The sudden appearance of the Sun over the last two days finally had everyone thinking of the summer. The temperature rose enough for an upsurge in ice cream sales, the smell of fresh cut grass has wafted through the air and for GAA fans thoughts have turned what they hope will be many sunny trips to watch their county team through the football and hurling Championships.
The football championship got underway yesterday with the annual trip for a Connaught side to take on New York in the Big Apple. But for many the championship doesn’t start till they hear the first notes of the theme tune of The Sunday Game.
Yesterday RTÉ announced their schedule of live championship games in football and hurling that they will be showing throughout the summer, a grand total of 31 games available in High Definition with Michael Lyster once again in the hot seat.
Games will also be available on the RTÉ player and extensive coverage across their online and mobile platforms. RTÉ will also have exclusive national coverage of every game in both codes on Radio 1’s Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport programs.
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s launch of the RTÉ coverage, Group Head of RTÉ Sport, Ryle Nugent, said: “Nothing says summer like the start of the championship season and all of RTÉ’s platforms are lined up and ready to go to give audiences the very best of our national games.
“The GAA Championships are a unique sporting and cultural event and as the national public service broadcaster RTÉ is proud to have it at front and centre.
Supporters won’t have to wait long for the first live action of the championship with coverage of the game between Monaghan and Fermanagh in Clones on May 20th beginning on RTÉ2 at 6.30pm.
All six provincial finals in both codes, the four All Ireland senior football quarter finals and All Ireland football and hurling semi-finals and finals will be covered by RTÉ.
Below is the list of all 31 games to be televised Live on RTÉ2:
Saturday 20th of May:
7pm: Monaghan v Fermanagh (USFC Preliminary Round)
Sunday 21st of May:
2pm: Mayo v Sligo (CSFC Quarter final)
4pm: Cork v Tipperary (MSHC Quarter Final)
Sunday 28th of May:
2pm: Derry v Tyrone (USFC Quarter final)
4pm: Dublin v Galway (LSHC Quarter Final)
Sunday 4th of June:
2pm: Down v Armagh (USFC Quarter final)
Saturday 10th of June:
5pm: Cork/Waterford v Tipperary (MSFC semi final)
Sunday 11th of June:
2pm: Cavan v Fermanagh/Monaghan (USFC Quarter final)
4pm: Galway v Mayo/Sligo (CSFC Semi Final)
Sunday 18th of June:
2pm: Derry/Tyrone v Donegal/Antrim (USFC Semi-Final)
4pm: Waterford v Cork/Tipperary (MSHC Semi Final)
Saturday 24th of June:
7pm: Down / Armagh v Cavan / Monaghan / Fermanagh (USFC Semi-Final)
Sunday 25th of June:
4pm: Carlow / Wexford / Dublin v Offaly / Westmeath (LSFC Semi Final)
Saturday 1st of July:
5pm: QUALIFIER
Sunday 2nd of July:
2pm: Munster Football Final
4pm: Leinster Hurling Final
Saturday 8th of July:
5pm: QUALIFER
Sunday 9th of July:
2pm: Connacht Football Final
4pm: Munster Hurling Final
Sunday 16th of July:
2pm: Ulster Football Final
4pm: Leinster Football Final
Sunday 23rd of July:
2pm: All Ireland Hurling Quarter Final
4pm: All Ireland Hurling Quarter Final
Sunday 30th of July:
2pm: All Ireland Football Quarter Final
4pm: All Ireland Football Quarter Final
Sunday 6th of August:
3.30pm: All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final
Sunday 13th of August:
3.30pm: All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final
Sunday 20th of August:
3.30pm: All Ireland Football Semi-Final
Sunday 27th of August:
3.30pm All Ireland Football Semi-Final
Sunday 3rd of September:
3.30pm: All Ireland Hurling Final
Sunday 17 September:
3.30pm: All Ireland Football Final
Video Credit: RTE via YouTube
