ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP GAA RETURNS TO TV3 FOR NEW THREE-YEAR DEAL

TV3 NEWS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE: Thursday 2nd June 2011 

TV3 increase number of live matches and overall share of Championship coverage

Extended run of games now includes three provincial finals, two quarter finals and the Minor Finals

TV3 today announced its plans for this year’s All Ireland Championship season which signals the start of a new three year deal for the independent broadcaster.

TV3 has increased its overall share of live Championship matches with 11 live matches in total to be broadcast including the Leinster Hurling Final, the Ulster Football Final and the Connacht Football Final. In addition two All Ireland Championship Quarter Finals will be broadcast on TV3 as well as the Minor Finals from Croke Park on All Ireland Final day.

Championship Live begins this Sunday (June 5th) with Dublin making their championship debut in Croke Park taking on Laois in the Leinster Football Quarter Final. TV3's package of games also includes the Tipperary V Clare Munster Hurling Semi-Final on June 19th and the pick of the All Ireland Football Championship qualifiers.

All live matches will be hosted by Matt Cooper. Matt will be joined in studio by expert panellists for each match including Peter Canavan, Senan Connell, Daithí Regan, David Brady, Liam Hayes, Jamesie O'Connor, and Liam Griffin.

Commentators Mike Finnerty and Sean Walsh will be joined by co-commentators Paul Earley and Nicky English. TV3’s Gaelic Games correspondent Kieran McSweeney and TV3’s sports reporter Sinead Kissane will be reporting on the atmosphere of each occasion and getting the views from the players and the fans.

In addition to the live match coverage, TV3 today also announced a new look weekly Gaelic Games magazine show. The GAA Show will be broadcast three times across TV3 Group channels each weekend commencing from Friday June 3rd on 3e at 6:30pm with a later broadcast on TV3 each Friday evening and a Saturday morning repeat.

Commenting at the launch today Pat Kiely, TV3’s Commercial Director said:-

“Over the last three years TV3 has brought a whole new dimension to Gaelic Games coverage and we were delighted when our efforts were rewarded with a higher level rights package this time round. What better way to start this new three year deal than in Croke Park this Sunday. Our now well established team will cover both codes across all four provinces culminating back in Croke Park in September with the Minor Finals. I have no doubt that viewers will appreciate and be well serviced by TV3’s extended stay in the Championship.”

Commenting on TV3's live matches Criostóir Ó Cuana, GAA President said:

“Our 2011 GAA Championships are upon us and in the weeks and months ahead the intensity and excitement will build with each passing game. There is no doubting that the summer months are the shop window for our inter-county scene and the coverage given by TV3 helps to bring the action to as wide an audience as possible. We look forward to the games on TV3 in both football and hurling and of course to the expert analysis and commentary that helps colour so many eagerly anticipated occasions.”

Images taken at the launch are available courtesy of Sportsfile

Ends.

For further information:
Maureen Catterson
TV3 PRESS OFFICE
+353 1 419 3430
maureen.catterson@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie

Notes to the Editor:

TV3 GAA Fixtures 2011

Date - Match - Competition - 
5/6/2011 Dublin v Laois LSFC Q/F
19/6/2011 Tipperary v Clare MSHC S/F
3/7/2011 Leinster Hurling Final LSHC
9/7/2011 Round 2 Football Qualifier AIFC R2
17/7/2011 Connacht Football Final CSFC
17/7/2011 Ulster Football Final USFC
23/7/2011 Round 4 Football Qualifiers AISFC TBC AI Quarter Final QF TBC AI Quarter Final QF
4/9/2011 Minor Hurling Final MHC
18/9/2011 Minor Football Final MFC

BIOGS

Matt Cooper (Presenter)
Live match presenter Matt Cooper’s regular day job is as presenter of The Last Word radio programme on Today FM each weekday between 4.30pm and 7pm. It was the top-rated programme in its time slot in 2008 and includes substantial sports sections on Monday and Friday that include extensive GAA coverage with a panel of football and hurling experts. Matt’s interest in GAA goes back to his childhood, as a footballer and hurler with the Bishopstown club in Cork up to and including minor level. He was schooled at Cork’s famous hurling academy, the North Mon. He is an experienced TV sports presenter and a former newspaper editor.

