There are 13 hours and 20 minutes of live GAA on tv this weekend

Niall McIntyre

There won’t be a tap done in homes all over the country this weekend, as the good people of the Gaelic games prepare to sideline themselves for what can only be considered a virtual marathon.

A testing total of nine live games will be shown on terrestrial television and if that doesn’t scare you enough, what sort of shape does the 800-minute figure leave you in? Or indeed, the more jarring and relatable timeline of 13 hours and 20 minutes?

Because without even including stoppages, analysis or half-time breaks, that’s exactly how much live GAA will be shown on TG4, RTE and eir sport this weekend. It literally adds up to more than half a day.

Deep breath.

It all starts on Friday night with the first game of the Lidl Ladies football League, as an ever-improving Tipperary take on All-Ireland finalists Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It will be Declan Carr’s first game over the Tipperary ladies and with quality performers Aishling Moloney and Doireann O’Sullivan on the job, should be worth the watch.

Friday slips onto Saturday and that’s when things start to get tricky. When the dinner is forgotten about and the lawn is left un-cut type of thing.

Neighbours and rivals Tipperary and Galway always bring the best out of each other and their National Hurling League clash will be live on TG4 just after lunch. From there it descends into organised chaos as one game slides into another and before you know it, you’re watching Dublin take on Kerry in Semple Stadium on Sunday.