RTE’s schedule shake-up on eve of GAA final as Des & Jacqui put out call to arms

CORK and Clare supporters are being implored to partake as audience members in RTE’s Up for the Match special on July 20.

The annual tradition returns once again on the eve of a repeat of their famed final clashes of 2013 when The Banner triumphed in a replay.

Fans travelling up to Dublin for the decider on Sunday July 21 have been urged to get involved in the light-hearted look-ahead.

It will take place as ever in RTE’s Montrose base with anyone keen to secure a spot in the audience encouraged to fill in an application here.

Hosts Jacqui Hurley and Des Cahill promoted the once-off programme (excluding its football equivalent) from Croke Park itself.

In the video, Jacqui notes: “Well we have our two teams in the final.

“Des has his one, two, threes down (referring to his Irish dancing)…we have the music…we have everything.

“All we need is our supporters to join us in studio on July 20!”

The show typically runs from 9:30 pm for about 90 minutes on the Saturday evening of All-Ireland final weekend.

There’s always a tonne of colour and craic in evidence with no shortage of musical accompaniments to heighten the already buzzing pre-match atmosphere.

This will be a novel final since it’ll be the first in five years not to feature Limerick.

Having burst the tires of the drive for five, Rebel riders will be in extra buoyant mood as they travel up to the capital.

However, manager Pat Ryan has vowed to keep a lid on the hype within their camp despite that being no small feat after Sunday’s epic.

“Fellas were delighted. It was a huge task going up to Croke Park and beating Limerick.

“There’s no point telling you how good a team they are.

“There was great satisfaction in that win.

“We had a few drinks going down on the bus and fellas were ready to go for a gym session today.

“Fellas are in great form and we’ll be back in training tomorrow.”

Ryan added that the Ireland women’s soccer international against France at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday will not hinder his side’s preparations.

He explained: “It’s not going to impede our training.

“We’ll be in Páirc Uí Rinn next Tuesday.

“We rotate between Páirc Uí Rinn and sometimes we go to Fota Island so there’ll be no issue there.”