Vodafone Ireland and Hutchison 3G Ireland have won the rights to show UK Premier League action on mobile phones for the next three years in the Republic.
While live matches will not be made available, the two companies will be able to provide customers with match highlights, previews, audio bulletins, "near-live" picture messages and match scores. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
The deal with the FA Premier League begins at the start of the 2004/05 season. RTÉ and Setanta Sport announced on Thursday they had won the television rights to show live Premier League football on Saturday afternoons.
Premier League rights are now sold for television, radio, mobile phones and computer. Sky has won the rights to show Premier League matches on the internet.
Mr Graeme Oxby, from 3, the trading name for Hutchison's 3G operations, said: "Football is one of 3's leading services, both in the UK and in our other European markets."
Mr Tim Yates, marketing director, Vodafone Ireland, said: "Sport is inextricably linked with Vodafone through our sponsorships and this deal further strengthens what we can offer."
Hutchison 3G Ireland is 100 per cent owned by Hutchison Whampoa Group, which holds 3G licences in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the Republic.
