Gaelic Games/Television coverage: With their new GAA schedule, TG4 are taking on the might of Sky Sports Sunday soccer coverage with a double header of matches every week from now until the championship. Gavin Cummiskey reports.
Starting this weekend, live coverage of Donegal and Tyrone, from Ballybofey, will provide a national audience as the Ulster teams get their first taste of the experimental rules. Then, in a new departure, deferred viewing of the Westmeath and Offaly contest from Tullamore will be shown.
The 2005 coverage starts this Friday with live coverage from Páirc Uí Rinn as Cork and Kerry begin their league campaigns under lights. On Saturday, the new evening schedule continues with Paul Caffrey's Dublin hosting Mayo at Parnell Park, throw-in 7.15 pm.
The floodlight action will continue throughout the spring, with the first real bumper Sunday coming on February 13th when Armagh host Galway, while Dublin travel to Tyrone.
Crucially, the Irish language channel appears to have seen off Setanta Sports, for the time being, as the fledgling channel attempts to get a piece of the GAA pie. The Sigerson Cup and championship coverage will also continue. The Monday night highlights programme, Ard San Aer, will continue on a similar format to 2004 starting at 8.30p.m. The club championships and women's football will also be aired on TG4.
Sports Editor Rónán Ó Coisdealbha expressed his delight with the new coverage in the most poetic manner: "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.
"Putting together the selection of matches for live coverage was very challenging, given all the attractive fixtures on offer."
Nemeton, the Waterford independent production company based in the Ring Gaeltacht, will continue to produce the coverage, presented by Micheál Ó Domhnaill and Gráinne McElwain with commentary by Brian Tyers, Macdara Mac Donncha and Gearóid Mac Donncha.
Meanwhile, the AIB-sponsored 2004 provincial player awards have been announced. Mount Sion and Waterford hurler Ken McGrath took the Munster prize despite defeat in the provincial final to Toomevara.
The Waterford captain is the only one of eight winners not in search of All-Ireland club honours.
In football, Crossmaglen's Johnny Murtagh is awarded for some superb displays in his club's march to Ulster glory, while Portlaoise's Colm Parkinson took the Leinster title with Ballina's Enda Devenney winning in Connacht.
Finally, Mickey Harte will name a 30-man panel for the start of the national league despite a new GAA directive stating only 24-man squads can be selected.
His squad will be tested to the full, as he must plan without Enda McGinley for Sunday's league match in Ballybofey due to an ankle injury sustained in the McKenna cup against Cavan.
Philip Jordan, Ciarán Gourley and Mark Harte are also ruled out for the start of the league.
PROVINCIAL PLAYER AWARDS: Football - Enda Devenney (Connacht, Ballina); Colm Parkinson (Leinster, Portlaoise); John Daly (Munster, Kilmurry); Johnny Murtagh, (Ulster, Crossmaglen). Hurling - Joe Rabbite (Connacht, Athenry); Eoin Larkin (Leinster, James Stephens); Ken McGrath (Munster, Mount Sion); Jim Connolly (Ulster, O'Donovan Rossa).
Fri, Feb 4th: Live - Cork v Kerry, NFL 7.45 pm
Sat, Feb 5th: Live - Dublin v Mayo, NFL, 7.15 pm
Sun, Feb 6th: Live - Donegal v Tyrone NFL, 2.15pm. Deferred - Offaly v Westmeath Allianz Football League - Round 1
Sat, Feb 12th: Live - Athenry v Toomevara, Club Hurling Semi-final 2.15pm. Live - Kerry v Offaly, NFL, 7.15pm.
Sun, Feb 13th: Live - Armagh v Galway, NFL, 2.15pm. Deferred - Tyrone v Dublin NFL.
Sun, Feb 20th: Live - Crossmaglen v Portlaoise, Club Football semi-final, 2.15pm. Deferred - Waterford v Kilkenny, NHL.
Sat, Feb 26th: Live - Sigerson Cup Final, 2.15pm.
Sun, Feb 27th: Live - Limerick v Tipperary, NHL, 1.45pm.
Sat, Mar 5th: Live - Kerry v Dublin, NFL, 7.15pm.
Sun, Mar 6th: Live - Laois v Armagh, NFL, 2.15pm. Deferred - Derry v Cavan NFL.
Sat, Mar 12th: Live - Dublin v Westmeath, NFL, 7.15pm.
Sun, Mar 13th: Live - Clare v Galway, NHL, 2.15pm. Deferred - Tipperary v Wexford NHL.
Thu, March17th: Live - All-Ireland Club Championship finals, 1.45pm.
Sat, Mar 19th: Live - Kerry v Westmeath, NFL, 7.15pm.
Sun, Mar 20th: Live - Galway v Waterford, NFL, 1.15pm. Live - Galway v Laois NFL, 3.20pm.
Sun, Mar 27th: Live - NHL round 5, 2.15pm. Deferred - NFL round 6.
Sun, Apr 3rd: NFL round 7, 3.15pm. Deferred - NFL round 7.
Sun, Apr 10th: Live - NHL, series 2, round 6, 3.15pm. Deferred - NHL, Series 2, round 6.
Sun, Apr 17th: Live - Ladies Football League final 1.45pm. Live - NFL semi-finals, 3.30pm.
Sat, Apr 23rd: NHL series 2, round 8 (if applicable).
Sun, Apr 24th: NFL finals, 2pm & 3:40pm.
Sun, May 1st: Live - NHL finals, 2pm & 3:45pm.
