Camogie Sponsorship deal: Foras na Gaeilge yesterday announced its continued sponsorship of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.

Among the attendance at the launch in Croke Park of this year's championship were players from all the competing counties, including Derry, back after an absence of many years.

The reigning champions, Tipperary - who are favourites to retain the O'Duffy Cup - were represented by their captain, Joanne Ryan, and last year's Texaco player of the year, Eimear McDonnell - both looking forward to their opening match, against Galway, on June 19th, the same day on which Antrim take on Kilkenny.

This year, for the first time, RTE will broadcast live television coverage of the semi-finals, on August 21st, and the junior and senior finals, on September 19th.

Foras na Gaeilge chief executive Joe McDonagh said they were delighted to support what has become "the largest female sporting organisation on the island of Ireland, with over 85,000 members nationwide".

Also present yesterday were Uachtarán Cumann Camógaiochta na nGael, Miriam O'Callaghan, and RTÉ newscaster Sharon Ní Bheoláin.