RTÉ to televise Munster final replay after Sky reschedule qualifiers

Sky Sports has agreed to reschedule their live coverage of two football qualifiers on Saturday week to accommodate RTÉ’s decision to screen the Munster SFC final replay.

There had been fears of a blackout due to the late throw-in time at Fitzgerald Stadium given Sky Sports has tended to broadcast the 7pm games.

RTÉ, however, yesterday confirmed their cameras will be in Killarney, with Joe Brolly and Colm O’Rourke joining Darragh Maloney for live coverage.

To facilitate the airing of the provincial final replay, Sky Sports top-brass granted a request from Croke Park to reschedule their live coverage “in the interests of GAA fans”.

Sky Sports’ double-header of Round 3B qualifiers will now be broadcast at the earlier times of 3pm and 5pm respectively.

The Munster Council yesterday announced that all ticket prices for the Cork-Kerry replay have been reduced by €5 up to midnight on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Cork Competitions Control Committee has fixed all eight Cork SFC fourth round fixtures for the weekend of August 8/9.

The games had initially been pencilled in for the weekend after next and their inevitable postponement due to the Cork-Kerry Munster SFC replay means the first-round winners will have enjoyed a 14-week lay-off by the time they step back inside the whitewash.

Despite fears the Carrigtwohill-Killeagh Cork SHC third round clash would be put back due to Andy Walsh’s involvement with the Cork senior hurling panel, the game will go ahead on Sunday, July 19.

Meanwhile, new Arsenal FC strength and conditioning coach Barry Solan will continue to work with the Mayo footballers for the rest of their championship campaign.

Mayo joint manager Noel Connelly said last night that he was “very confident” that Solan, who started his new job with the Premier League outfit earlier this week, would be able to balance his commitments over the coming months.

“I would be very confident that he’ll be with us for the remainder of the year and for the next couple of years while we’re in charge.

“We always knew that Barry had a great reputation anywhere he went so we were delighted when he accepted our invitation last September.

“When he got the opportunity to come and work with his native county he took it with it both arms and he’s really enjoying his time with us and he’s doing a great job.

“We hope that will continue in his present role.”

Meanwhile, the Connacht champions currently have a full squad to pick from ahead of Sunday week’s Connacht SFC Final against Sligo.

However, Noel Connelly did confirm that All Star forward Cillian O’Connor is “not being trained as hard as everybody else” at the moment as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee ligament injury.