Croke Park defends deal with Setanta

TELEVISION RIGHTS:CROKE PARK has defended the agreement that saw television rights to last Saturday's Dublin-Tyrone match restricted to subscription broadcaster, Setanta.

The match, which was followed by a spectacular fireworks display to mark the beginning of the GAA’s 125th anniversary, was the opening fixture in this year’s National Football League.

Pointing out that the television rights agreement was based on a package of matches rather than stand-alone fixtures, GAA marketing and commercial manager Dermot Power said it wouldn’t have been possible or desirable to break up the programme into individual matches.

Explaining the evolution of live league coverage, Power said: “TG4 gave us the opportunity to have a live package of TV games and when Setanta came on the scene they got a package of Saturday games, which were floodlit related as much as anything else. That was continued this year.”

RTÉ, as a terrestrial broadcaster, has difficulty justifying schedule space for the less attractive league matches on Saturday nights. Power also said that given the lead-in time for the negotiation of rights there are no details available on precise fixture lists.

“This tender was sent out over 12 months ago and we would have been discussing the package for the league.

“At that stage the concept of celebrating 125 together with the opening league fixture between Dublin and Tyrone is something that couldn’t have been anticipated because we didn’t know who would be in what division or what way the programme would work out.

“We’re trying to get coverage of our games so we want someone to commit to a series of games not just to pick one or two. The aim over the past number of years has been to get coverage of a programme of games.”

He said that despite a small number of complaints about last Saturday’s event not being available there was a growing acceptance amongst followers of the games that the current arrangements are in the best interests of the association.

“We’re probably getting fewer complaints now because we’re actually providing the opportunity to see a regular series of games.”

Meanwhile, Setanta Ireland announced that its broadcast on Saturday more than doubled its viewing figures for the Dublin v Tyrone match compared to two years ago when the same counties opened the floodlights at Croke Park for the first match of the 2007 NFL. Figures released show that last Saturday night’s coverage had a peak audience of 177,000 and a share of 12.6 per cent.

A total of 284,000 people tuned into the live broadcast between 7.30pm and 10pm, including the fireworks display and light show.

Setanta Ireland also broadcast the Dublin v Tyrone game under floodlights in February 2007, generating a peak audience of 70,000.

Meanwhile, Mark Foley has been confirmed as Limerick’s hurling captain for the second successive year. Kevin O’Mahony, secretary of Foley’s club Adare confirmed: “It was rubber-stamped over the weekend. We made a few phone calls and spoke to the lads.

“Mark will be nominated as captain of the Limerick team from the Adare club. If, for any reason, there is no Adare player on the field of play the captaincy will be left to the discretion of team management.”

There is continuing speculation that Conor Fitzgerald could yet feature in a dual role for Limerick this season.

The Adare man has been earmarked for football duty by manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan but it is understood that Justin McCarthy has been in touch as Fitzgerald continues his recuperation from troublesome shoulder problems.

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy is planning without a host of attacking stars for next Sunday’s National Hurling League opener against Waterford at Walsh Park.

Sheedy has confirmed that forwards Eoin Kelly, Lar Corbett, Hugh Maloney, Micheál Webster, Darragh Egan and Séamus Callinan will all miss the eagerly-anticipated showdown through injury.

Corbett and Maloney sustained hamstring damage in the recent Waterford Crystal final defeat against Clare and although Corbett could return for the Valentine’s night clash with Cork, centre forward Maloney has been ruled out for at least another month.

However, there is some good news for Sheedy as All Star Shane McGrath and Callinan have both returned to light training as they step up their recoveries.

McGrath missed Tipp’s Waterford Crystal campaign through illness but his return comes as a massive boost to Sheedy, who will see his squad gather in strength over the coming weeks.

Webster is nursing a dead leg, Egan is suffering with cracked ribs while five-time All Star Kelly is still a couple of weeks away from a return to full training having struggled with a persistent back problem.