MOST of the All Ireland finals of the 1970s and 1980s are to be screened on Teilifis na Gaeilge in a series starting in March. Details of the broadcasts were announced yesterday in Croke Park by the GAA president elect, Joe McDonagh.
Although each match will be introduced by Micheal O Muircheartaigh, the original English language commentaries of the late Micheal O'Hehir will be retained.
Beginning on March 4th, with the 1974 hurling final between Kilkenny and Limerick, and April March 6th, the football final between Dublin and Galway, the series will continue on the Tuesday and Thursday of every week up until June 19th, when the Cork Mayo football final of 1989; will bring it to a conclusion. Two, non-All Ireland finals will be broadcast, the Munster football final of 1974, between Cork and Kerry, and the 1977 All-Ireland semi final, between Dublin and Kerry.
Viewers will also be given an opportunity to vote for the match not shown in the series - that they most want to see, and it, subject to availability, will be screened.
TnaG has already broadcast live coverage of county finals in Galway and Waterford, but has come in for criticism of its limited Gaelic games content. Only two weeks ago, the GAA president, Jack Boothman, made pointed reference to the programme of Spanish soccer shown on the channel every week when provincial club finals were available for live coverage.
Yesterday Cathal Goan, the chief executive of TnaG, referred to the matter during his speech: "We have always known that Gaelic games was at the core of our broadcasting policy. We were the first broadcasting service to televise county finals and I hope that's something we will be able to continue with in the future. What we have to launch today is the result of an initiative which firsts came about at the suggestion of the director general of RTE, Joe Barry."
Meanwhile, Paul Bealin and John O'Leary are back in the Dublin team for Sunday's final Division Two League match against Laois which could leave the 1995 All Ireland finalists facing a relegation play off.
Bealin will line out for the first time since sustaining an injury in Castlebar last November and slots into his customary midfield role. During the league matches O'Leary had been alternating with David Byrne.
The team shows three changes from the selection that beat Monaghan a fortnight ago and includes a vacancy at left corner forward, where Paul Clarke is expected to line out after satisfying the selectors of his fitness.
All Ireland champions welcome back Trevor Giles after a leg injury which caused him to miss the defeat by Kildare a fortnight ago. He returns at right wing forward with Nigel Nestor switching to midfield.
Martin O'Connell also returns, after injury and Jody Devine comes in at left corner forward in place of Ollie Murphy. Graham Geraghty moves from full forward, to left wing and PJ Gillie switches to the edge of the square.
Kildare make three changes for their match with Donegal at Newbridge. As expected, Derek Maher misses out because of an ankle injury and is replaced at wing back by Brian Fahy. Johnny McDonald is replaced at right corner forward by Eddie McCormack, whose cousin, Paul McCormack, injured against Meath, makes way for Eric Dockery at left corner forward.
Mayo have left unchanged the side that beat Leitrim a fortnight ago, although Mauribe Sheridan and Ronan Golding swap wings on the half forward line.
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