RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta today launched its 2013 Championship coverage in Croke Park. The station enjoys full broadcast rights for all the matches in both football and hurling championships, an unrivalled position in the Irish media.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta announced that it intends to broadcast up to 40 football matches, and more than 20 hurling games, with live commentary, reporting and analysis across its sports programmes.

The station's sports schedule for the summer season into September includes 12 hours of sports programmes from Saturday to Monday, and will be enhanced by Monday sports programme Spórt an Luain presented by former Kerry intercounty footballer Dara Ó Cinnéide.

Analysts who will feature on programmes will include players, former players, managers and former managers. Some of the regular contributors to programmes include, among others, John Allen, Joe Connolly, Cathal Moore, Pat Fleury, Nicky Cashin, Jarlath Burns, Ger Brennan, Stephen Joyce, Charlie Vernon, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Máire Ní Bhraonáin and Robbie Ó Griffín.

Liam Ó Néill, GAA President, said: "Both of this year's championships commenced last weekend and we are looking forward to action in the coming weeks which will come thick and fast. On no medium will followers of Gaelic Games get more live coverage of football and hurling than on Raidió na Gaeltachta and their coverage between the games covers every aspect of our activities too. I wish them well with their 2013 campaign and especially look forward to listening to their broadcasters and commentators, and of course their analysts, between now and the All-Ireland finals in September."

Head of Sports at the station, Gearóidín Nic an Iomaire, said: "As always I'm looking forward to this year's Championships. A Gaeltacht county has participated in the football All-Ireland in all, bar one, of the last seventeen, and in 10 of those years both teams were Gaeltacht counties. I'm hoping that trend continues this year."

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's sports schedule includes Spórt an tSathairn at 2pm on Saturdays, presented by Seán Bán Breathnach, and Reacaireacht an Tráthnóna at 6.30pm for evening fixtures. On Sundays, Spórt an Lae is presented by Mícheál Mac Donnchadha at 2 pm, and a roundup of results can be heard in Spórt an Domhnaigh at 7 pm. On Monday, Spórt an Luain will be presented by Dara Ó Cinnéide at 5 pm.

Edel Ní Chuireáin, Head of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, said: "Sport has held a central position in the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta schedule for over 40 years, and Gaelic games is at the very heart of that. Our full broadcast rights for the entire championship means we can offer our listeners at home and abroad an unrivalled service, and we look forward to doing just that."

Championship coverage this coming weekend will include Galway V Mayo, Cavan V Armagh and Westmeath V Carlow in football, and Carlow V London, and Laois V Antrim in hurling. Tweet

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