RTÉ Sport launches 2013 GAA Championship Coverage
RTÉ Sport launched its comprehensive coverage of the 2013 GAA Championships with the broadcast of Sunday Sport GAA Championship Special, a unique live radio broadcast previewing all the summer’s action. An all star line up of GAA analysts and presenters joined together as the national broadcaster announced details of RTÉ Sport’s extensive Championship offering this year across television, radio, online and mobile.

This year RTÉ’s unrivalled and top quality GAA coverage will be further enhanced by the broadcast of a record 20 games in high definition (HD) and the arrival of new signings Dónal Óg Cusack and Eamonn O’Hara to The Sunday Game and RTÉ Radio 1 panel.

Group Head of RTÉ Sport, Ryle Nugent, said: “Every year the GAA and RTÉ come together to fuel the passion of the nation, delivering the very best coverage of our national games. The GAA Championship plays a pivotal role in RTÉ Sport’s schedule each summer across all platforms and this year is no exception. We look forward to once again capturing the excitement, skill and emotion of the Championship that defines the summer for GAA fans”.

RTÉ Television

RTÉ Two Television will broadcast a comprehensive package of 31 live games, including a record 20 matches in high definition on RTÉ Two HD, across this summer’s GAA Championships including both the All-Ireland Football and Hurling Championship finals, all of the semi-finals, and four of this year’s quarter-finals. The Munster football and hurling finals will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two as well as the Leinster Senior Hurling Final.

For GAA fans summer officially kicks off on Sunday 19th May as The Sunday Game Live features a live double header with Cavan facing Armagh in the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the Connacht Senior Football Championship clash between Galway and Mayo.

Joining RTÉ’s hugely experienced expert panel this year will be three time All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winner Cork’s Dónal Óg Cusack , and Sligo Footballer and All Star winner Eamonn O’Hara.

Now in its 35th year, Ireland’s premier GAA television programme, The Sunday Game, will return on Sunday, May 19th with presenter Des Cahill in the chair with highlights of up to 100 games throughout the season.

As the big games approach this summer, GAA fans will once again be able to kick off their weekend early, with the return of Championship Matters to Thursday nights on RTÉ Two. Presented by Marty Morrissey, the live show will be the place for all the latest news, views and in-depth discussion from Championship 2013 setting the agenda with some of the country’s best known players, managers and GAA experts.

RTÉ Radio

RTÉ Radio will this summer offer the very best action in hurling and football with a comprehensive range of commentary and analysis right through the GAA Championships. RTÉ Radio 1 will have exclusive national coverage of the top match on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport. There will be full commentary on more than 30 matches across the Championship season as well as reports and updates from every other match.

Our team of commentators will include Ger Canning, Darragh Maloney and Pauric Lodge as well as our GAA correspondents, Marty Morrissey and Brian Carthy. These will be joined in co-commentary and analysis from some of the biggest names in hurling and football of recent years.

In addition to all the live action, Brian Carthy’s magazine programme, The Championship, will return to RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday evenings in June and Take Your Point will also be back on Sunday evenings, giving experts and fans their chance to air their views.

RTÉ Radio 1 bulletins throughout the day on Morning Ireland, Today with Pat Kenny and Drivetime will also have all the breaking news and all the issues that matter to the fans who follow the Championship, with extensive analysis and debate featuring also on RTÉ 2fm’s daily sports programme, Game On.

RTÉ Digital

RTÉ.ie’s dedicated GAA section at www.rte.ie/gaa<http://www.rte.ie/gaa> is the GAA fan’s one-stop-shop for the best coverage of the GAA Championship, and is available online, on mobile and via the RTÉ GAA and News Now apps.

All of RTÉ’s televised GAA coverage, including The Sunday Game Live, The Sunday Game and Championship Matters, will be streamed live to users in Ireland, and those online or on mobile can also watch via the RTÉ Player and RTÉ Player App. Live coverage will also be available to viewers on connected Samsung TVs, and on PS3.

RTÉ Radio’s extensive GAA Championship coverage across RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm and RTÉ RnaG will be streamed live worldwide on rte.ie/gaa, rte.ie/radio and on the RTÉ Radio Player App.

GAA fans in Ireland will also be able to watch any programmes they missed, including full-match replays, on-demand via the RTÉ Player (now also available on iphone and ipad and iPod Touch) from Wednesday 15^th May. Users will also be able to listen back to RTÉ Radio coverage via the RTÉ Radio Player.

www.rte.ie/gaa will also have an extensive bank of audio and video clips including features, highlights, reports, analysis and reaction as the Championship unfolds. There will be live text commentaries each weekend of the Championship and the site will also feature analysis and reaction from RTÉ’s wide range of experts.

Users can submit their views on the action as it unfolds, or on the range of news, previews and match reports that will be available on www.rte.ie/gaa throughout the summer, and through online polls will have a say in RTÉ’s overall Championship coverage.

The RTÉ GAA Twitter account will enable fans to interact with RTÉ’s range of GAA output, and have their say on the biggest talking points of the GAA Championships using the hashtag #rtegaa.

GAA fans on the move can follow all text updates via the RTÉ GAA app, the RTÉ News Now app and via the RTÉ mobile site (m.rte.ie/sport/gaa).

News, previews, match reports, fixtures, live scores and results will also be available on RTÉ Aertel.

Date: Sunday 12 May 2013

BIOGRAPHIES

DÓNAL ÓG CUSACK is one of the finest goalkeepers ever to play the game. He became the Cork number one at the start of the 1999 Senior Hurling Championship where he went on to win his first All Ireland Senior Hurling medal that same year. He has won three All Ireland Senior medals, two All Stars and five Munster Senior Hurling titles along with numerous other awards.

EAMONN O’HARA is regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever to wear the Sligo colours. He first represented his county in October 1993 and has won numerous honours including a Connacht Senior Championship medal in 2007 and an All Star award in 2002. He has also been awarded Sligo Footballer of the Year and has represented Ireland in International Rules in 2001 and 2002 series’.

RTÉ TELEVISION LIVE GAA CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL & HURLING FIXTURES 2013

* Further HD matches will be confirmed as the season progresses

ENDS