Mike Finnerty (Commentator)
After a successful first season with TV3, Mike Finnerty returns to the commentary box. He has worked as a GAA commentator with Mid West Radio since 1993 and has been their Chief GAA commentator since 1998. He has worked as a Gaelic football commentator with Setanta Sports since June 2004 and has been their primary commentator on live GAA since January 2007. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from NUI, Galway in 1998, has worked with The Mayo News in Westport since 1999 and has been Sports Editor there since May, 2004.

Peter Canavan (Panellist)
Peter Canavan played for Tyrone for sixteen years winning two All-Irelands and six All Stars. Affectionately known as Peter the Great he has been one of the foremost personalities of recent GAA history. A teacher by profession, Canavan regularly contributes columns to Newspapers and has contributed to Newstalk’s ‘Off the Ball’ and ‘The Last Word’ on Today FM.

Senan Connell (Panellist)
Senan retired from Inter County football in 2006 having secured his third Leinster title with Dublin, the Grand prize of Sam Maguire having eluded him. A teacher in St. Declan's school in Cabra, he has become a recognised figure in media circles because of his tactical and technical expertise.

David Brady (Panellist)
David has spent 14 years as an Inter-County player with Mayo. He has won a National League Medal with Mayo and a club All-Ireland with Ballina and has long been recognised as one of the most articulate and outspoken personalities in the GAA. A former Youth Rugby International he has played under some of the best Managers in Gaelic Football.

Liam Hayes (Panellist)
Liam won two All-Ireland medals as a player with Meath and later served as manager to Carlow. A journalist/Publisher by profession Liam has started and sold titles such as The Title and Ireland On Sunday. Liam now owns The Gazette Group of local newspapers. He writes a weekly football column for the Sunday Tribune.

Jamesie O'Connor (Panellist)
Jamesie O’Connor was scorer in chief for the Clare team of the late 90s and early part of the new millennium. His accuracy helped propel the banner county from Munster also-rans to double All-Ireland winners. Having retired in 2005 he now combines his position as a teacher at his Alma Mater the famed St. Flannels hurling nursery with print, radio and television work.

Nicky English (Panellist)
Nicky English was one of the most accomplished hurlers of his era winning two Liam McCarthy Cups with Tipperary in 1989 and 1991. In fourteen years playing with the county he scored 20 goals and 117 points in Championship hurling. In 1999 he took over as manager of the Tipp Senior team and led them to their last All-Ireland title in 2001. A respected commentator on the game he has made numerous contributions to Television and Radio programmes. He is Chief Manager of Marketing and Sales with AIB Finance.

Liam Griffin (Panellist)
One of the most articulate, outspoken, hurling analysts of the last decade. Best known as the man who led Wexford out of the wilderness in 1996 when they won their only All Ireland of the last 40 years. A successful hotelier by profession, Liam is a regular on ‘The Right Hook’ on Newstalk.

Daithí Regan (Panellist)
Daithí Regan won two All-Ireland medals with Offaly in 1994 and 1998 when they pulled off two of the biggest upsets in hurling history. Since retiring he has become a regular contributor to local and national newspapers and his contributions to Newstalk’s "Off the Ball" programme have become a must for all hurling fans.

Paul Earley (Panellist)
Paul Earley is a former Roscommon Footballer who won Connacht Championships in 1990 and 1991 as well as an All Star at full forward in 1985. One of the first Irish players to be recruited to Australian Rules he made one appearance with Melbourne in the AFL before returning home for family reasons. A respected pundit, Paul has made regular contributions to Setanta Sports live GAA output and weekly preview show.