TELEVISION COVERAGE of football and hurling continues to expand and Sky Sports have already started an hour-long preview and review programme on Thursday nights (10.0).

The programme will continue until the end of the season and will probably include coverage of the concluding matches of the National Leagues, including the finals in October.

TnaG has also announced that it will broadcast a one-hour programme featuring highlights of one of the day's top matches every Sunday evening, starting next Sunday with the Connacht championship match between Mayo and Galway. This is a co-operative venture with RTE and will give a viewing choice at a time which doesn't clash with other Sunday GAA coverage.

Commenting on the development yesterday, TnaG spokesman Padhraic O Ciardha said the station's commitment to GAA coverage was already well established.

"We have been extremely pleased with the positive reaction to All Ireland Gold, our bi-weekly showcase of GAA archive matches which will continue on TnaG on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer," he said.

The Connacht championship match between Mayo and Galway will be covered live on Sunday on RTE and will be followed by the second half of the Munster hurling championship match between Waterford and Limerick.

The replay of the Ulster football championship match between Tyrone and Down, which was televised live last Sunday, will not be shown live this week. The Ulster Council refused permission for the broadcast.

Both RTE and UTV covered the match last Sunday and UTV was anxious to show the replay. However, the Ulster Council, after lengthy discussions, refused permission because they did not want to deflect attention from the match between Donegal and Antrim in Ballybofey.

Coverage of GAA matches in Britain and Europe will also expand this year with Tara Television and Setanta Television in Britain screening matches on a cable system.

The Setanta coverage, both live and delayed, will be extended to pubs and clubs in Britain and several European countries.

Meanwhile, Tyrone have deferred team selection for the Ulster football championship replay on Sunday because of a number of injuries.

However, they have options. Sean McLaughlin is back in content ion following suspension, while Brian Dooher will come into the reckoning following a good performance when he came on as a substitute last Sunday.

There is some doubt about the fitness of Gerard Cavlan, who was replaced by Dooher after 53 minutes in the drawn game.

If McLaughlin resumes his position in the half back line, the selectors may move either Noel or Paul Donnelly back to the corner, where Paul Devlin may be under pressure to retain his place.

James McCartan is standing by for a recall to the Down team in place of Peter Withnell, who was sent off last Sunday. Down will announce their team tonight.

There is a possibility that Finbar Caulfield could be recalled to the defence with question marks about the fitness of corner backs Liam Howlett and Gary Mason. Caulfield has been out of action with a facial injury but will probably get medical clearance in time.

The Westmeath football sectors are said to have been touring local hospitals and clinics in an attempt to put together a team for their match against Offaly in the Leinster championship in Tullamore on Sunday.

The county secretary, Paddy Collins, says that six players may not be available for a variety of reasons.

Definitely out of contention is right corner back Dermot Brady who was stretchered off near the end of the match against Wexford with a badly-torn hamstring.

Also doubtful is the other corner hack, Kenny McKinley, who also had to leave the pitch last Saturday, while Kenny Lyons, who missed the match through injury, will not have recovered in time. His deputy, Mark Staunton, is expected to retain the full forward position.

Others spending more time on the treatment table than on the training ground are David Mitchell, Ollie Keating and Dave Prendergast, who received a facial injury in the drawn match against Wexford and will have a medical examination before being cleared to play.

Also out of contention for a place in the side is the team captain, Anthony Coyne, who was sent off in the drawn match in Wexford and is still under suspension.

Meanwhile, Galway hurlers are likely to face the rest of their National League campaign, as well as the championship, without Michael Coleman and Joe Cooney. Coleman has a broken hand which will take several weeks to mend, while Cooney has a badly-torn stomach muscle which will also take many weeks to clear up.

Also out of action for Saturday evening's rearranged league match against Laois in Athenry is Tom Helebert who broke a thumb against Limerick. Galway have already booked a place in the play-off stages of the league, while Laois have already been relegated.