RTÉ announced yesterday over 50 GAA championship ties will be broadcast live this summer. The Sunday Game will provide full coverage of the football and hurling qualifiers, all the minor finals along with the Nicky Rackard and Christy Ring Cup finals in August and the camogie All-Ireland final in September.

The action gets under way on May 7th with the Leinster football championship opener between Longford and Westmeath, followed by the Ulster football preliminary tie between Cavan and Down. A week later Galway and Mayo renew acquaintances in the Connacht championship.

The championship becomes unavoidable viewing on May 27th when Clare attempt to topple Munster champions Cork in the first live hurling encounter. This is followed by Donegal v Armagh from Clones.

The venues and times for the National League hurling and football semi-finals have been confirmed for April 15th. Thurles is the hurling venue where Kilkenny and Cork await the winners of this weekend's quarter-finals. Kilkenny face the winners of Wexford and Galway, while Cork play Tipperary or Waterford. The football semi-finals are scheduled for Croke Park.

Croke Park's Nally Stand has been re-erected at Páirc Colmcille, home of Carrickmore GFC in Co Tyrone. The club plans to re-dedicate the stand to the memory of the athlete and patriot Patrick William Nally, scheduled for late August.

SUNDAY APRIL 15th: National Hurling League semi-finals:Kilkenny v Wexford/Galway, Thurles, 2.30; Cork v Waterford/Tipperary, Thurles, 4.15.

National Football League semi-finals:Croke Park, 2.15 and 4.0. Play-off (for Division One status for 2008): Limerick v Offaly, Nenagh, 12.30.