A dispute between the GAA and BBC Northern Ireland means that the latter's cameras may not be allowed into Croke Park for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final. The matter arises from concerns that the broadcaster may wish to diffuse the coverage on digital television.

Such a course of action would infringe agreements entered into by the GAA in respect of its broadcasting rights.

Were the BBC to broadcast the match on its digital network, coverage might be picked up in Britain, which is part of the overseas rights area currently contracted to Setanta Sport.

It is understood that the GAA will refuse access to the BBC if a legal undertaking not to broadcast the signal on digital is not given. A BBC Northern Ireland spokesperson "declined to comment on the matter".

It is understood that the BBC maintain the card used to access the digital service is different in Northern Ireland than in Britain and that large numbers of their viewership in the North are unable to pick up the BBC with conventional aerial reception since the advent of cable.

Yet it would be possible to access BBC Northern Ireland on digital with a Northern Ireland card - something publicans, for instance, could obtain in order to avoid paying a subscription to Setanta Sport.

The BBC and UTV have an agreement with the Ulster Council to cover matches in the provincial championship, and have also entered into reciprocal arrangements with RT╔, holders of the domestic broadcasting rights, for the coverage of matches up and down the country.

The view being taken by Croke Park is obviously that whatever the BBC pays is not worth jeopardising the overseas deal with Setanta, worth several million pounds a year.

The matter emphasises how complex the rights issue has become over the 40 years since RT╔ first acquired television rights for All-Ireland semi-finals and finals plus Railway Cup finals for £10 per year.

Currently rights are divided into domestic, overseas and Internet (also held by Setanta). These rights were awarded last November for a three-year period.

In the future it may be considered necessary to make a separate package of the digital rights, given the advances in that technology. Such a move would have consequences for British market, currently worth about a million pounds of the overseas rights package.

Derry's young midfield star Fergal Doherty was yesterday presented with the Ulster GAA Writers' Merit Award for last month.