GAELIC GAMES:THE INTERNATIONAL Rules series has gone international in another sense with Saturday's opening Test from Limerick being broadcast live in 57 countries across Europe.
The GAA confirmed yesterday Eurosport’s main channel will show the first Test live to a potential audience of some 110 million – in addition to TG4’s live coverage on Irish television.
It remains to be seen what sort of European viewing figures the series will attract, but it does mark a new platform for the game, particularly for Irish viewers across Europe.
The GAA have also confirmed that Saturday’s game with the Australians is already a virtual sell-out, with only limited terrace tickets available. Supporters are urged to purchase these remaining tickets before Saturday to avoid disappointment.
Club and school group passes are also closed, but remain on sale for the second Test in Croke Park on Saturday week, priced at €3 for under-16s with one adult free for every 10 juveniles.
Full details are also available at www.gaa.ie/tickets.
Saturday’s opening Test may be the headline event on the GAA calendar this weekend, but against that backdrop the AIB provincial club championship also gets underway in Leinster, with three preliminary games in the football championship.
Reigning champions Portlaoise are one of only two clubs still in the running to defend their title, and face a difficult test against newly-crowned Kildare champions Moorefield, in Newbridge.
Antrim football champions St Gall’s are still in contention to defend both their Ulster and All-Ireland titles, but likewise face a difficult task against Armagh champions Crossmaglen in the Ulster quarter-final on Sunday week.
Reigning Munster football champions Kilmurry-Ibrickane were beaten in the Clare championship by Doonbeg, and likewise Connacht champions Corofin lost out last weekend Galway county final, to Killererin.
All four provincial club hurling champions are already out – Leinster and All-Ireland champions Ballyhale Shamrocks lost out in the semi-finals of the Kilkenny championship, and likewise Portumna in the Galway championship, while Munster champions Newtownshandrum of Cork and Ulster champions Dunloy of Antrim also exited their respective competitions.
Antrim are represented this year by Loughgiel Shamrocks, the 1982 champions, who face Armagh champions Keady Michael Dwyer’s in the Ulster club final this Sunday.
Wicklow footballer Leighton Glynn faces a particularly busy weekend as he lines out with the Ireland team against Australia on Saturday and intends playing for both his club Rathnew in the Leinster football showdown against Skryne at Páirc Tailteann on Sunday and Glenealy on Monday in the Leinster intermediate club hurling tie against Carlow champions St Mullin’s.
Meanwhile, the Connacht Council is the first province to confirm the dates and venues for next year’s senior, under-21 and minor football championships. The senior championship begins on May 1st when champions Roscommon travel to Gaelic Park to face New York.
Newly-appointed Mayo manager James Horan will make his championship debut against London in Ruislip on May 29th, with the winners facing Galway.
2011 Connacht Championships
Senior Football Championship
May 1st: First round: New York v Roscommon, Gaelic Park. May 29th: London v Mayo, Ruislip. June 4th/5th: Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park. June 18th/19th: Semi-final: Sligo/Leitrim v New York/Roscommon, Sligo/Leitrim venue. June 25th/26th: Semi-final: London/Mayo v Galway, McHale Park. July 17th: Final.
Under-21 Football Championship
March 12th: First round: Mayo v Roscommon, Mayo venue. March 19th: Semi-finals: Mayo/Roscommon v Leitrim, Venue TBC; Sligo v Galway, Sligo venue. April 2nd: Final.
Minor Football Championship:
April 23rd: First round: Roscommon v New York, Roscommon venue. June 25th: Sligo v Galway, Sligo venue. June 26th: Semi-Final: Roscommon/New York v Mayo, Venue TBC. July 2nd: Semi-final: Sligo/Galway v Leitrim, Venue TBC. July 17th: Final.
