Match switch a bit Irish for TG4

NEWS: TG4 have been forced to alter their planned live coverage of this Sunday's AIB club championship after being informed that their cameras would not be allowed into Killarney for the Munster football final between Nemo Rangers and Monaleen.

Ronan Ó Coisdealbha of TG4 Sport has referred to the matter as "a clear breach of contract" and it is expected the station will seek compensation. In the meantime, they have arranged to cover the Leinster football semi-final between Rathnew and Dunshaughlin at Newbridge.

The decision to bar TG4 from Killarney came about from Monday night's meeting of the GAA's Games Administration Committee in Croke Park, which was attended by the four provincial secretaries. Munster secretary Donie Nealon complained that TV coverage would affect the attendance and gate receipts, and Croke Park then informed TG4 on Tuesday - by text message - that cameras wouldn't be allowed at the game.

"First of all, the decision was very disappointing," said Ó Coisdealbha. "We'd done all the PR and marketing around that Killarney game, and of course set up all the production facilities and scaffolding and all that for Killarney.

"But the more serious issue is the breach of contract. We were sold the rights two years ago by Croke Park for exclusive live coverage of the provincial club championship, as well as the All-Ireland semi-finals and finals. We also have the rights for the Allianz League and together it involves a serious amount of money.

"Part of that cost involved is meant to go back towards compensating the provincial councils for any loss of gate receipts that may occur because of TV coverage. We had no choice but to pull out once we were told to do so, but maybe they don't fully understand the full rights of our contract."

Last Monday week TG4 informed Seán Ó Laoire at Croke Park they would be covering the Munster final. Normally the station looks at the fixtures list a week in advance and chooses which match to cover

The decision not to allow them cover the Munster football is the first time these rights have been in any way curtailed.

In April of last year, RTÉ were awarded the domestic broadcast rights for all GAA championship matches for the next three years, leaving TG4 with the option of covering a live Sunday afternoon game each spring and autumn, and the exclusive rights to the Allianz National Leagues, the AIB Club Championships and TG4's own Women's Football Championships.