TG4 coverage deserves all the credit

TG4 are to be complimented on their coverage of both the Guinness interprovincial championship and the Celtic League

TG4 are to be complimented on their coverage of both the Guinness interprovincial championship and the Celtic League. They have ensured that the supporters of the respective provinces have been able to monitor progress. The station threatened an exclusive on Saturday when their half-time caption read: Mumha 22 Newport 3. What happened to Cardiff who had been around for the first 40 minutes.

That minor glitch aside TG4's coverage has been excellent, not a bouquet that Irish supporters would toss in the direction of Eurosport. Prior to the start of the Celtic League, a press release was issued trumpeting the fact that many of the games would be covered on television either through live transmission or a delayed full coverage, albeit on regional networks.

However, one of the proposed pluses for the Irish viewer was that "British Eurosport" would show several games involving Irish provinces in Wales and Scotland. This column has yet to meet anyone who actually saw an Irish province in action on Eurosport.

The difference between the British Eurosport schedule and what's available in Ireland seems to be pronounced. So to all of you who watched the truck racing, vorsprung deutsche technique, as they don't say in the Valleys.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer