Ladies Football & TG4 Celebrate 10 Year Milestone

The 2010 TG4 Ladies Football Championships were launched today at Croke Park by Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport.

2010 marks the tenth year of TG4’s sponsorship of the Ladies Football All Ireland Championships and the tenth year of the Ladies Football finals being televised by the national Irish language broadcaster. TG4 who became the title sponsors of the Ladies Football Championships in 2000 will broadcast 15 live championship games over the course of the summer.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Mary Hanafin, said “the longevity and continuing success of the partnership between Ladies Football and TG4 is a testament to the commitment and vision of both parties. Together they have raised the profile of Ladies Football both on the national and international stage. Ladies Football is proving hugely popular and entertaining with flourishing affiliated leagues in North and South America, Australia, Asia, the UK and across mainland Europe.

Ladies Football actively encourages female participation in sport from the Gaelic4Girls initiative to the Gaelic4Mothers programme. Each of the team members involved in the Championships are great role models for other young women to get involved and stay involved in sport at all levels. Sport is an integral element of both our national identity and our community framework and Cumann Peil Gael na mBan continues to play a key role in the development of female sport both at home and abroad.

Ba mhaith liom ádh mór a ghuí ar na foirne ar fad a bheidh ag glacadh páirt an Samhradh seo agus táim ag súil go mór sibh ar fad a leanúint i dtreo Páirc an Chrócaigh agus Craobhacha na hÉireann i mí Meán Fómhair.”

Pat Quill, Uactharán Peil Gael na mBan, said, “The support of TG4 over the past ten years has been invaluable in enabling us to grow and publicise the successes of our sport. The Championship season is upon us once again and I have no doubt that there will be no shortage of the skill, passion, determination and excitement that has made Ladies Football such a success.”

Pól Ó’Gallchóir, Ceannasai, TG4, said, “TG4 continues to be very proud of its ongoing sponsorship of the All-Ireland Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championships in this great attractive native Irish sport. As we start another season, all of us look forward with hope and expectation. This year TG4 will provide live coverage of 15 Championship matches from early August to the All-Ireland Finals in Croke Park on the 26th September. This comprehensive coverage forms a key part of our overall full match live coverage of 20 Ladies Gaelic Football fixtures on TG4 during 2010.”

The 2010 TG4 Senior All Ireland Championship will see Cork attempt to win the Brendan Martin Cup for the sixth consecutive year. Cork retained their Division 1 national league crown by defeating a spirited Galway side and again they will be the team to beat this summer.

Last year’s beaten senior finalists, Dublin, defeated NFL Division 1 finalists Galway and Ulster’s Monaghan and Tyrone will be among the leading challengers to Cork’s dominance this summer.

The draw for the Senior Championship Round 1 qualifiers was carried out at Croke Park by Pat Quill and Pól Ó’Gallchóir.

TG4 Senior All Ireland Championship Round 1 Qualifier Draw

Down v Kildare
Tyrone v Connacht 3rd placed team
Tipperary v Meath
Kerry v Connacht 4th placed team

Two of the Senior Championship Round 1 Qualifiers will be broadcast live on TG4 on Monday 2nd August. The other two Round 1 fixtures will be played over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Donegal will be among the favourites for the Intermediate Championship after an impressive display in the NFL Division 2 final. Last year’s beaten finalists Fermanagh are expected to mount another strong challenge while Waterford and Cavan are also likely to feature prominently.

In the Junior Championship, Limerick has been on the cusp of national success for a number of seasons and this could be their year. Wexford are the dark horses in the Junior grade and the could be the team to deny Limerick All Ireland glory once again.

The Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championship finals will take place in Croke Park on Sunday 26th September and all three games will be televised live on TG4.

For Additional Information:

Patricia Monahan, Cumann Peil Gael na mBan
E: patricia@ladiesgaelic.ie T: 01 8363156 / 087 252 3998

David O’Siochain, Pembroke Communications
E: david@pembrokecomms.ie T: 01 649 6322 / 087 936 2440

Marcus Ó Buachalla, Pembroke Communications
E: marcus@pembrokecomms.ie T: 01 649 6492 / 087 698 1031

www.ladiesgaelic.ie

Notes for Editors:

* Cumann Peil Gael na mBán was founded in 1974
* Ladies Football has over 135,000 members
* There are over 1,000 ladies football clubs in Ireland and overseas
* Ladies Football is the largest female team participation sport in the country
* Pat Quill is the President of Ladies Football
* Helen O’Rourke is the CEO of Ladies Football

Senior Championship Teams
Armagh, Clare, Cork, Down, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone

Intermediate Championship Teams
Antrim, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Longford, Kilkenny, Waterford, Westmeath, Roscommon

Junior Championship Teams
Carlow, Derry, Limerick, Louth, Offaly, Wicklow, Wexford

Championship Fixtures Key Dates
Sunday 11th July TG4 Intermediate Rd 1
Sunday 18th July TG4 Intermediate Rd 2
Sunday 25th July TG4 Intermediate Rd 3, Junior Rd 1
Saturday 31st July TG4 Senior Qualifiers Rd 1
Monday 2nd August TG4 Senior Qualifiers Rd 1 (2 live televised games)
Saturday 7th August TG4 Senior Qualifiers Rd 2 (2 live televised games)
Sunday 8th August TG4 Senior Qualifiers Rd 2, Intermediate Rd 4, Junior Rd 2
Saturday 14th August TG4 Senior Quarter-finals (2 live televised games)
Sunday 15th August TG4 Intermediate Rd 5, Junior Rd 3
Saturday 21st August TG4 Senior Quarter-finals (2 live televised games)
Saturday 28th August TG4 Senior Semi-final, Intermediate Semi-final, Junior Semi-finals (2 live televised games)
Saturday 4th September TG4 Senior Semi-final, Intermediate Semi-final (2 live televised games)
Sunday 26th September TG4 Senior, Intermediate and Junior Finals (3 live televised games)