Finnerty, McIntyre voices of Sky GAA
SKY SPORTS will unveil its presenters and pundits tomorrow at Croke Park ahead of its first Gaelic Games live broadcast on June 7, but The
Irish Mail on Sunday has learned the identity of the commentators who will call the action for the UK broadcaster.
Former TV3 commentator Mike Finnerty and David McIntyre of Setanta and Newstalk will be the men in the gantry for Sky Sports during the first summer of its three-year deal to broadcast 20 Championship matches (14 exclusively).
The identity of its anchor is still under wraps, but it is strongly rumoured Sky Sports News presenter Rachel Wyse (below) will be handed the gig.
However, former TV3 anchor Matt Cooper is also in contention. Producer Ciarán Ó hEadhra, whose company Asgard Media previously produced TV3’s GAA coverage, has close links with The Last Word radio presenter.
Another TV3 stalwart, Tyrone legend Peter Canavan, is understood to have agreed a deal with Sky, which is also said to be in negotiations with recently-retired Kerry footballer Paul Galvin, whose reputation for outspokenness would help the newcomer make an even bigger splash in the GAA market.
The first of Sky’s matches is the June 7 Leinster SHC quarter-final between Kilkenny and Offaly in Nowlan Park but there are no indications as to who will make up its hurling panel, with recent reports suggesting the broadcaster was struggling to locate pundits for the small-ball code.
TV3’s pundits included former Offaly star Dáithí Regan, Tipperary’s Nicky English and Jamesie O’Connor, a two-time All-Ireland winner with Clare.
The GAA’s decision to award the subscription channel live matches caused uproar in some quarters, however RTÉ remains the main broadcaster with 31 live matches, including all six provincial finals.
Sky’s 14 matches consist of eight Saturday evening matches in the All-Ireland qualifiers, two All-Ireland football Championship quarterfinals, as well as two Saturday evening and two Sunday provincial Championship games.
Both Sky and RTÉ will show the All-Ireland semi-finals and finals in both codes.