Bertie Ahern TD Launches 2008 TG4 Ladies Football All Ireland Championships

The TG4 Championships will be competed across the three grades established in 2007; senior, Intermediate and junior. The Senior Championship has been restructured for 2008 with the introduction of a qualifier system for those knocked out of the provincial championships at an early stage.

The provincial winners will enter the All Ireland series of the Championship at the quarter-final stage while the provincial runners-up will go into the second round of qualifiers.

Mr Ahern TD, who has been an avid supporter of Ladies Football over the years, said, “I've launched this tournament for many years. There is no easy path to sporting excellence of the type that will be shown by each of the counties in this year's Ladies Football Championships. The road to success is mapped with hard work – there will be days that will test the character of all involved, when physical and mental toughness will be required in abundance.”

“Sport is an activity that has many positive facets to it. It is about friendships formed, enjoyment, loyalty to a team and a cause. It involves commitment, the many months training in the depths of winter in the wind and rain. To reach the top level of any sport requires hours of training and preparation – it doesn't come easy. The players who will grace the fields of Ireland in the coming months will provide much entertainment to the public, playing a game that is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the country.”

TG4 will broadcast two live games each weekend from 27th July all the way through to the All Ireland finals. TG4 will air a total of 17 live games during the All Ireland series culminating in a finals triple bill at GAA headquarters on Sunday 28th September.

The All Ireland Minor final will be televised for the very first time as part of a double bill with a Round 1 Senior Championship qualifier. The two Intermediate Championship semi-finals will also be broadcast live on TG4 and all of the televised games will be streamed live on www.tg4.ie.

Pól O'Gallchóir, Ceannasai, TG4, said, “The strong partnership between TG4 and Ladies Football has been ongoing for the past eight years and during those years Ladies Football has made huge progress. I would like to thank Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D. for his loyal active support of Ladies Football and of TG4 during those years.”

Geraldine Giles, Uachtarán Cumann Peil Gael na mBan, said, “The Championship is the highlight of the season and the culmination of a lot of hard work from the players and management staff. Special mention must go to our sponsors TG4 who will again air a host of live games from this year's Championship.”

Ladies Football is the largest female team participation sport in the country with over 130,000 registered members in 1000 clubs around the country. Last year over 26,000 people attended the All Ireland finals in Croke Park while 267,000 tuned into the games live on TG4.

Ladies Football has teamed up with the Sunday Independent and Puma to provide the 2008 Ladies Football Golden Boot Award for the Senior Championship. Further details on the Golden Boot Award are available at www.ladiesgaelic.ie.
TG4 Senior Championship Draw – Round 1 Qualifier
Armagh v Waterford
Down v Meath
Donegal v Kildare
Galway bye
Fixtures:

Sunday 27th July 2008 (Venue to be confirmed):
TG4 senior championship qualifier round 1
Armagh v Waterford @ 4.15pm
Down v Meath @ 6.00pm

Monday 4th August 2008 (Venue to be confirmed):
TG4 senior championship qualifier round 1
Donegal v Kildare @ 3.30pm

Minor All Ireland Final
Dublin / Mayo v Tyrone / Monaghan @ 1.45pm

For Additional Information:

David O'Siochain, Pembroke Communications
Tel: 01 649 6322 E: david.osiochain@pembrokecomms.ie

Claire Turvey, Pembroke Communications
Tel: 01 649 6312 E: claire.turvey@pembrokecomms.ie

Patricia Monahan, National Games Administrator
Tel: 01-8363156: 087-2523998 E: patricia@ladiesgaelic.ie

www.ladiesgaelic.ie
www.tg4.ie