Dundalk lift the SSE Airtricity League trophy at Oriel Park last season.

Dundalk lift the SSE Airtricity League trophy at Oriel Park last season.

RTÉ’S LEAGUE OF Ireland highlights programme Soccer Republic will be half as long as it was last year, The42 understands.

While the programme was an hour long last year, from this year it will be a 30-minute show without any in-studio punditry.

Highlights from games around the country will also be incorporated into RTÉ’s live Friday-night match broadcasts.

It is expected that the broadcaster will tomorrow announce live coverage of 18 league and cup fixtures for the coming season, with league games kicking off at 7.45pm on a Friday night.

The screening of highlights on a Friday means goals and other match incidents will be available to clubs to use immediately on their social media channels.

Previously, the use of these clips had been embargoed until they were screened by Soccer Republic on a Monday night.

RTÉ begin their live coverage of the league this Friday, with Dundalk kicking off the defence of their title at home to Sligo Rovers.

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