TG4 announce a 3 year sponsorship extension
July 09, 2012Ladies Gaelic Football Championship
TG4 also to make the move to HD on Ladies All Ireland Final Day.
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 70 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 minimum 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 an All Ireland Final 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 Intercounty 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 BGE 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. '
2012 TG4 Round 1 Senior Qualifier Draw
Kildare, Laois, Westmeath, Clare and Tyrone, all of whom have been beaten in their respective Provincial Championships, were included in the Round 1 Qualifier draw. Kildare and Laois were drawn out to contest the Round 1 Senior Qualifier. The three remaining teams go straight through to Round 2.
2012 TG4 Senior Championship Teams
Monaghan, Cork, Dublin, Laois, Kildare, Westmeath, Meath, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Tyrone, and Donegal.
Each Provincial Championship is organised on a knock out basis, teams unsuccessful in the Provincial Championships will participate in qualifying rounds.
Two teams play off in Round 1 of the qualifiers. The winner from Round 1 and the remaining 3 unsuccessful teams from the Provincial Championships play the 4 runners up from the Provincial Finals in Round 2 of the Qualifiers. The four Round 2 winners play the 4 Provincial Champions in the Quarter finals.
Counties cannot be drawn against a County that they have already met in their Provincial Championship up until the semi final stages when an open draw will take place.
2012 TG4 Intermediate Championship Teams
Group A: Leitrim, Wicklow, Limerick, Fermanagh.
Group B: Waterford, Down, London, Armagh.
Group C: Cavan, Sligo, Roscommon, Tipperary, Longford.
The Intermediate Championship will be organised on a league basis with 3 points for a win and one for a draw. First place in Groups A, B and C will go through to the semi finals. The fourth semi finals place will be decided as follows. 2nd team in Group A versus the 2nd team in Groups B, the winner of this will play the 2nd team in Group C for the 4th semi final place.
2012 TG4 Junior Championship Teams and formats
Group A: Antrim, Derry, Louth.
Group B: Carlow, Kilkenny, Offaly, Wexford.
The Junior Championship will be organised on a league basis with 3 points for a win and one for a draw. The top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi finals.
2012 TG4 Live Broadcast Schedule
Monday 6th August: 2.30pm and 4.15pm TG4 Senior Qualifier and All Ireland Minor Final
Saturday 11th August: 4.15 and 6.00pm TG4 Senior Qualifiers Round 2
Saturday 18th August: 4.15 and 6.00pm TG4 Senior Quarter Finals
Saturday 25th August: 2.15 and 4.00pm TG4 Senior Quarter Finals
Saturday 1st Sept: 2.15 and 4.00pm TG4 Intermediate and Senior Semi Finals
Saturday 8th Sept: 2.15 and 4.00pm TG4 Intermediate and Senior Semi Finals
Sunday 30th Sept: 12.00, 2.00 and 4.00pm TG4 Senior, Intermediate, Junior Finals Tweet
