NATIONAL broadcaster RTE has responded to criticism that Donegal’s crunch All-Ireland match has been snubbed.
The county’s footballers take on Cork in five days’ time for automatic qualification to this year’s championship quarter-finals in a high-profile contest.
But the biggest Donegal match of the season so far will controversially not be televised on either RTE, which charges a €160 yearly license fee, or the annual €95 GAA+ subscription service.
The Donegal News asked RTE to explain the decision after some GAA fans branded it a “disgraceful” snub.
A spokesperson for RTE told us: “The choice of matches for the current round of fixtures is decided by the GAA.
“GAA+ gets the first and second choice games from the weekend with those choices placed on Saturday.
“RTÉ gets the third and fourth choice games which are on the Sunday.
“The decision as to what games are on what days is decided by the GAA CCCC.”
The Donegal News has contacted the GAA for a response from its Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC).
GA fan Jack Murray, who is a County councillor from Inishowen, is one of many to blast the blackout – and he demanded that the decision-makers explain the blackout.
He told the Donegal News: “It is absolutely disgraceful. There now needs to be full transparency around how this decision was made.
“Supporters deserve a clear explanation as to why such a high-profile fixture has been left without live coverage.”
Well-known Donegal GAA supporter Jack Murray with wife Sabrina and daughter Bláithín.
The current broadcast deal for live GAA championship matches involves RTÉ, BBC, and streaming service GAA+ sharing 40 games each season until the end of next year.
Donegal will host Cork in Ballybofey this coming Saturday, June 13, with a 3pm throw-in.
The games chosen for broadcast this Saturday on GAA+ instead of Donegal v Cork are Monaghan v Roscommon at 4.30pm and Derry v Meath at 7pm.
The clash on Saturday between Kildare and reigning All-Ireland football champions Kerry is also not being broadcast.
On Sunday, the matches picked for broadcast are Louth v Armagh on RTE at 1pm, followed by Galway v Westmeath on GAA+ at 2pm, and Tyrone v Mayo on RTE at 3.30pm.
The Cavan v Dublin match at 2pm on Sunday is not being televised.