Brian McAvoy, Ulster GAA Provincial Secretary, has welcomed a deal with the BBC to show two additional provincial championship games this year

A DECISION by the BBC to screen two additional GAA matches this summer has been welcomed by nationalists.

In the past the corporation has faced criticism over the lack of TV coverage given to Gaelic games.

It has now emerged that the BBC and GAA chiefs have thrashed out a deal which will see two extra Ulster championship clashes broadcast this summer.

The announcement comes just days ahead of the competition curtain raiser between keen rivals Tyrone and Derry on Sunday May 12.

The first of the additional games will be screened later this month when the winners of that derby showdown take on Antrim on Saturday May 25.

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Under the new arrangement the game between Fermanagh and Donegal, which will be played on Sunday May 26, will also be broadcast live.

There will also be live coverage of the semi-final scheduled for Saturday June 8 and the Ulster final, which takes place on Sunday June 23.

Brian McAvoy, Ulster GAA Provincial Secretary, has welcomed a deal with the BBC to show two additional provincial championship games this year

The new deal means five out of the eight Ulster championship matches will be broadcast live.

The BBC will show four with the remaining match between Cavan and Monaghan on Saturday May 18 being shown by Sky.

As part of the agreement there will also be deferred coverage of four matches, including the second Ulster semi-final on Sunday June 2.

Brian McAvoy, Ulster GAA Provincial Secretary, said the sporting body has “been working closely with broadcasters and Croke Park in relation to coverage of this year's Ulster senior football championship.

“It promises to be a mouth-watering championship and the prevalence of high profile derby games will undoubtedly add to the atmosphere,” he said.

Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Production at BBC Northern Ireland, said the corporation has been working closely with the Ulster Council, GAA and RTÉ.

“We’ll provide more details of our coverage in due course and are continuing to talk to all the relevant parties about future opportunities,” he said.

“We can assure supporters we remain committed to bringing them the best coverage we can, across all our platforms.”

SDLP assembly member and former Armagh All-Ireland winner Justin McNulty said he was “delighted” by the announcement.

“I want to applaud the efforts of the GAA in working with the BBC and RTÉ in trying to improve the coverage in the north which has been lacking,” he said.

“GAA fans are all fanatical about our teams and love watching local coverage.”

Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis also welcomed the development.

“This is a sign that BBC and others are beginning to listen to the voice of Gaels who feel frustrated at the inability to watch the island’s largest spectator sport on their television screens,” she said.

She said her party has previously highlighted the issue and lobbied the BBC “and other broadcasters to ensure there is equal access to GAA coverage”.