The Ulster Championship holders are out as Monaghan defeated Tyrone 1-16 to 1-18 today at Healy Park. Six Conor McManus scores helped his side to a massive victory to the delight of the Oriel County's fans, although the rest of the country could not enjoy it as the game was not televised live.
While delayed coverage is being shown on BCC NI, the tie was not televised. With the new expansion of the GAA championships, the number of games screened live on television was not increased under current broadcasting deals. RTE's live games today were the Clare v Cork and Limerick v Tipperary Munster hurling Championship fixtures.
The fact that the game was not televised live proved hugely unpopular online.
imagine RTE showing a Munster round robin hurling match ahead of Tyrone v Monaghan Ulster football knockout.. embarassing stuff all around by RTE and Gaa
— Peter O'Leary (@poleary7) May 20, 2018
Our National Game is more and more just becoming a Game..Mon v Tyr not been shown live is a disgrace ..I am Looking fwd to the Hurling but all this TV rights stuff is a load a bollocks
— David Brady (@D9BMayo) May 20, 2018
Only figuring out now that the Tyrone/Monaghan game isent on the box tommorow... What in the name of jaysus is that all about!!! Not many competitive games in the Football provincial championship these days, so surely this was a key fixture for the TV 🤔🤔
— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) May 19, 2018
With all the TV firms competing for #GAA rights it’s ridiculous the Tyrone v Monaghan #UlsterSFC match wasn’t on TV. Big mistake! Fair play @NorthernSoundFM for great coverage
— Oliver Callan (@olivercallan) May 20, 2018
Sounds like Monaghan & Tyrone have served up a great game in Omagh. Pity we can't see it on TV... @RTEgaa
— Richard Bowles (@rbowlesoola) May 20, 2018
That was one of the best Monaghan Tyrone games I've ever seen. That that wasn't on tv is both hardly believable and incredibly disappointing. #gaa #farneyarmyontour
— Niall MacLáimh (@monaghanpenguin) May 20, 2018
It's actually criminal that RTE is showing the Royal Wedding and won't be showing Tyrone vs Monaghan tomorrow. Like someone should be jailed for that.
— Barry Dempsey (@barrydempsey2) May 19, 2018
Am lucky to get to see Monaghan and Tyrone. GAA increase number of games by 18% but fail to increase number of games that RTE and SKY could show live.This game could have been live last night or on line if rights were given! pic.twitter.com/i35qJTPhie
— Ciaran Whelan (@whelo35) May 20, 2018
The GAA and its broadcasters are locked into the current TV deal of showing 45 live games per year, in spite of the extra games. With the existing deal set to run for five years it appears, unless the GAA revisit the deal, less live competitive games is something the GAA fan will have to get used too.
