GAA action takes over the TV this weekend with absolute belter of a schedule

SportsJOE

The Championship is here.

Yes, it’s been here for the last fortnight but with gigantic clashes in the Munster hurling and the Ulster football championships – the two diamonds in the provincial rough – there’s more of a buzz about this weekend.

Saturday is headlined by the meeting of Derry and Donegal in Celtic Park at 6.15.

It’s the clash of the Allianz Division One Champions (Derry) with the Division Two Champions (Donegal) as, after all these years, Jim McGuinness and Mickey Harte go head-to-head once again.

The game will be broadcast live on both RTÉ and BBC, with all eyes inevitably peeled for some sort of tactical masterstroke from McGuinness.

20 January 2024; Derry manager Mickey Harte, right, and Donegal manager Jim McGuinness shake hands after the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup final match between Derry and Donegal at O’Neills Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

In Munster, Kerry are expected to advance to the provincial final earlier in the day though Cork will have other ideas, and the meeting of those old rivals will certainly whet the appetite for Donegal-Derry. Cork vs Kerry is live from Fitzgerald Stadium on GAAGO at 4.00.

Then on Sunday, it’s the real jewel in the crown.

The Munster hurling championship kicks off with a game between League champions Clare and All-Ireland champions Limerick. That will be followed by Waterford vs Cork live on GAAGO. Meanwhile, there are also three games in the Leinster hurling championship, with Dublin and Wexford the pick of the bunch.

Cavan-Tyrone will be live on BBC from 4.00. After that, all eyes will be on The Sunday Game highlights show. If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that the programme won’t be long enough!

GAA fixtures with tv details

Saturday

Connacht SFC semi-final
Sligo v Galway, Markievicz Park, 3.30

Munster SFC semi-finals
Kerry v Cork, Fitzgerald Stadium, 4.00 – GAAGO
Waterford v Clare, Fraher Field, 6.00

Ulster SFC quarter-final
Derry v Donegal, Celtic Park, 6.15 – RTE & BBC

Sunday

Munster SHC round 1
Clare v Limerick, Cusack Park, 2.00 – RTE
Waterford v Cork, Walsh Park, 4.00 – GAAGO

5 June 2022; Shane O’Donnell of Clare in action against Gearoid Hegarty of Limerick during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Final match between Limerick and Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Connacht SFC semi-final
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 4.00

Ulster SFC quarter-final
Cavan v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni, 4.00 – BBC

Leinster SHC round 1
Wexford v Dublin, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2.00
Galway v Carlow, Pearse Stadium, 2.00
Kilkenny v Antrim, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2.30

Joe McDonagh Cup round 1
Laois v Offaly, O’Moore Park, 2.00
Westmeath v Kerry, Mullingar, 2.00