Ulster Council explain Saturday fixture
June 18, 2008
Ulster Council Secretary Danny Murphy has explained the decision behind staging this weekend's Ulster SFC semi-final meeting between Fermanagh and Derry on Saturday evening rather than Sunday afternoon.
The reason for the semi-final being switched to Saturday, June 21, was to ensure that the match would receive live television coverage by both BBC and RTE, with the following Sunday afternoon too busy with games to broadcast.
Sunday's Leinster SFC semi-final between Laois and Wexford takes the 2pm slot on RTE, while the Munster SHC last four meeting between Limerick and Clare follows at 4pm.
Speaking on the matter, Murphy said: "A Saturday night fixture is the only way we fit into a contractual agreement that will allow the game between Derry and Fermanagh to be on TV.
"RTE had wanted to show it on a Sunday but that wasn't possible due to contractual matters arising between the different television broadcasters.
"TV3 took the slot which Derry and Fermanagh would have been in. RTE and BBC still wanted to show it, so the only alternative was to have it on a Saturday night," concluded Murphy.
The game between Fermanagh and Derry will be broadcast by both BBC2 and RTE2 from Healy Park, Omagh this Saturday evening with throw-in time scheduled for 6.00pm.
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