Shannon.
“I’d be interested in it because you get to play with and against the best players,” he said.
“It’s almost like the GAA want it to fail.
“I remember playing in Casement Park and the game played against Donegal for the Michaela Harte Foundation and there was something like 20,000 people at it under lights. It was a great atmosphere and Donegal were All-Ireland champions at the time.
“I thought ‘what a model this could be for inter-provincials’ they could use it as a charity event, market it properly and use it to make an impact on society, but it never happened. “Mickey Harte is obviously a big fan and there is potential in it. Some might say I’m mad saying that, but if it was done like that for a greater purpose you would see big crowds. “The players are interested because it is an honour to pull on the same shirt as some of the greats that have donned that same jersey.
“I heard whispers of Connacht not being interested but I didn’t think they would pull out. If there are only three teams, it probably won’t go ahead will it?”
Corofin’s former Galway full-back Fitzgerald, lined out for Connacht for several Railway Cup campaigns shared McKaigue’s view and said he felt it was “an honour to be selected”.
“I loved playing it,” he said.
“I genuinely really loved playing it and it gave us an opportunity to meet other players. You’re knocking lumps out of them all year and it was something different at the end of the year.
“It was a great honour to be selected to play for your province, another little boost after being selected to play for your county. Any time we played with Connacht in the Railway Cup, we really wanted to win it, I was never lucky enough to win one – I could beat in a few finals.
“I don’t know why it doesn’t capture the public’s imagination but, no more than the International Rules, everybody that takes part in it really enjoys it.”
Down star Caolan Mooney said he could see the logic in erasing the competition from the GAA calendar – although he added that he would have represented Ulster had he been called upon.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” said the Rostrevor clubman.
“With how hectic the GAA calendar is, it’s hard to get players who are in their break to go and play in another two-game series before Christmas.
“Again it’s nice to represent Ulster and if it continued I’d love to represent Ulster but it’s not looking good for it.”
