GAA FANS WILL need to have a Sky subscription to catch all the action this summer, Croke Park chiefs confirmed this afternoon.
Sky Sports News presenter Rachel Wyse is hotly-fancied to be the face of the station’s Gaelic games coverage. But who will join the Dubliner on the sideline?
Here’s who the bookies are backing:
Hurling
1. Nicky English 6-4
One of the best players of his generation, an All-Ireland winner on the pitch and the sideline and now a respected columnist and pundit. The Tipperary man would bring plenty of gravitas to the newcomers.
2. Shane Long 6-4
He played at Croke Park for Tipp minors you know? Yes, we know.
The Ireland and Hull City striker is fancied to pop up on Sky’s GAA coverage.
3. John Mullane 2-1
The former Waterford favourite would bring plenty of passion to the Rupert Murdoch-owned corporation.
4. Donal Óg Cusack 7-2
The former Cork goalkeeper is now a fixture on RTÉ’s flagship Sunday Game where he earned praise from many hurling fans in his first season. Could the ‘Gary Neville of hurling analysis’ make a big move to Sky?
5. Dan Shanahan 4-1
The Lismore man would have to be lured away from his role as selector with the senior Déise set-up. But Dan the Man would bring plenty to the Sky studio.
6. Sean Óg Ó hAilpín
The Cork GAA icon is an outside bet to bring his unique perspective to the British broadcaster’s output. Is fada an turas é ó TG4 go Sky Sports.
Football
1. Kevin Moran 6-5
Twice an All-Ireland winner with Kevin Heffernan’s Dubs and a former Manchester United and Ireland centre half, Moran is Paddy Power’s favourite to land a football pundit role.
2. Paul Galvin 6-5
The recently-retired Kerryman would be box-office for Sky. A no-brainer drafting in the Finuge man this summer.
3. Anthony Tohill 7-4
Won a Celtic cross with Derry and has plenty of experience under the studio lights with RTÉ.
4. Tomás Ó Sé 5-2
Another Kingdom great who’s been there and done it. Newly retired and has expressed a strong interest in media work.
5. Graham Canty 5-2
Not known for being particularly fond of cameras or dictaphones during a long and successful Cork career but the Bantry man might be a good bet.
6. Colm Parkinson 11-4
The Off The Ball man probably has enough to do this summer with sideline duties for Newstalk but we’d like to see Wooly work a Sky anorak and tie combo at O’Moore Park.
7. Peter Canavan 8-1
The former Fermanagh boss has plenty of experience of media duties with the likes of Today FM and TV3. May fancy another crack at coaching however.