Setanta kick-off new schedule with Mayo’s trip to Kerry

SETANTA SPORTS have announced their schedule for the Allianz National Football League.

The satellite broadcaster, acquired Saturday night League rights last year and are to commence the deal on February 4 with the Division 1A meeting of Kerry and Mayo at Austin Stack Park.

The Tralee venue, along with Parnell Park in Dublin and Pairc Uí Rinn in Cork are the only stadiums with lighting suitable for television broadcasts.

As a result, Setanta Sports are tied to broadcasting six games, featuring Cork, Kerry or Dublin from the top flight on Saturday nights.

Setanta’s Maurice Reidy is relishing the challenge: “These are certainly exciting times for Setanta. It is a new voice to the market and it is a chance to show that we can do it as well as the other broadcasters.

“The lighting situation dictates our choice of match but hopefully with the advent of the new lighting at new venues in the course of the year, it will obviously increase our choice in coming seasons.”

And he hopes that this league campaign will be a stepping stone for greater things for the subscription channel which is available on the Sky platform, NTL and Chorus.

“We hope to expand on coverage of club championships, colleges (second level) and the GAA as a whole through the course of the year.”

Meanwhile the station yesterday announced plans to cover 20 Leinster schools rugby fixtures in 2006. Schools’ coverage begins for the second year running with the Senior Cup match between Blackrock and Terenure at Donnybrook on Sunday January 29.

Six match Setanta Sports Schedule:

February 4: NFL Round One (Division 1A): Kerry v Mayo.

February 11: NFL Round Two (Division 1A): Cork v Kerry.

March 4: NFL Round Three (Division 1A): Dublin v Offaly.

March 11: NFL Round Four (Division 1A): Cork v Dublin.

March 18: NFL Round Five (Division 1A): Kerry v Offaly.

March 25: NFL Round Five (Division 1A): Dublin v Mayo.