Home » Corporate » News Releases » 2012 » 09.07 - TG4 Announce a 3 Year sponsorship extension of the Ladies Gaelic Football Championship
Speaking at the launch of the 2012 TG4 Ladies Gaelic Football Championship,TG4 Ardstiúrthóir, Pól Ó Gallchóir expressed his delight at the announcement of a new three year deal that extends the TG4 sponsorship and broadcast rights agreements with Cumann Peil Gael na mBan up to the end of the 2015 season. During this period, TG4 will provide live coverage and world-wide webcast of up to 60 live games, including, for the first time, coverage of the O’Connor Cup Final, the annual inter-varsity competition.
During the 2012 Championship TG4 will broadcast a total of 15 live games beginning on Monday the 6th of August and culminating on the 30th of September with the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Finals shown live from Croke Park.
Mr Ó Gallchóir also highlighted a major technological innovation in TG4’s coverage of the 2012 All-Ireland Finals. “We are now poised to move up from Standard Definition to High Definition (HD) format,” he said. “It is a mark of the importance we place on Peil Gael na mBan that TG4 will inaugurate this innovation in our All-Ireland Finals coverage from Croke Park on September 30th. HD provides a much clearer, sharper picture on screen, with more natural colours and the option of surround sound. It really is a súil eile”.
Pat Quill, Uachtarán Cumann Peil Gael na mBan echoed Mr Ó Gallchóir, “TG4 has become synonymous with Ladies Gaelic football and we are delighted that they have renewed their sponsorship with Cumann Peil Gael na mBan until 2015. The renewal of the sponsorship of the Senior, Intermediate and Junior intercounty championships in the current economic climate is an indication of the excellent marketable product that we have and further cements a partnership of mutual benefit that exists between TG4 and Cumann Peil Gael na mBan.”
The 2012 TG4 Ladies Football Championship will see 33 teams competing for a spot in Croke Park on the 30th of September.
In the TG4 Junior Championship Louth will be looking to emulate 2010 success and reach another All Ireland Final while up and coming Antrim appear to be a potential strong competitor.
In the TG4 Intermediate Championship Cavan are aiming to recover from their 1 point defeat to Westmeath in the 2011 final and get themselves back to centre stage in September. The Intermediate Championship however will be a closely contested affair. Leitrim have shown early form this year as they contested the BGE Division 3 final against Westmeath and forward Áine Tighe is still dominating up front. Division 4 BGE League Finalists Longford and Limerick will also be strong contenders in this grade. Both sides are managed by former Inter-county footballers Diane O’Hora (Mayo) and Ann Eager (Kerry) respectively.
In the Senior Championship Cork will once again be defending their Senior All Ireland title but Monaghan, Mayo and Dublin are expected to provide some exciting clashes later in the Championship. Monaghan have already beaten Cork in the 2012 Division 1 League Final and also Dublin in the league semi final, while Mayo had a comprehensive victory over Galway in the Division 2 league final. Outside of these four, Laois and Kerry will also be very strong opposition over the coming months.
Pat Quill also stated that "Championship time brings renewed expectations, excitement and endeavour for all participants, whether it be players, team management, or those involved at county board, Provincial and National level. Teams spend many hours of preparation in an effort to capture a Provincial or All Ireland title. For other counties, progress may well be reaching the qualifying stages and creating a few shocks along the way."