Ulster final on BBC

The Ulster football final between the 2002 and 2003 All-Ireland champions Armagh and Tyrone will not be televised live on RTÉ. Instead, the BBC will cover the game on Sunday, July 10th, when three provincial football finals take place on the same afternoon.

The Ulster fixture returns to Croke Park for the second successive year with the attendance expected to at least match the 67,000 that showed up for Armagh's demolition of Donegal in 2004.

The eagerly-anticipated clash between the second favourites to win the All-Ireland, both are 4 to 1 behind Kerry who are 7 to 4 to retain their title (Paddy Power), cannot be shown live because RTÉ already agreed to screen the Munster (4.15pm) and Connacht (2.10pm) deciders that day.

The pile-up is due to the Ulster Council bringing their tie forward a week to avoid a clash with the Leinster senior and minor football finals at Croke Park on July 17th.

Deferred coverage of the game, which starts at 3.30pm, is expected but either way the BBC provides another option for the stay-at-home GAA supporter on an important afternoon of football.

The national broadcaster will televise two enthralling games as Kerry and Mayo defend their provincial titles against Cork and Galway, respectively.

This weekend there are two live matches on RTÉ. In a first championship meeting, Carlow face Limerick on Saturday evening at Dr Cullen Park. This is followed on Sunday afternoon by the Leinster hurling final between Kilkenny and Wexford.

Fears surrounding the state of the Croke Park surface were allayed yesterday. The pitch had been covered since early last week because of the three U2 concerts but no damage appeared when the temporary covering was removed.