Christmas has come and gone, the deep sleep of the badger has been reduced to a dozing paw setting the alarm to snooze and, inter-county competition is, once again, visible on the horizon.
And after a lean winter, eir Sport and TG4 have left no stone unturned, in serving up a tantalising GAA menu to pick from over the coming months.
The Gaeilgeoirí announced yesterday that no fewer than 40 matches will be available to view between this Friday's O'Byrne Cup Final and April's Hogan Cup decider.
The free-to-air broadcaster will have the GAA Beo cameras at Clones for the opening weekend of action, as Jim Gavin will take his All-Ireland champions, Dublin, north to face Monaghan, before taking in the hurling clash between Clare and Kilkenny, in Ennis on the opening Sunday in February.
As an added treat, the conclusions of the All-Ireland series in both the club hurling and club football championships will take prominence, as well as coverage of the Sigerson Cup and Fitzgibbon Cup finals being streamed on the station's Youtube channel.
Not to be outdone, eir Sport have announced an eye-catching schedule of their own with Dublin and Mayo featuring heavily on their National League agenda.
We're delighted to announce our 2019 #AllianzLeague fixtures.
We will also show two @LadiesFootball games exclusively live on eir sport 1 & across the eir sport social channels. #LGFA #AllianzLeagues https://t.co/8aSsGFWrby— eir Sport (@eirSport) January 15, 2019
Kicking off with dual coverage of the Division 1A hurling clash between Tipp and Clare, and the Division One football encounter between Connacht neighbours Mayo and Roscommon, other highlights of their Spring lineup include Dublin's trip to Kerry on February 9th and the Ulster heavyweight blockbuster between Tyrone and Monaghan on February 23rd.
The Lidl Ladies National Football League will also feature, with the Dub ladies looking to retain their Division One title. Their opener with Donegal will be beamed live, as will their Round 3 fixture with Mayo.
Welcome back lads and ladies - you've been missed!
TG4 GAA schedule
Friday 18 January
Dublin v Westmeath, Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup Final, Live from Parnell Park.
Coverage begins at 7:55pm (Throw-in: 8pm)
Saturday 19 January
Armagh v Tyrone, Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup Football Final, Live from the Athletics Grounds.
coverage begins at 7:25pm (Throw-in: 7:30pm).
SUNDAY 20 JANUARY
AIB All Ireland Intermediate Club Football Semi-Final
An Spidéal (Galway) v Naomh Éanna (Antrim)
Live from Páirc an Tailteann, Navan Coverage begins at 1:55pm (throw-in: 2pm)
SUNDAY 27 JANUARY
Live: Allianz Football League - Round 1 - Monaghan v Dublin, Clones
Deferred: Allianz Hurling League - Round 1 - Wexford v Limerick, Innovate Wexford Park
SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY
Live: Allianz Hurling League - Round 2 - Clare v Kilkenny
Deferred: Allianz Hurling League - Round 2 - Cork v Wexford
Deferred: Allianz Football League - Round 2 - Tyrone v Mayo
SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY
AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship Semi-Finals
3pm St. Thomas' (Galway) v Ruairi Óg Cushendall (Antrim)
Live from Parnell Park, Dublin
5pm Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) v Ballygunner (Waterford)
Live from Semple Stadium, Thurles
Live on SportTG4 YouTube: AIB All Ireland Intermediate and Junior Club Football Finals, Live from Croke Park.
SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY
Live: Allianz Football League - Round 3 - Monaghan v Galway, Inniskeen, 2pm
Deferred: Allianz Football League - Round 3 - Roscommon v Tyrone
Deferred: Allianz Football League - Round 3 - Match to be confirmed
Live on Sport TG4 YouTube: AIB All Ireland Intermediate and Junior Club Hurling Finals, Live from Croke Park
SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY
AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship Semi-Finals
1:30pm Corofin (Galway) v Gaoth Dobhair (Donegal)
Live from Páirc Sean Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
3:30pm Dr. Crokes (Kerry) v Mulllnalaghta St Columba’s (Longford)
Live from Semple Stadium, Thurles
Live on Sport TG4 YouTube: All Ireland Scór na nÓg Finals, Live from TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar
SUNDAY 17 FEBRUARY
Live and deferred coverage from the Allianz Hurling League (Round 3) including Kilkenny Limerick, Wexford v Tipperary and Galway v Dublin.
WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY
Live on Sport TG4 YouTube: Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Sigerson Cup Final
SATURDAY 23 FEBRUARY
Live on Sport TG4 YouTube: Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup Final, Live from Waterford I.T.
SUNDAY 24 FEBRUARY
Allianz Football League (Round 4) and Allianz Hurling League (Round 4)
One live match and two deferred matches.
SUNDAY 3 MARCH
Allianz Football League (Round 5) and Allianz Hurling League (Round 5)
One live match and two deferred matches.
FRIDAY 8 MARCH
GAA Presidents Awards, Live from Croke Park
Saturday 9th March
Live on Sport TG4 YouTube: Gourmet Food Parlour O’Connor Cup Ladies Football Final
SUNDAY 10 MARCH
Allianz Hurling League Quarter-Finals
SATURDAY 16 MARCH
Allianz Hurling League Semi-Finals
SUNDAY 17 MARCH
AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Football & Hurling Finals, Live from Croke Park
SUNDAY 24 MARCH
Allianz Football League (Round 7)
Allianz Hurling League Final
SATURDAY 30 MARCH
Allianz Football League (Division 3 and 4 Finals), Live from Croke Park
Live on Sport TG4 YouTube: All Ireland Colleges Hurling Final (Post Primary Schools Finals), Double header live from Semple Stadium, Thurles
SUNDAY 31 MARCH
Allianz Football League (Division 1 and 2 Finals), Live from Croke Park
Saturday 6th April
Live on Sport TG4 YouTube: All Ireland Colleges Football Final
(Post Primary Schools Finals - Paddy Drummond Cup Final and Hogan Cup Final), double header live from Croke Park
Saturday 13th April
Live on Sport TG4 YouTube: All Ireland Scór Sinsir Finals, Live from the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar
