Only someone living in a cave, and maybe the odd cave man, could deny that there has been a long overdue change in perceptions when it comes to women in sport.

The GAA championships in both hurling and football have reached a crucial stage.

Better late than never. It was RTÉ on Friday and today is Sky Sports’ turn to reveal their live TV coverage of the GAA championships.

McBennett will take over from Nugent in June.

It’s a good time to be a sports fan in Ireland. It seems every week we have another sporting occasion to turn our attention to, from the Euros to international rugby — both senior and U20 — to the GAA championships that have picked up speed in the last few weeks with some shocks big enough to silence the debate on structures for the time being.

If modern sport has taught us anything it could be the maxim more doesn’t always mean better. In terms of quality, that is, not money. Sport being the global mega-business it is means the urge to expand is just as inherent and relentless as in every other branch of capitalism, but it is rarely a case of everyone being a winner.

NOW that our so-called summer has come and gone, there may not seem much to light up our lives between now and winter time. Do not despair. Even if the weather is as bad this month as last, an array of spectator sports will bring a little internal sunshine.

In the battle of the broadcasters both RTÉ and TV3 have come out swinging, announcing details of new content with sport as the centrepiece.

Last weekend, the country was excited and animated by the resumption of the GAA championships.

The conclusion of the GAA championships and the National Ploughing usually heralds a watershed in the cattle business — and this year is no different.

THERE was a time when the roll-call for Miss Ireland was a bit like the GAA Championships — Miss Dublin, Miss Cork, Miss Donegal etc.

RTÉ YESTERDAY launched their most ambitious broadcast plans for the GAA Championships.

WHAT do the Irish search for most online and what key words are our internetters clicking on?

RTÉ is to launch an internet-only television channel for broadcast across the world later this year, bringing shows such as Fair City, Podge and Rodge, and Off the Rails to a global audience.

TV3 has become the first commercial free to air television station to gain a slice of the lucrative GAA Championships coverage with the news that the station will show qualifiers and selected provincial semi-finals live next year.

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey likes a good argument when he hears it, and he’s got strong views of his own. Today, and every Tuesday, he will be acting as referee on your opinions on the Premiership. Let him know what you think and he’ll argue the toss with you. We’ll be offering a free sports prize to the star contribution each week.

RTÉ set out its summer stall yesterday with the promise of hundreds of hours of home-produced programming to balance a hectic diet of World Cup soccer and GAA.

US IMMIGRATION authorities are adopting a new hard-line attitude to GAA players travelling to America on weekend passes.

Dope-testing is to continue in this year's All Ireland hurling and football Championships.