Spring break brings growth to TG4 GAA coverage

SPRING BRINGS GROWTH FOR TG4 GAA COVERAGE

Lots of full-match coverage of Allianz League matches,
both live and deferred, the Datapac Sigerson Cup and Fitzgibbon
Cup, Suzuki Ladies Football Leagues as well as the annual
showcase of the All Ireland stages of the AIB Club Hurling
and Football Championships are included in the comprehensive
list of TG4 GAA coverage for Spring 2006, details of which
are released today. (A full list of TG4 GAA match coverage
for Spring 2006 is enclosed).

The first weekend of TG4’s live coverage for 2006 gets
off to an exciting start on Sunday 5th February with the
first of the channel’s live broadcasts as All-Ireland
champions Tyrone take on Dublin in Healy Park, Omagh.
This match will be followed by full deferred coverage
of the clash between Derry and Galway and will also include
extended highlights of the Kerry v Mayo match which is
being played on the Saturday evening in Tralee. Live coverage
of GAA fixtures continues on TG4 every Sunday from the
early February to the May. Continuing with last year’s
successful format, TG4’s Sunday afternoon schedule will
provide full coverage of two matches – one live and one
deferred with full coverage of a second match broadcast
immediately after the live match.

Launching the coverage, TG4 Sports Editor, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha,
said that the station was delighted to be continuing its
partnership with the GAA and the various competition sponsor’s
to give this year’s games a higher television profile
than ever. “Spring is the season of hope for all GAA followers,
a fresh start with dreams of Autumn glory. Our unparalleled
Spring GAA coverage at club, colleges and League levels
will provide the discerning follower with an invaluable
guide to early season form.”

“TG4 is very proud of its special place in the hearts
of GAA followers,” he said “and we are now established
the home channel for live tv GAA coverage in he October-May
period”. “This Spring’s coverage has been made to satisfy
Gaelic Games follower’s throughout Ireland. Putting together
the selection of matches for live coverage was very challenging,
given all the attractive fixtures on offer,” he added.
The selection of matches for TG4 coverage during the second
half of the campaign will be made as the Allianz Leagues
unfold to ensure live coverage of the crucial fixtures.
The channel will provide further GAA coverage on the Monday
night GAA 2006 programme with highlights from each weekend’s
other top League fixtures being included in the established
peaktime slot 8:30pm.

Coverage will continue to be produced by Nemeton, the
Waterford independent production company based in the
Ring Gaeltacht, presented by Micheál Ó Domhnaill with
commentary by Brian Tyers, Mac Dara Mac Donncha and Gearóid
Mac Donncha.

TG4 – GAA BEO 2006 Sunday 5 February Throw-in Allianz
Football League Round 1 Live: Tyrone v Dublin – Live from
Healy Park, Omagh 2:30pm Deferred: Derry v Galway – Live
from Celtic Park, Derry 2:30pm Highlights: Kerry v Mayo
(from Saturday evening) Sunday 12 February AIB All Ireland
Club Hurling Semi finals Live: James Stephens (Kilkenny)
v Portumna (Galway) 2:30pm Deferred: Ballygalget (Down)
v Newtownshandrum (Cork) 2:30pm Highlights: Cork v Kerry
(from Saturday evening) Sunday 19 February AIB All Ireland
Club Football Semi finals Live: Kilmacud Crokes v Salthill-Knock
na Carra 2:30pm Deferred: St. Galls v Nemo Rangers 2:30pm
Saturday 25 February Live: Datapac Sigerson Cup Final
– Live from Parnell Park 7.30pm Sunday 26 February Allianz
Hurling League Round 2 Live: Tipperary v Kilkenny – Live
from Semple Stadium, Thurles 2:30pm Deferred: Cork v Waterford
– Live from Páirc Uí Rinn 2:30pm Saturday 4 March Live:
Datapac Fitzgibbon Cup Final – Live from Páirc Uí Rinn
5:00pm Sunday 5 March Allianz Football League Round 3
Live: Tyrone v Cork – Live from Healy Park, Omagh 2:30pm
Deferred: Armagh v Galway – Live from Crossmaglen 2:30pm
Highlights: Dublin v Offaly (from Saturday evening) Sunday
12 March Allianz Hurling League Round 3 2:30pm Allianz
Football League Round 4 2:30pm Friday 17 March AIB All
Ireland Club Hurling and Football Finals Sunday 19 March
Allianz Football League Round 5 3:30pm Sunday 26 March
Allianz Hurling League Round 4 3:30pm Allianz Football
League Round 6 3:30pm Sunday 2 April Allianz Hurling league
Round 5 3:30pm Sunday 9 April Allianz Football League
Round 7 Allianz Hurling League Quarter Finals Sunday 16
April Allianz Football League semi-finals Allianz Hurling
League semi-finals Sunday 23 April Allianz Football League
Finals Sunday 30 April Allianz Hurling League Finals Monday
1 May Hogan & Croke Cup Finals Saturday 6 May Suzuki Ladies
National Football League Finals – Division 1 & 2 6/7th
May Cadbury’s All Ireland Under-21 Football Final Monday
5 June Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta – An Spidéal