It’s that time of year again.
The championship came back with a whimper when the only coverage of Sligo versus New York was on RTÉ Radio 1.
But that is in the past. With Sky Sports showing GAA since 2014, there are more live matches shown on our televisions than ever before.
And today they announced their fixture list for the summer ahead. Sky Sports will show a total of 20 live GAA fixtures and 14 of those will be exclusive the broadcaster.
Saturday, 3 June
7.00pm Dublin v Carlow/Wexford (LSFC QF)
Sunday, 4 June
4.00pm Clare v Limerick (MSHC Semi-Final)
Saturday, 10 June
7.00pm Kilkenny v Wexford/Group Team (LSHC Semi-Final)
Saturday, 17 June
7.00pm Kildare/Laois/Longford v Meath/Louth Wicklow (LSFC Semi-Final)
Saturday, 1 July
7.00pm Football or Hurling Qualifier
Saturday, 8 July
7.00pm Football or Hurling Qualifier
Saturday, 15 July
5.00pm Football Qualifier Rd 3b
7.00pm Football Qualifier Rd 3b
Saturday, 22 July
5.00pm Football Qualifier Rd 4a
7.00pm Football Qualifier Rd 4a
Saturday, 29 July
5.00pm Football Qualifier Rd 4b
7.00pm Football Qualifier Rd 4b
Saturday, 5 August
4.00pm All-Ireland Football Quarter-Final
6.00pm All-Ireland Football Quarter-Final
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Sky Sports and RTÉ will share the rights to broadcast All-Ireland Semi-Finals and the All-Ireland Final in both football and hurling.
Jim McGuinness and Peter Canavan will return to Sky studio as football pundits and Jamesie O’Connor and Ollie Canning will be Sky’s designated hurling pundits.
One new addition to the punditry team is that of Dick Clerkin.
Clerkin announced his retirement from inter-county football in November 2016 after an illustrious playing career.
“After seventeen years playing inter-county football with Monaghan, I hope I’ll be able to bring some expertise and analysis to the Sky punditry team. This year’s championship has all the hallmarks of a highly competitive campaign and I look forward to being right in the thick of it.” said Clerkin.
Sky Sports agreed on a €55m, five-year deal with the GAA in late 2016 which will see them broadcast championship games up until 2021.
