THE GAA and RTE are putting plans in place for live coverage of no fewer than 19 championship matches next year. A match will be shown every weekend from May 18th through to the end of September. Football and hurling championship games from all four provinces are covered under the proposed deal. The proposals are likely to come before the management committee of the GAA in the next week.
Because the new arrangements in the hurling championship may well lead to fixture clashes and extra matches, this could mean some matches will be played on Saturday.
The schedule was discussed last week by an RTE sport delegation, led by Tim O'Connor, representatives from the four provinces, and the GAA PRO Danny Lynch.
No matter what happens, it is clear that football and hurling will get more television coverage than ever before. The suggested programme may even be extended if agreement is reached in regard to the National Football and Hurling Leagues, the under-21 championship finals and All-Ireland club finals.
As things stand at the moment coverage would start with the Ulster football championship preliminary round match between down and Tyrone on May 18th.
The following Sunday would feature either the Connacht football championship match between Galway and Mayo or the Munster hurling match between Limerick and Waterford.
On June 1st, the Ulster championship match between Monaghan and Derry would be televised live., The following Sunday would feature the Munster championship hurling match between Cork and CIare.
The following week viewers could see either the Dublin versus Meath football match, or the Munster hurling match between, Tipperary and either Limerick or Waterford.
On June 22nd the Munster football match between Cork and Clare or the Ulster match between Donegal or Antrim and Fermanagh or Cavan will be shown. The following Sunday would feature the match between Tyrone or Down and Monaghan or Derry.
The July 6th date would have either the Munster hurling final or the Leinster football semi-final and the following Sunday would have the Leinster hurling final followed a week later by the Munster and Ulster football finals.
The July 27th date would be reserved for the new All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals while August 3rd would have the Leinster and Connacht football finals.
After that would come the All Ireland hurling semi-finals on August 10th and August 17th, with the football semi-finals on August 24th and 31st with the All Ireland finals on September 14th and 28th.
. Kildare, leaders of Division One of the National Football League, have made two personnel changes to the team which defeated Tyrone for next Sunday's clash against Cork.
Richie Coyle returns from suspension and will play at corner back. Eddie McCormack, who came on as a substitute against Tyrone, starts at right half forward instead of the injured Pauric Gravin. Midfielder John Whelan is abroad on holiday and Tom. Harris moves to the centre to partner Killian Brennan.
Donegal have had mixed luck in their build-up to their first division match against Kerry in Tralee on Sunday with the news that Tony Boyle is out of the side while Manus Boyle returns to action.
Donegal have made three changes in personnel and a number of positional switches for the match after last Sunday's win over Cavan. Paul Callaghan replaces Gary Walsh in goal while John Gildea, who came on as a substitute in the Cavan match, starts at centre forward in place of Tony Boyle. Manus Boyle comes in for Ronan McLaughlin in the corner of the attack.
