RTE is to raise the question of player availability during the upcoming negotiations with the GAA for domestic television rights. Attempts may be made to build guaranteed interviews into any new three-year contract for broadcast coverage.

The move follows growing unhappiness in the broadcast sector with the controls being placed on media access to players by team managements.

"It's something we'll be putting on the table," according to one senior RTE source. "It was a joke this year. What we'll be saying to the GAA is that there's no point in you looking to expand the airtime given to Gaelic games if we're not going to be able to fill those slots.

"We can't create a greater presence around big events, previews and features, if counties are simply providing us with the manager for every championship match and placing their players off limits. In many cases it's not players who are turning us down, but managers putting down blanket bans."

In relation to making access to players a contractual provision, Croke Park was dubious. "We haven't heard anything about this," said GAA PRO Danny Lynch. "But negotiations have not yet got under way. I suppose our view is that such a measure would be unenforceable. Players are amateurs and we have no right to tell them who and who not to talk to."

Discussions between RTE and the GAA have yet to take place, and may not seriously engage before the New Year. Although TV3's ability to compete for the domestic rights has improved now that British media company Granada has bought into the Irish station, it is not a serious competitor to RTE in this year's round.

It is no surprise that the media access issue should surface. The past couple of years have seen a decline in the co-operation of teams with media. During that time, print journalists have learned to find a way around the problem, but it is obviously a starker difficulty for television producers.

It may also become a problem for the GAA as media outlets multiply and demand for coverage rises. Without some sort of framework, the quality and even the quantity of coverage is bound to be affected.

Meanwhile, Ireland International Rules manager Brian McEniff has re-iterated that he intends to bring Peter Canavan to Australia for next year's Test series, despite the one-match suspension imposed on the Tyrone player on Wednesday. Australia's Jason Akermanis - with whom Canavan was sent off in the second Test last month - received a two-match ban.

If this remains McEniff's intention, it will mean bringing the player to the far side of the world for just one match. But he believes Canavan is worth it.

"Definitely," McEniff said. "To see him over the last couple of weeks is to see the old Peter back in form. Tyrone are performing well and so is he; at this stage you'd make them favourites for Ulster next year. When he's playing well he's a huge asset."

The Ireland manager believes that Akermanis hasn't been hard done by with the longer suspension. "He's not even that badly hurt by it because Australia are at home. If Peter was to miss out on the trip to Australia because of a one-match suspension, it would have been 10 times harder on him."

He also believes that the incidents between the two players have largely been because of provocation by the Australian. "Most forwards aren't into that sort of thing. It's not in their interest. Reflect on the Tests. Two years ago, Peter played havoc with them and again in the first Test last year. So he was earmarked for special attention and Akermanis gave him that attention physically, mentally and verbally."

The Ulster Council has turned down the appeal of Antrim clubs Cargin and St Paul's against sanctions handed down by the county board. The clubs have been banned from competitive activity next year and both are likely to take their appeals to Croke Park.

TG4 will provide live coverage of Sunday's Connacht football final between defending champions Crossmolina and 1998 All-Ireland winners Corofin. The broadcast will include pre- and post-match analysis by current Galway selector, Stephen Joyce, interviews, and the post-match presentation.

The Presenter is Micheal O Domhnaill, with match commentary by Brian Tyers. The programme begins at 2.20 p.m. Highlights of the Munster club football semi-finals will be shown on Monday evening at 11.30.

St Kieran's, Kilkenny, easily saw off the challenge of St Brendan's, Birr, 2-14 to 0-5 in their Leinster Colleges SH A game at Banagher yesterday.

Slow-starting St Kieran's were boosted by a goal after five minutes from Ned Sweeney. Points from Brian Carroll, Willie McCormack and a good solo effort by Jackie Lennon helped the Kilkenny side to a 1-8 to 0-3 half-time lead.

By the 44th minute the game was as good as over when James Fitzpatrick fired home the second goal.