Ulster manager Pete McGrath fears that the inter-provincials could be dead

ULSTER football manager Pete McGrath fears that the death knell has been sounded for the inter-provincial competitions following Connacht’s decision to pull out of both tournaments.

Ulster GAA will now discuss the matter with the nine counties at their next CCC meeting on Tuesday week, and McGrath believes that this may prove to be the fatal blow for a competition that has been suffering badly in recent times.

The current Fermanagh boss still believes that the tournament could continue without Connacht’s participation, but he doesn’t know if the hunger is there from the GAA to search for an alternative.

“I think this is a defining moment in the history of the Railway Cup,” said the Down man, who was appointed Ulster manager in November 2015.

“When a province decides that they don’t want to take part then it is in serious jeopardy. It could be very well prove to be the final death-knell for it, which is very unfortunate.”

“The only potential way to survive would be through some sort of round-robin format. The people in the upper echelons of the GAA haven’t been breaking their necks to promote the competition though.”

The full interview with Pete McGrath is available in store today or online here.